Jack Davies Project Coordinator FIJI.
Ph 534 9368. Fax 534 9345.
E-mail l.j.davies@xtra.co.nz.

August 2000.
To all past and continuing supporters.

Taking over as the new Project Coordinator from Stuart Thompson the man who has become synonymous with Fiji projects, I have been most impressed with the number of our Regular and long term supporters. I am also encouraged by the breadth of cover Stuart had - maintained over the many years he has devoted to World Community Service Projects. We are indeed grateful to inherit the continued support he generated, and the interest and assistance his continued efforts have made possible.

As the new broom, I thought it the opportune time to give all our many friends an up date as to where things are at the moment, and where we would like to go with your support in the future. The coup has caused multiple problems, especially for those on the lower end of the economic scale, and has set our efforts back considerably. As always those with no opportunity of influence on the things that affect their lives are those who suffer most. The need for our combined efforts to assist, and fill the gigantic gaps in these unfortunate peoples lives, is even more important now than ever before. Here, again through our great organisation we can help meet the needs of others and fulfill the object of Rotary, Service before Self, help bring some peace to other lives, and develop better understanding between nations.

Ba Village.
There have been many effective projects that have brought benefit to many but the concept of a self sustaining Rotary village was a dream that inspired many of our Clubs and members. To now see the beginning of this dream coming to fruition is exciting. We now have 8 of the original Rotacottages built with 7 occupied and the beginning of a village structure under a Rotary Village Corps. ( The 8th, completed during the coup was mainly constructed by a FAIM team from Havelock North.) The overall organisation of the Village Corps is a Rotary Trust administered by The Rotary Club of Ba with all people in the village able to be involved. Just recently, Dick was able to get all of our village roading up graded, under the Cane Access Assistance scheme, which will make a tremendous difference for access and convenience. He has also arranged with the local suppliers to run the power supply to all of the village area and we now have a power supply to each of the cottages and the Community Hall. The water supply now also comes off the council supply and remains constant. Although we have power, cold showers are still the norm to relieve the tired body and refresh the soul.

Brick making has now become an art form, with concerted effort being made to keep the size regular, and quality of construction rather than speed, being the important factor. Dick has just arranged for some of the locals to manufacture 25,000 bricks for the next stage of development of 8 Rotacottages under the Canada Development Fund. The fish ponds have been built and the first trial of Tilapia fingerlings carried out but unfortunately they decided to breed, instead of grow, and were not very popular with the fisheries dept. They are now working on an alternative source of fish stock. The pond system works well with sufficient water supply either by direct gravity from the river. ( a top up system from the new 2800 litre fabricated tank from N.Z,) or the electrically operated bore, and last resort a deep well system. There is therefore plenty of back up. The final set up will be much better for feeding etc once the Pig farm is built. We can then produce bio gas from the effluent to cook the pig food and then run off the residue to algae ponds that will then run into the fish tanks as a reliable source of food..

The 12 months long-term volunteer, Geoff Bramwell from Manurewa, was a great success and proved to be the ideal way of administration and support for the FAIM teams with expert supervision of the construction work. Geoffs brother Andrew, a Rotarian from the Panmure Club came up with the most magic system to keep the work teams out of the noon day sun, by supplying a vinyl cover big enough to protect a complete house to keep the sun and the rain out so that work could continue in a much more comfortable work place. We are hopeful that AusAID through the University of the South Pacific will be able to provide another such person to help speed up the construction process. We were all ready to have a qualified man from Australia start just as the coup hit and he was stopped from coming by the international travel ban from both the N.Z. and Australian Governments.

AusAID still have volunteers available at no cost to the Village as soon as the travel ban is lifted so here's hoping it is soon before the weather becomes a problem. Dick in his usual way has developed many other activities for the long term benefit of the village community. He has arranged with a grant from the German Government to build a soft cheese yoghurt factory from a normal Rotahome plan with only slight modifications. This type of cheese was a major diet supplement in India, and Dick hopes to reintroduce the locals to this lost art. As mentioned, the Canadian fund support has come through and the locals will get started with the construction of these units in the expectation that Australia and N.Z. will come through with some FAIM teams in the near future.

Other developments have been chicken and duck raising and the possibility of honey farming. The plant nursery and vegetable gardens were beginning to develop well with a little assistance from Dick and the Ba Rotary Club but the disruptions of the coup and the lack of establishment funds has meant that not much is happening in this area at the moment. A production and management plan is needed with a motivated experienced person to supervise the local labour. We are hopeful that a new Precinct and Village manager will be able to add this function to his role.

Seeding finance and running costs for vehicle and machinery is the other major need. Following the recent completion of the survey of the present building area we are hopeful that once the final registration is complete we will see appropriate Government leases available to the Rotacottage families, and also some of the promised financial support. Peter Drysdale. We are now working with Peter to distribute the gifts in kind out of Lautoka as Suva wharf is closed. We will be arranging for at least 3 x 5 meter containers of Clothes, Books ete to go to Fiji in this Rotary year. The support has been marvellous with shoe boxes, clothes and books coming from Innerwheel Clubs from all over the District and several other N.Z. Districts. With the co-operation of Jas Jenners Worldwide and lan Jenner and his contacts we are able to get a good rate for the container, with the local transport cost being donated by Marlin Transport. Now with TRF looking to assist with transport from a new "Donated District Designated Funds Transport Pool", from this fund funds will be made available for Matching Grants towards transport costs. We have a lot going for us thanks to the willing help of our valuable Rotarian supporters. Joe Singh. Our newly appointed A.D.G. for the Suva area reports that his 5 clubs ( all in the Suva area) are making the most of the difficult situation and endeavouring to carry on as normal. Their needs are so many and varied and just to know that there are other Rotarians out there in our District who care is reassuring for him and the clubs.

AND NOW FOR THE COMMERCIAL

We are anticipating that as soon as the travel ban is lifted we will be able to arrange a series of FAIM teams from N.Z. and Australia to push on with the completion of the remaining 6 cottages that we have most of the funding for. For this purpose we are asking for volunteers to join work teams made up of capable people from wherever we can get them. The first need is for qualified builder supervisors as team leaders and then general practical people to make up possibly six teams of 5 or 6. All this needs to be before the weather deteriorates too much for practical working conditions. This may be a lot to ask for, but the opportunity is there and I feel that we have the will to make it happen. As I mentioned at the beginning I have been most impressed by the loyal support of so many Rotarians over the last few years and know that the interest and support is still there. There is great satisfaction in being part of a FAIM team and seeing the thankful, appreciative looks on the face of the children as you work with them and see the delight of a whole school as they celebrate the completion of the water supply that means no more running out of water and having to bring a bottle to school. Just to know that what to us is just a couple of weeks' holiday in the sun ( with the sweat pouring off your nose) can mean so much to those who have so little is a great reward in itself.

Yours in Rotary Fellowship. Jack Davies, Project co-ordlinator for FIJI.
FAIM TEAM CO-ORDINATOR. Julic Sobiecki. 8 Holly Way, Pakuranga, Auckland. Ph / Fax 09 5 76 7744.