FIJI

FIJI 2024

Anticipated Trip Cost: $4,299
Anticipated Dates:
June Team: June 22 – July 6, 2024
July Team: July 7 – July 21, 2024

REGISTER FOR FIJI

Leadership Development

  • 9-month leadership development program with integrated local service component
  • Youthlinc’s mission is to transform volunteers into lifetime humanitarians, which takes time and effort- we are not a “pay-and-go” program
  • Twenty five years of proven curriculum and data show that our program truly changes and improves our volunteers & communities abroad
  • Connect and build friendships with your team for 9 months prior to travel

Projects

  • Work with a Fijian nonprofit and the Ministry of Education to make a lasting impact in rural villages
  • Projects relate to community health, business & vocational skills, ecological improvements, construction, cultural exchange, and education

What's Included?

  • We are a Utah-based program. Round-trip international airfare is included from Salt Lake City. Minors will never be asked to fly alone to another city to meet their team for the first time.
  • All meals, accommodation, transportation, & clean water
  • Excursions to private beach near Rakiraki, Private day cruise to Tivua Island for snorkeling, Kyaking, and more, and a 16 run Zip-Line through the Jungle. 
  • Travel insurance, medical professional travels with team, 1:3 ratio of adults:students

NAVOLAU, FIJI

Fiji is known for its beautiful beaches, lush vegetation, and rich cultural traditions. However, in recent years, Fiji has experienced the devastating effects of climate change. In 2016, the northeast corner of Viti Levu was severely hit by Cyclone Winston, damaging homes, roads, crops, and coral reefs. Youthlinc has completed projects in a previous village and has moved to a new village within the Ra province of Fiji, located along the northeast side of the main Fijian island of Viti Levu This side of the island was directly hit by Cyclone Winston and is still recovering years later. Youthlinc partners directly with the Navolau District school to serve the neighboring villages. 

There are approximately 180 villagers who are primarily fishermen, and subsistence farmers growing bananas, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, corn, cucumber, beans, and root crops. One of our main projects is to support infrastructure at the school and access to water/sanitation stations throughout the community. The mothers group is a force of nature, they do everything they can to improve the life of their families. 

We are excited to continue to work directly with the village, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of Community Development to support their plans for the future. 

Read About Our 2023 Projects

In 2024, our two teams worked hand in hand with local contractors and volunteers from local villages to construct a new library and classroom for the Navolau District Primary School. This project was very hands-on and labor intensive. Participants dug out the foundation, mixed and laid concrete, layered bricks and installed windows and doors.
The cultural committee planned Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the Fun Fair. They also prepared questions for Home Visits where they talked one-on-one with villagers in their homes. During the STEM Camp, this committee prepared fun game rotations for the kids such as soccer and tag. There were plenty of opportunities for rugby and netball with youth and adults.
The education committee ran a STEM Camp at the nearby 1-8 school. Everyone on the team each taught at least one STEM or committee lesson. Lessons went great with the help from Loose in the Lab. The teams were able to provide very interactive lessons and experiments. This committee also oversaw the Mondo Art Project a project where they facilitate an art exchange between students from all over the world. It was an extremely fun project and the Fijian kids really enjoyed it.
The community health committee taught a men's health fair and a women’s health fair. They distributed hygiene kits to attendees. They provided feminine hygiene kits and cycle beads to the women. They absolutely loved these lessons. They also held a community health fair that focused on domestic violence and mental health, which was very successful and appreciated by the mothers' group. At the school the team taught basic health lessons and provided dental hygiene kits for the school.
The teams initiated two co-ops: Rock City Printing and Rise and Shine! Fiji June focused on teaching screen printing and Fiji July taught introductory sewing lessons. This was the first year ever implementing sustainable screen printing and it was a huge success. This, paired with business lessons, allowed the Rock City Printing Co-op to open and start a small business. Sewing was another success and with the new co-op the team was able to teach basic sewing skills and how to make bags for personal use or to sell.
The business committee taught a group of women the 5 P’s (product, price, placement, promotion, profit) and ended the training with an exciting boutique "sell day." By the end of the week, the women had a great understanding of the 5 P’s and were able to demonstrate that understanding.
The ecological committee and the team planted over 2,000 mangrove trees along the coast, over 400 fruit trees to support the school and Navolau Village, and installed 4 square foot kitchen gardens at the primary school. They hosted a community and beach clean-up and introduced the use of eco-bricks.
The team enjoyed a Sunday afternoon mid-trip at a private beach for lunch, beach games, and snorkeling. At the end of the trip, the team took a day cruise to Tivua Island for snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and more. They also did a 16 run zipline through the mountains.

In-country Coordinator

Samresan
Reddy

Sylvia Jessen
FIJI JUNE TEAM LEADER

I was introduced to Youthlinc in 2015. I went on my first Youthlinc trip in 2016 to Kenya. I was hooked and went to Kenya 3 more times. In total I have been on 11 trips, 4 of which were to Fiji. Youthlinc provides a very unique service experience that will change your perspective of what makes life comfortable and acceptable.

I am a mother of 4 and Oma of 13. Many members of my immediate and extended family have been on Youthlinc trips. I am looking forward to share the Youthlinc experience with you all!

Kate Gehmlich
FIJI JUNE ATL

 

 My name is Kate Gehmlich, and I’m a pre-medical student at Weber State University! I have been to Thailand (2019) and Rwanda (2021) with Youthlinc, and I can’t wait to do more! I’m so excited to be the ATL for Fiji June, and we’re going to have such a blast!

Easton Bowring
FIJI JULY TEAM LEADER

 

This is Easton Bowring and I will be team leading the Fiji July team. I’ve been involved with Youthlinc for quite some time. I went on my first trip as a humanitarian to Peru in 2015 and returned the following year as an alum in 2016. In 2017 I served as the assistant team leader to Kenya. Each of these trips brought new adventures and experience that I will treasure forever. In 2021 I had the opportunity to serve as a member of the Annual Benefit Committee. My original plan was to go to Fiji in 2021 as a mentor, but due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to go. I’m looking forward to being able to go this year to learn and grow with the community there. I’ve loved my involvement with Youthlinc and hope to create a fun environment and team in order to allow each participant to have a unique experience of their own. I recently graduated from SUU and am now working full time. In my limited amount of spare time, I love being outside, playing pickleball, doing random DIY projects and traveling.

Sammi Snyder
FIJI JULY ATL

Hi! My name is Sammi Snyder. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Utah studying Biology and Psychology. I first got involved with Youthlinc in 2019. I went to Peru in the summer of 2021 and fell in love with the program. I went to Vietnam last summer and am so excited to be going to Fiji as an Assistant Team Leader this year!

I am also a Real Life Intern at Evergreen Jr. High. I volunteer at Primary Children’s Hospital and coach gymnastics. When I’m not working or at school, you can find me playing guitar, hanging out with friends, listening to music, reading, or camping with family. I’m so excited for this service year and cannot wait to get