Think Pacific Volunteering in Fiji
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About me
My name is Josh Browning and I am a 19 year old student in my first year at the University of Leicester. I am an aspiring videographer who is passionate about exploring unfamiliar situations and challenging myself. I have recently been given the opportunity to go on a trip with Think Pacific to help with youth empowerment in Fiji in July. I will be living in a local Fijian village for 28 days, working alongside children and young adults to share experiences and knowledge. During this trip, I intend to produce a travel vlog or documentary showcasing my journey, and providing insight into the local culture of Fiji.
Why I chose Think Pacific's volunteering program
Think Pacific appealed to me as it is unlike any opportunity I've been given in the past. The volunteering program allows you to go where most tourists are unable to, taking you directly into the local villages. This allows you to transcend boundaries, as you become part of the family, with race, beliefs and life experience being irrelevant. I have faced challenges with social media addiction over the past few years, struggling to disconnect from the internet and being unable to appreciate my life in the moment. On Think Pacific's Fiji program, it is unlikely I will have access to internet or electricity. I believe this is a once in a lifetime experience for me to challenge myself to disconnect from the external world and truly value every minute of every day while I am in Fiji. These positive effects are sure to be long-lasting upon my return, and I am expecting it to reshape the way I see life, with an increased appreciation for my lifestyle. Returning to a more primitive lifestyle will help ground me, enabling me to see the beauty in a less materialistic way of living, placing an increased priority on family and friendships. Alongside this, being able to share these new experiences and document the development I go through as a person over these 28 days will not only refine my skills as a videographer, but enable me to have an impact that goes beyond myself, perhaps influencing others to attend similar experiences, and help to build a community of like-minded individuals.
Aims of the program
The Youth Empowerment Project consists of two aspects: Morning Workshops & The Culture Course
Morning Workshops:
- In these workshops, volunteers take part in activities alongside the Fijian youth, with the goal of opening up a cross-cultural discussion across a range of subjects.
- This seeks to dissolve boundaries between individuals and share different life views, providing valuable insight into different ways of living.
- Additionally, these workshops provide opportunities for individuals to improve their confidence and challenge themselves out of their comfort zones, providing growth and development.
The Culture Course:
- For 50% of the project, I will be on the receiving end of an initiative to teach me about the local culture.
- Each village within Fiji has a unique culture and lifestyle. I will be given the opportunity to learn about Fiji's culture directly from the youth in my village, providing an incredibly rare experience.
- This experience will work to boost the skill and cultural competency of the Fijian youth, while simultaneously providing me with an unforgettable experience, which will help me to become more open-minded and expand my cultural knowledge.
Break-down of funds
The registration fee for Think Pacific's program is 195 GBP.
Flights to Fiji and back to the UK are roughly 1500 GBP.
The project fee for the Fiji program is 1950 GBP.
This fee consists of providing food, accommodation and domestic travel for me while I am in Fiji. Additionally, 33% of the project fee will be used as a charitable donation to help support the long term charity aims in Fiji.
The breakdown on Think Pacific's website states:
- 35% volunteer related costs - Transport, food, accommodation, etc.
- 33% charity & sustainability - Supporting local Fijian charities.
- 17% project operations, support & logistics - Safety and wellbeing management for people attending the program
- 5% project planning and evaluation
- 5% UK volunteer support
- 2% Re-investment
- 3% Promotion
For more information, Think Pacific's website will be listed here.
Once again, thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my goals and intentions with you.
Any donation is appreciated and valued no matter how much you are able to contribute.
Organizer
Josh Browning
Organizer
England