Program Reviews

What an incredible 4 weeks! Was involved in such a wholesom project making an impact with an amazing group of volunteers whilst being welcomed into a brand new family. From pre departure to debrief, think Pacific made the experience extremely easy. Couldn't recommend this enough! So rewarding teaching the children and throwing myself into a totally new culture.

I was nervous to book the project due to going alone and having never traveled solo. This trip pushed me far out my comfort zone and the confidence and social skills I have gained is unbelievable. Not only this but the trip is so rewarding being able to work with lower ability children and provide the attention they need gives you such an incredible sense of achievement.

A summer I will never forget! I hope to go back next year.

In June 2019, I embarked on a month long expedition to Fiji with Think Pacific. I was apprehensive at first but upon arriving I was instantly greeted by friendly and welcoming faces.

We started off with a training weekend in a resort of the coast. Not only were we informed with everything and anything we’d need to know, we also had plenty of time to bond and get to know our teammates.

We then travelled to our village in the Nevosa Highlands. The lifestyle couldn’t be further from what we know in the UK; with tin huts, bucket showers and one room houses, it was definitely a shock but with our warming families and attentive leaders, we were never short of support.

Work included supporting a Kindi of children aged 3-5. Trying to control a bundle of toddlers who don’t speak your language can never be described as easy, but they were so adorable and lovely, there was no shortage of joy. In the afternoons we’d work with older kids on house cup and sports, it was so rewarding to see the children so engaged.

By far the most rewarding aspect of the trip was to see how grateful the children and family members were at the end of our month, you are for sure to see the impact you’ve made. The hardest part was goodbyes.

After our time in the village, our team was taken to a glorious island for several days to relax. With kayaking at sunrise and snorkelling after lunch, we were never short of memories.

All in all, with such a different lifestyle, there were inevitably challenges and obstacles, but I wouldn’t change any of it. I’m so proud of our whole team and I’ll take the memories with me for a lifetime.

I’ve just returned from Waousi Village in the centre of Fiji. This project encouraged understanding of a entirely different culture and way of living. We taught for 3 weeks in which a huge improvement could be seen in the children’s English and maths. I was have made great friends with both the volunteers and villagers. The Saturday excursions took us to sand dunes and a waterfall allowing us to see even more of Fiji. We had no phone signal as we were in the middle of the mountains. Sometimes we used the river to wash our clothes. One day we even had a shower in the river and washed our hair! This experience was an enjoyable challenge. Our leaders supported us through our project. Keeping us motivated and making many trips to the nurse and hospital!

I was so nervous for my month but everyone is so supportive and in the same boat I would say if you could do it you won't regret it and it'll change your life! I didn't think it was real until I did it but everyone was so loving even though they're complete strangers. Now I could call them the best of friends, even the Scottish ones. If you don't do this you'll regret it for the rest of your life but if you do then you'll look back when you 60 years old and go wow, I did that.
You be surprised the connection and impact you can make most of the kids there are so closed off from the rest of the world and after school will likely stay in the village for the rest of their lives, you can make it possible for them to reach for something more it's mad and indescribable.

It was an amazing experience and although challenging at times you could really see the difference being made when teaching the children.

Very much an unforgettable experience all with people of similar age wanting to do the same thing.

Although it is expensive you know that what you are doing is approved by the Fijian government and they are not taking the money for their own benefit.

Fiji is also an amazing country and has amazing travel opportunities for after the volunteering. For example you can go island hopping or you are only a short flight from New Zealand and Australia.

Although there are elements of the company that aren’t perfect they are always striving to improve and listen to all the feedback given by volunteers.

I hope one day I will be able to go back to Fiji

I spent one month volunteering in the Tailevu province. It was by far the most incredible, inspiring and rewarding experience of my life! I was very nervous leading up to the project but as soon as I met my team leaders and the rest of the volunteers, any sort of doubt went away instantly.
Living with a Fijian family in its most true form was undoubtedly one of the project highlights. Having the chance to live and learn a totally unique culture from the people themselves is an experience that cannot be achieved anywhere else except for Fiji. I now understand what past volunteers meant when they said your Fijian family become much more than hosts, they truly are my second family!
Having the opportunity to teach English and Maths in a local Fijian
primary school was a once in a lifetime experience. I was in my element for the whole 3 weeks!! Seeing the instant results from our hard work individually and collectively was enough to spur me on each day.
This experience has definitely made me appreciate the important things in life - family, education and friendships.

My project with Think Pacific was the best thing I’ve done! Living with a family was a great way to fully immerse yourself in a different culture and village life. Being welcomed into a community, family and school are incredible experiences. Working in the school was tough but highly rewarding. It was a pleasure to get to know the children and teachers. Great to feel part of the village and school. The Think Pacific leaders were always there for support when needed. Communication with Think Pacific was easy before project- they were always on hand either over the phone or on Facebook. Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in a new culture and work with children. Fiji is the most welcoming ccountry I’ve ever visited.

The experience of a lifetime! I have absolutely no complaints at all, and I would really love to be a part of another project as soon as I can! Think Pacific makes sure you reach Fiji with little to no expectations whatsoever, and once you reach there, your mind is blown by how amazingly welcoming Fijians are, almost two weeks after leaving the village, the amount I miss my family hasn’t decreased one bit, and at this point, I would actually give everything just to visit them for another day. The school is equally as amazing as the village, the kids are so loving and so enthusiastic it’s mind blowing! It was actually so heartbreaking looking at these kids in tears on our last day because all we wanted that last day was to be able to stay another day.

In May 2018 I did a 1 month project with Think Pacific and the experience was amazing. Think Pacific is a great organisation and I’m thankful for having the opportunity to live and teach in a remote Fijian village with them. Volunteering In Fiji was the best thing I ever did I made friends for life and I have family at the other side of the world. I couldn’t recommend this project, I don’t know of any other company where you live in the village with the families of the children you’re helping. Volunteering in Fiji with Think Pacific has been by far the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I would do it again without a second thought, teaching was one of my favourite parts of project seeing kids that struggled in class getting better because of the help you’re giving is the proudest feeling.

It was such a life changing experience, it really does open your eyes and appreciate all the little things we have in day to day life, I made some life long friends and memories that I'll cherish.
You learn a lot about yourself and push yourself out of your comfort zones with a really good support group of people that become your family.
Integrating with the village is something so rewarding, really throwing yourself in there to get to know the families you stay with and all the kids are so rewarding, especially when they do there exams and they do even better than they did, seeing them progress and always smiling really pushes you forward.
Enjoy the time you have there, if it's a month or 2 months they go so quickly, so make the most of it, I'd highly recommend having a good few bowls of kava with the villagers, very good way of socialising