Dreaming in Vanuabalavu

In Mavana mats are made from leaves from a type of plant that grows on the island, but other than that, there is no industry. I would like to teach them to make jewellery with the seeds and shells that are readily available here, or book covers from the coir of the Coconut trees and also use the leaves of certain trees to make gifts. They could also make cards that can be used as souvenirs or even to give to their friends, but as I have said – everything needs to come from the main island and in Suva there isn’t much to find in the craft line either.

So, I am asking that if anyone is able to make a contribution, it would be most welcome. These contributions do not need to be expensive items and just something that can be sent in a padded envelope. Things like colouring pencils, cello tape, scissors – basic stationary – is nowhere to be found on the island. I have seen ‘glue sticks’, but that isn’t nearly strong enough for the type of crafts we have in mind. Like Ema says; “What that? With what money? From wheres we get things to makes?” They were amazed when I showed them a few things and everyone became excited about starting to do something – so much so that they’re now collecting seeds and pretty leaves that we can use.

Another idea that I have is to start a coffee shop or a small restaurant.  News about this has spread like wild fire on the island and now everyone is waiting to see what I manage to accomplish. There has never been anything like that here as no one has ever had the money to start something up.

I have seen the cutest house on the beach front on Lomaloma that I would love to turn into a coffee shop. I am totally in love with that little place and it has so much potential. It was damaged by the cyclone and no one has repaired it as there just isn’t money to. Materials needed to fix it up would have to come from Suva on the boat and that’s a lot of money in their terms.

There are no activities for people on the island. No restaurants, no coffee shops where they could just go and sit and have a piece of cake or a cup of tea or coffee. There’s no gym and no sport to be seen over here. No shops to browse in or even just to window shop. Nothing. Absolutely nothing! There isn’t anything that can improve their quality of life. Even watching TV or listening to the radio is for many something they know about, but don’t have themselves, or go to their neighbours for the experience.

The only activity here is to drink Kava and get drunk. There are only 3 shops on the entire island and they only sell the bare necessities. The biggest shop in Lomaloma has 8 shelves and each shelf has another 3 shelves added to each end of it – in other words – 48 in total. The shop might look full, but only closer inspection you will see that the whole shelf has only one selection on it. A shelf of corned beef, or a shelf of tinned fish – about 100 tins or more of the same thing. It’s certainly not full of variety!

 There are many things that I just can’t get here. Like deodorant. No other soap except for the ‘pink’ or ‘purple’. No hand cream or any type of make up for the women. Ema was ecstatic when I told her I would ask my friends to send some make-up.

Things that we take for granted, things we don’t think twice about, are the things people on this island can only dream about.

For a list of things that are needed, please go to the top of the page and click on 'Island wish list.' Thank you so much.

Here I am in Vanuabalavu

1 October 2010

I am so excited today! I have all these great ideas of what I want to do here on the island and how I’ll be able to help the people on Vanuabalavu. But, I won’t be able to do it on my own. I am asking anyone willing and able, to help me give these people that have crept into my heart, a little piece of ‘heaven’ that we take so for granted. 

According to people that I have spoken to here on Vanuabalavu, and people in Suva – which is the capital and largest city of Fiji – Vanuabalavu and other islands of the Lau group, are known as the ‘Forgotten Islands.’ This is because they’re very far from the main island and that’s what made it an easy target when in 1855 the Tongan Prince Enele Ma'afu conquered the region. The Tongan influence is still very evident in the culture and architecture on the island.  

All supplies and necessities are either flown in from the main island or brought in by boat, which pushes up the prices significantly. Only the absolute necessities can be bought because it’s just too expensive to even consider any so-called luxuries.  As it is, most of the daily things that are needed are brought in from Australia or New Zealand and even then a lot of it is unaffordable for most of the people on the island. The plane trip from Suva to Vanuabalavu takes about an hour and a half and that only happens once a week.  The boat only comes out once a month and that trip takes 28 hours – if the weather permits.  If not – you wait another whole month. So many times goods have been ordered and paid for and people are left waiting for two months to receive the stuff.

But first, let me give you a bit of background about myself and my work:

I came to the island from South Africa, to work as the island manager of the Nabavatu Plantation where coconuts are processed and made into Virgin Coconut Oil. That’s only one of the many tasks I have. I love being here and the challenges and growing opportunity it’s presented. Skapie  (the Afrikaans name for a baby sheep) is one of my big challenges – or should I say Skapie’s stepmothers are my big challenges! Skapie’s twin was eaten by a pig and Skapie’s mother died when Skapie was only four days old. And so – Skapie was put in my care and trying to find a step-mother for her has been a very frustrating task! There have been 3 that I thought were good candidates, but all I seem to do is wrestle for a teat to suck on– for Skapie that is – not me! I have bite and bump marks to show for my efforts.

Other responsibilities include paying salaries to staff, general maintenance and managing the minute shop in the village. A village with a whole six houses.  

It’s quite a sacrifice I made to be here and had I known what was waiting for me, I probably would not have come in the first place. But here I am and I do want to make a difference to the lives and lifestyle of the people here on Vanuabalavu, and offer something to them that they haven’t had before. I would also like to teach them to do and make things with their hands so that they can occupy their time with creative activities and hopefully be able to generate extra money from their efforts.

My apologies for not putting up photos, but the computer says no.  Well, it's actually the computer connection that says no. It can take more than 20 minutes to get connected (if I manage to get connected at all!) and then all I have to do is press a key (any key) and it all disappears. The back button is the biggest culprit because it just shuts everything down.

I’ll be back to tell you more about the plans I have of how these people can be helped and I look forward to having you along with me on this very interesting journey.