Volunteer in Fiji with a Non-Profit. Unique Programs!

We had a great team that worked very well together and supported each other. The experiences we had were amazing. It felt like a very worthwhile project where we were making a difference. We learnt that Fijians usually only seek medical assistance when something is going wrong. So the preventative checks that we were doing on blood pressure and blood sugar are usually neglected. The education side was also basic for us as Australians but was enlightening for the Fijians. We came across Fijians that had made a significant change in their lifestyle since the last team visited and can only assume that some significant changes would be made after our team's visit. We could see how lives could be saved as a result of this program.

We were fortunate to have a diverse set of experiences including visiting villages, visiting a primary school, visiting a high school and assessing the health of staff in a resort. I lead a couple of dances at the primary school which was a real highlight. Over our 2 weeks we circumnavigated the main island of Fiji, stayed in a village, visited a waterfall, were given a tour of a deep cave, participated in Kava ceremonies, watched fire walking and stayed in a resort.

The Fijian people were incredibly friendly, had a good sense of humour and were extremely thankful for our visit.

The local team of Masi, Mary and Lessie were amazing. They provided a necessary link between the volunteers and the Fijians as far as interpreters and our adherence to local customs. All were incredibly friendly and personable. They opened their home to us and drove us around in their cars. The food was excellent and catered to the different dietary requirements that existed in the team. The accommodation was all very good. Obviously in the village, the accommodation was a little more primitive (all of the team sleeping in one room and cold showers) but that was real and to be expected.

Carrun's concern for the Fijian people was obvious and she was particularly good at the relationships between the team and the various village or corporate leaders. She also cared for the team and kept us informed of upcoming requirements.

improvements...
1. From memory, the website seems to indicate a shorter work day than we actually experienced while on the team. We worked from 8:30ish to 4ish each day. We had read a review before leaving that had prepared us (but some of the other volunteers were not aware), but maybe the information on the website needs checking in this regard.
2. Before leaving I wasn't sure if there was going to be anything but young people on our team. We had a lovely mixture of young, middle aged and retired however, I didn't have this impression from the photos on your website. More encouragement of older volunteers and accompanying photos I think would be helpful as the experience of the older members of the team was invaluable.
3. We were made aware that there was a lot of data entry to be done for this project (and previous projects). We had people on the team expressing their willingness to contribute in this way but we only had the opportunity to make 3 or 4 entries in the end out of the hundreds (maybe even thousands) that needed to be done. An extra laptop or advice to bring a laptop for interested people may have facilitated this data entry.

My volunteering experience exceeded my expectations. It was so amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone. Being with the kids at the kindergarten was such a fun and rewarding experience where I learnt so much about the kids, Fijian culture and myself!
I met some absolutely incredible humans through this experience who now have become lifelong friends who I can’t wait to visit all over the world.

All the coordinators were so lovely and created such a welcoming environment. I really enjoyed the food, being vegetarian I was worried about the food situation but the coordinators were so accommodating and made an entirely vegetarian meal specifically for my cousin and I every day. The accommodation was also nice and comfortable.

This experience was a unique one that I never thought I would experience. As a group, we bonded and gained great insight into the public health situation in Fiji. Through this process, we felt welcomed, making a tangible impact on the communities and witnessing health outcomes we otherwise may never have seen. Through the 4 days we spent in the community, both remote and urban, we gained tangible skills from taking blood pressure to measuring blood glucose as well as communication and time management skills. One of the most memorable experiences was our stay at the farm, during which we experienced an authentic Fijian lifestyle that was unlike anything I'd experienced before. The people we met there were incredibly welcoming and grateful and overall, I would highly recommend this program. The local team were super helpful and welcoming. We had the pleasure of meeting Masi and Mere who went above and beyond to accommodate us, treating us as their own family. The home cooked meals were delicious and provided great insight the culture of the local people. Accommodation provided by the team was also comfortable and clean. Overall, a very positive experience.

The nutrition project in Fiji was a very eye opening experience. It allowed me to learn more about Fiji as a nation and more about the ill-fated issues that affect a majority of their population, all while using my available skills to help out where possible. It was a great way for me to be exposed to more of the nation's people's and cultures, which I was very honoured to be a part of. The volunteering experience was very hectic but also felt very rewarding, trying to provide health check ups for people who may not have as much access to medical checks. The people of the villages and places we visited were so welcome and kind, it made the entire experience very enjoyable and fulfilling. It was also very surprising seeing the cases of high BP or sugar levels across the population, alerting me to some of the major issues experienced by the population. Overall, I learnt so much from this experience and enjoyed every minute of it and hope to delve into similar projects again to further my interests and knowledge of healthcare around the world.

Our volunteer facilitator Carrun and Mary were lovely and very accomodating for the entire trip. I never felt like I could not ask a question with them. The local team that I worked with were very friendly and easy to get along with. The food provided by the host family was delicious and plentiful, it felt like a little feast every day. The families holding the dinner were all very accomodating and welcoming of their home, and their treatment towards us was very heartwarming, providing us with a place to stay as well as a lot of amazing local food. The accomodation at the farm was a unique stay that overall was very different but enjoyable as I spent a good amount of time away from the online world and focused more on things that didn't require electricity or the internet. Whilst adjusting to it was different, over time the accomodation became very cosy and enjoyable with my volunteer group. Overall, the local team, food and accomodation was great!

It was an awesome time volunteering at Animals Fiji Nadi clinic. I learnt so many new skills and have seen a new perspective on the animal industry in a third world country.

I loved being apart of both the shelter team and clinic and applying my own strengths to them as well as developing my weaknesses. My highlight was being able to observe and help at the Loutoka desexing drive.

The team were lovely. The accomodation was good. There was only one night where there was no food provided. This would have been fine if we had known in advance.

The volunteering was amazing!! I really enjoyed my time in Fiji working with all the staff members at Animals Fiji, they were all amazing and made us feel so welcome.
During the volunteering I spent time in the shelter working with the puppies, dogs and kittens, the tasks included health checks, cleaning, walking the animals, feeding, and giving medication. Within the clinic I spent time in the hospital, working with the vet assistants and vets. I learnt so much during the trip which included checking vitals, administering medications and how to conduct an initial consultation.
One of the highlights for me was definitely attending the desexing clinic in Laukato, and working with the staff.

The team at the shelter were extremely welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly. They made the transition there very easy and helped whenever they could. The food and accommodations were lovely, with the family and other volunteers there were very welcoming. Having other volunteers with us, made the transition easier as we were able to discuss our experiences as well as meet a variety of different people from different backgrounds. Ideas for donations that Animals Fiji might need at the time volunteers are coming.

Beautiful people and scenery. Everyone we met was so lovely and we had such a good time. Extremely rewarding and we felt like we were applying our knowledge to help the community.

Highlight - having the villages provide us local food. Beautiful - Masi and Mari (and their extended family) were so incredibly accomodating, kind and informative. They ensured we were as comfortable as could be. Food - fresh and beautifully home made. Really helped us feel at home. Accomodation - Latouka homes were very comfortable and even the farm was as comfortable as could be .

Carrun - very, very kind and helpful. Her experiences were very valuable and equipped us to go out as a team to the villages and have a great time. Potentially multiple villages per day - while the afternoon break was really nice - we felt like we were only working for a couple hours each day - felt like we could have done more.

Volunteering was excellent, I got to experience what it was like to be working with animals in Fiji. I had conversations with locals which gave me great insight into religious and cultural beliefs which impact animal control.

Being immersed in local culture was fantastic and gave an experience which I would not have had the chance outside of this project. Our home stay was lovely, always willing to help out and teach us about the local culture.