Program Reviews

The month in Fiji I spent was the best month of my life. To be able to have an opportunity to go and live with a Fijian family in a rural Fijian village was simply incredible. To be able to witness the difference we were making in there Fijian youth's confidence and the confidence in ourselves was very rewarding. As well as doing that, being able to explore and see rural areas of the beautiful country was a huge bonus. The best part, for me, was reviving the village rugby team who hadn't played a game in 3 years and are now playing week in week out. I would recommend a Think Pacific Project to anyone and everyone.

In my time this year with Think Pacific I had the most memorable moments of my life. From sharing this journey with some of the best people I have met to sharing the culture of the Fijians who were so generous in sharing their life, homes, and knowledge with us volunteers.

From the moment the plane landed in Fiji I met with some other volunteers who had made the same journey and got to the meeting point, and from then on I never worried about safety or felt stressed as the team leaders were so amazing and organised. It was obviously a very nerve wracking thing at the start, flying to the other side of the world with a bunch of strangers to then live for a month with even more strangers. However, looking back on that anxious time, I couldn’t have been anymore wrong about the situation, every single person I encountered within the team as well as the locals in Fiji were so lovely and accommodating.

Life in the village is something I will carry and remember forever, seeing the way they live and being accepted not just into the village but into the host families we lived with was beautiful. This was shown in the effort and dedication they put into our welcoming ceremony. Over the course of the month then bond between volunteers and local had gotten so strong, through the culture course, days trips and just overall the time we spent with them. We were shown how they farm, how they fish, how they cook and eat, and how they spend time together as a community as well as within their families.

I would say the hardest part of the trip is saying goodbye, it was a very emotional experience as you really felt like you were leaving family. Although on the plus side the Fijians love facebook and have kept in contact ever since I left, as they have invited me back which is an invitation I am so looking forward to accept.

If you’re thinking about joining Think Pacific and coming to Fiji then I would 100% recommend going for it. It will be one of the best decisions you make. Whether you’re looking to make an actual positive impact on the communities or want to bring yourself out of your comfort zone then Think Pacific is the organisation to go through. They really care about you as a volunteer and are always there for day and night. It’s an experience that you will cherish.

Volunteering with Think Pacific is one of the of the best things I've done. It provided me with so many experiences I'll remember for the rest of my life, introduced me to a beautiful culture and allowed me to meet some amazing people.

I would recommend Think Pacific to anyone hoping to contribute meaningfully to other people. It doesn't matter your age, interests, background etc, Think Pacific will have something for you. The leaders are great, the Fijians are super welcoming and it's all around an amazing experience.

The month I spent in Nayavutoka in Fiji with Think Pacific has been the best month of my life. I lived within a family in a remote village where we built a medical dispensary. We also learnt about the culture and history during the culture course we took part in. I met some incredible people both within the community and the volunteers I worked along side. This experience taught me so much, from practical skills to everything we learnt during the culture course. some of the highlights include fishing and snorkelling, and learning the meke (traditional dance) from the locals.
There were some challenges to overcome, the wildlife such as frogs rats and lizards took a bit of getting used to and the chickens did like to wake us up early. But all of this was very minor and really did not take away from my experience.
My favourite part of the month was spending time with the children in the village, my brothers really made my time in the village incredible. After cooking breakfast with my mum I would walk my little brother to kindergarten then in the afternoon we would all play games with all of the kids in the village.
If you are considering volunteering with think pacific I would 100% recommend it, it will be an experience of your life time.

On their GTI, we were able to work with 3 amazing organisations which do invaluable work for the Fijian community and being able to contribute was an opportunity I will always be grateful for.

Beyond the internship work itself, we had free time to explore Suva, and were privileged to be taken on various activities and excursions with the Think Pacific team that only made our time in Fiji all the more special. The interns, our leaders, and our matrons were so kind and supportive.

10/10 experience - I would go back and I would recommend you go!!!

Volunteering in Fiji, with Think Pacific, really opened my mind and has definitely been life changing. I was welcomed into the amazing Naseuvou village in the heart of the Naitasiri provence situated in Viti Levu (Fiji’s mainland) on the 18th January and was introduced to my new Fijian family and what an incredible, heartwarming and totally lovely family they were. Nene (Mum), Toutou (Dad) and three siblings, alongside numerous aunts, uncles and cousins! They have truly become my Fijian family and, even now that I’ve left, we are still keeping in contact! They’ll be friends and family for life!

For the Fijian youth, the morning workshops offered education on topics such as mental health (suicide is the biggest killer in Fiji but never gets talked about) alongside the basics of business, leadership, public health, the environment and first aid.

It was quickly evident that these workshops really opened their minds to wider perspectives and possible opportunities open to them. From conversations, many mentioned the enjoyment they felt participating in these workshops as well bringing attention to topics they had never previously discussed. It was heartwarming to see two of the youth sticking up the suicide awareness and warning signs posters made during the mental health workshop in the main village hall for others to see and help spread awareness. These workshops offered a fun, yet educational, discussion for both the youth of the village, and us volunteers. Many of these workshops included, song, dance, and role play.

In exchange, five key youth delivered workshops in the afternoon around the Fijian culture. We learnt skills such as how to perform the Meke (a traditional Fijian dance), prepare traditional desserts, and paid visits to a Fijian farm to plant cassava. These workshops helped us immerse ourselves in the culture and allowed for a cross cultural understanding for both the Fijians and the international volunteers.

Nothing can compare to the depth of experience, learning and self-knowledge that I received during my time in Naseuvou and I would go back in a heartbeat.

Where do I start. This was genuinely one of the best things that I’ve done. Going in with very little expectations - I came back a better minded individual having been loved by the Fijian village where we resided for 3.5 weeks. Our core goal was to educate the youth on the benefits of sport, these were done via morning workshops. Outside of that we learnt about Fijian culture through education and activities whilst socialising with the villagers and volunteers outside of that. Phenomenal experience!

Spending a month in Fiji with Think Pacific on the Youth Empowerment Project was nothing short of life-changing. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed into a vibrant and supportive community that instantly felt like a second home. Working alongside dedicated local leaders and passionate volunteers, I gained a profound understanding of Fijian culture and values.

The project itself was incredibly rewarding. Each day, I had the opportunity to engage with young Fijians, helping them develop essential skills and build confidence. We facilitated workshops on topics like leadership, communication, and personal development, tailored to empower the youth to realise their full potential. Witnessing their growth and seeing the spark of motivation in their eyes was inspiring.

Beyond the work, living in a rural Fijian village allowed me to fully immerse myself in the local way of life. I cherished every moment — from sharing meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients to participating in traditional ceremonies. The genuine kindness and hospitality of the Fijian people made me feel welcome at every turn.

Think Pacific's approach is truly collaborative and respectful of the local culture. They prioritise sustainable impact, ensuring that all volunteer efforts align with the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve. This made me feel confident that our work was making a real difference in the community.

If you're looking for an experience that combines personal growth with meaningful community impact, I highly recommend joining Think Pacific in Fiji. It's an opportunity to make a real difference while also learning, growing, and experiencing the world in a truly unique way.

Being part of a Youth Empowerment program with Think Pacific, I had the privilege of getting to stay with a Fijian family in a rural village for a month, mimicking their way of life by living in their house, eating their food and being a part of their family. Whilst on project, our days would be split into two main parts. Workshops, in which we would collaborate in groups with youth from the village to discuss differing topics such as climate change, mental health, and leadership. By prioritising teamwork to find issues and solutions to whatever challenges we were tasked with, I learnt more about the topics we were discussing as well as several skills relating to group work. On certain days we also ran our own workshops which greatly improved my confidence, both in public speaking and being able to create and run a session. In the afternoons we would do an extremely insightful culture course, in which we got to understand different aspects of Fijian culture. From how they cook their traditional dish, Lovo, to how they weave beautiful Fijian carpets and bracelets out of grass. However, my favourite days were Saturdays when we would have trips outside our village. My highlight being the Nabalasere waterfall, at 230ft it's the tallest in Fiji so I had to include a picture of me sitting in front of it! Even though I got to see so many amazing things, my favourite part of the whole experience was meeting friends for life, both other volunteers and villagers. So if you're considering doing a Summer school then get out of your comfort zone and do it! If it's anything like my experience you'll have the time of your life!

This project was such an incredible experience- genuinely the summer of a lifetime. The sense of community in the village is something I feel so grateful to have had the privilege of seeing first hand and moreover being welcomed into. The workshops resulted in a visible impact within the youth in terms of their confidence and understanding of certain topics which was such a lovely thing to witness and to have felt in some way responsible for. There’s no culutural immersion opportunities like it!