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News
A ‘Life-Changing’ Experience
The students from Saint Kentigern Boys' and Girls' Schools who left for Fiji at the end of Term 2 were the envy of their classmates. As a destination, Fiji conjures up images of beach-side resorts, warm coral coasts and idyllic tropical islands. Our sixteen students from Year 8, however, were to experience a very different side of Fiji. They took part in the inaugural parent and student service trip to Nadi, Fiji, led by Year 8 teacher, Mr Richard Kirk and Chaplain to the Schools, Reverend Reuben Hardie. The intention of the trip was to complete a medical centre in Nawaka Village and to offer help at two primary schools; Nawaka Village Primary and Arya Samaj School.
For three days, the Saint Kentigern students and their parents worked to complete the medical centre, painting both the inside and out of the new building. The Saint Kentigern parents proved to be incredibly resourceful - the necessary paints and tools were purchased, curtains were sewn, shelves were constructed and a door was made from scratch.
On our first day, the container of goods that we had arranged from New Zealand arrived. We unpacked three tons of furniture for the medical centre and schools along with other resources including sports equipment, stationery and books donated by our wider Saint Kentigern community. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the generosity of Mondiale Freight Services and parent, Mr Grant Ryder for organising and financing the shipping of the container, as well as the generous donation of brand new furniture by MACVAD Ltd organised by parent, Mr Struan Kingan.
The work was shared out amongst the members of the group. While some students and parents got on with painting the medical centre, others were involved assisting at the two village schools. The energy and care with which our students engaged with the children from the Fijian schools was outstanding. The Friday turned out to be a public holiday - National Sports Day - the first year the holiday had been held. We had expected to spend this day in the classrooms but we adapted to the change of plan by arriving at Nawaka School with a box of fifty rugby balls that we had been donated by the Auckland Rugby Association. After pumping these up, children from the surrounding village began arriving from all directions and the day was spent playing sport and setting up crafts such as poi making, face painting and other art activities using resources that we had brought.
On the Saturday, we returned to the village for more sport and crafts and to complete the painting of the medical centre. During that day, we were taken on a tour of the village. It was staggering to see the poverty and basic conditions that the people of Nawaka village lived in. Nawaka village lies in a flood path and many houses are made of corrugated iron. The visit gave our students plenty to reflect on.
Finally, with the medical centre complete, the village invited us to a Kava ceremony and special evening meal (lovo) with the chief, where he personally thanked us for our efforts over the last few days. The lovo, like a hangi, proved to be delicious and the students gladly accepted the invitation to return for seconds!
The following day, we were invited to join with the village for their church service. During the service, we heard again about the difference they believed this medical centre would make to the lives of the community and we were told that the final result was better than they could have ever imagined. As if to highlight the importance of the medical centre, during our short stay in Fiji, we also became involved in seeking treatment for one of the children in the village who had an infection in his leg that had gone untreated for the last eighteen months. The plight of this young boy brought home the importance of ready access to health care and the necessity of a medical centre for the village.
On our second to last day, with our time in Fiji drawing to a close, we said an emotional farewell to the villagers and headed down to the Coral Coast to experience some of things that Fiji is so famous for; snorkeling and surfing. It is unusual to spend five nights in Fiji and only an hour or so of that time at the beach - but this is what was so special about a trip like this. The rewards of serving in this Fijian community and making a positive difference to their lives were very real and felt deeply by all members of our team; students, parents and staff alike. As a number of our students reflected at the conclusion of the trip… ‘this was a life changing experience.’
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