The Future of Banaban Community Rabi, Fiji
OUR ISLAND, OUR HOME, OUR FUTURE
Our identity, Unity, Prosperity to Eternity
We need your help to assist the Banaban Community in Fiji finalise their 30 Year Strategic Development Plan in time to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Banabans First Arrival in Fiji.
We are calling on all our Banaban supporters and friends to get behind our united effort and please donate to help us get this important project completed by mid-November.
A lot of work has already been carried out but we need more funding to complete this very important project that will protect and guide the Banaban's future in Fiji over the next 30 years.
With more funding, we can conduct more community consultations with people of Banaban descent living around Fiji as well as the facilitation of training sessions at all four village communities on Rabi. By bringing the Banaban people together and encouraging their participation to build a better future that will provide the change and development that the people and Island needs.
The final stage is the engagement of independent consultants to compile the findings into the final plan and report for printing in time for the public launch in December 2020.
Why the Banabans need your help
The Banabans have been split under the governance of two Pacific nations; Fiji and Kiribati, trying to uphold their identity and culture as Banabans while at the same time struggling as a minority people.
The idea for this project came about from the United Nations Development Programme UN75 Project Team in May this year when organisational capacity gaps with the Banaban community in Fiji were identified. After consultation with the United Nations Innovation Hub, the Office of the Prime Minister of Fiji as well as the Divisional Commissioner for Fiji's Northern Division it was decided that this project had to proceed.
The main initiative was identified: Without a Past, there is no Future
The Banabans have already endured and lost so much over the past century and now with the assistance of United Nations and Fiji government, they are being encouraged to develop a 30-year plan that will incorporate their culture and identity into every area of governance, including, health, education, environment, infrastructure and services with a focus of preserving the very essence of their society. 
Destruction of Banaban homeland from 80 years of phosphate mining
Who are the Banabans?
The Banabans are an indigenous Pacific people originally from Banaba or Ocean Island, as it was known during colonial times. In 1900 Banaba was discovered to be made of pure phosphate. This fateful discovery would see the beginning of 80 years of phosphate mining by the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand and the virtual destruction of the Banabans homeland.
During World War II the Japanese Imperial forces invaded Banaba and murdered one-fifth of the Banaban population and forcibly removed the rest to other Pacific islands, where they were forced into labour. 
Banabans first arrival on Rabi on 15th December 1945 living in army tents and one month of food rations
How did the Banabans come to Fiji?
After the war was over the surviving Banabans were gathered together by the British government and told they could not return to their homeland. The Colonial government used Japan’s invasion as an excuse to dispose of the Banabans who stood in the way of their plans to continue the phosphate mining of their homeland.
The surviving 703 ill-treated and weary Banabans, of whom 318 were children, were then relocated to Rabi Island over 2,000 miles away in the Fiji Group arriving on 15 December 1945.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of their arrival in Fiji and will be a turning point in their history where the Banabans will plan and decide their future over the next 30 years.
Aim of the Project
The Strategic Development Plan has a 7 Point Blueprint
Point 1: To strengthen law and order to safeguard identity and unity;
Point 2: To uplift basic infrastructural foundational structures to meet development aspirations;
Point 3: To promote and uphold public health and wellbeing;
Point 4: To promote prosperity where no one is left behind;
Point 5: To empower dwellers in climate change adaptation and mitigation actions;
Point 6: To champion education on all fronts to build a better-informed populace into the future; and
Point 7: To ensure the ecological resilience of the island.
Tabwewa Village, Rabi
The Benefits to the Banabans
The benefits will be felt and experienced by the Banaban people on Rabi over the next 30 years. It will provide tangible outcomes reflected in much needed and crucial development and infrastructure for the island.
The strategic planning consultations are covering all areas of livelihood in Rabi society from upholding of Banaban identity and culture, health and wellbeing to economic empowerment.
Projects ready started
* Rabi involvement in Fiji Ridge to Reef programme focusing on protecting land, water, forest and biodiversity on Rabi.
* Rabi island is currently in the process of organic certification - Rabi Organics programme, first with the virgin coconut oil production and to include village root crop production.
* Redevelopment of Banaba House, Suva under the new Ocean Plaza development proposal.
Ocean Plaza development Suva, Fiji
Project ideas already raised
* Banaban Culture Centre / Emergency Evacuation Centre, multi-purpose community hub to incorporate, cultural learning centre, museum, archival depository, elder's meeting rooms, library, women's interest and handicraft centre, men's interest and community hall.
* Rabi Commercial hub to include: offices, banks, supermarket, government department offices.
* Reopening of Rabi airport.
* Preserving Banaban identity and culture.
* Village electrification.
* Rabi road to be tar-sealed.
* Improvement of uniformity of law and order in regard to local governance.
* Improvement of community health such as tuberculosis, diabetes, women's health.
Consultation Reflection Exercise
This is one of the key questions raised at each workshop and meeting to promote participation:
* The Past - What we Had
* The Present - What we Have
* The Future - What we Want
The original jetty and Council office situated at Nuku Rabi
We really would like to encourage you to get behind the Banabans' efforts to plan their future.
For more information on the Banabans and why they are known as 'The Forgotten People of the Pacific'
Banaban Story English
Banaban Story French
Banaban Story German
Banaban Story Spanish
Banaban Story Japanese
Banaban Story Chez
Banaban Story Russian 