Yaqeta Village & School

The purpose of this fundraiser is to help the students of the Yaqeta Village School, and to help build the water infrastructure required for the survival of the Yaqeta Village community.

 

This past July, my husband Michael and I went on a trip to Fiji and visited several islands. We were given the opportunity to visit Yaqeta Island Village and School. It was a quick 15 minute walk from our hotel, and our guide happened to be the head of the Village primary school. During our visit we met the villagers, their children, and also learned about the history of the island.

Yaqeta Island is a part of the northern and very remote Yasawa Island group in Fiji. The island was given as a gift when a Chief married a princess roughly 130 years ago, and in comparison to its 300+ islands that create the country of Fiji, hasn’t been inhabited very long.

One of the most fascinating things we realized on this island (and most islands in Fiji) is that nearly everything is solar powered. Although some islands have a backup generator, Yaqeta does not. The geographic location of this island makes it extremely difficult to attain resources and supplies, including food, building materials and most importantly, water.

To obtain water, other than purchasing bottled water from the mainland (that is very expensive) the island uses wells. In order to filter and purify that water, they need solar power, along with tanks and other components. Although this island and the country of Fiji is still recovering from the horrific cyclone this past February, additional equipment is much needed. Since Yaqeta Island is so secluded and a “newer” island with a smaller population of a few hundred people, it often receives minimal support.

After speaking with the head of the Yaqeta Village School board, we also learned that the students need financial assistance to visit the main land for the annual job shadow in March. Yaqeta Island does not always receive the funding necessary from the Fijian government, due to the small population in comparison to the neighboring islands.

This trip was incredibly sobering for us. We realized Fiji’s riches and paradise do not only come from the beach front huts and pristine beaches; they’re entrenched in the Fijian people. We hope you’ll help preserve this invaluable island and culture by raising money to help the students of the Yaqeta Village School and the community of Yaqeta Village.

 Here is where your donation can go:

1)   $25 =   Students Job Shadow: The 7th and 8th grade students (roughly 15 children) travel to the mainland  and participate in a job shadow. Typically, the parents of the village pool their money together to send the children. A donation of $25 enable 1 child to attend the job shadow.

 

2)   $50 =   Water tank & Pump: Ideally, the island needs 3 water tanks, so we are just trying to raise enough money for at least 1 water tank. A donation of $50 could go towards purchasing a water tank & water pump (filter) for the water that comes from the well.

 

3)      $100 = Solar Panel: Since everything on the island is generated by solar power, we are also trying to raise enough money for a solar panel. A donation of $100 could go towards purchasing a solar panel for the village to power the well, water tank & water pump.

 

 







Thank you all for taking the time to read about our experience and the wonderful people we met! We have attached some pictures from the village and we will share more pictures as new developments come along to help this village!  We certainly appreciate any donation you can give! Nothing is too big or too small!