We have all seen the glossy brochures extolling the virtues of the Fijian archipelago islands. “Visit the island paradise of Fiji and experience a holiday of your dreams”

Many of us have witnessed first hand the brilliant sunsets, the luxury resorts and had a refreshing dip in the crystal blue island waters. The local Fijians seem incredibly serene, and, with their openness and huge generous smiles, make us feel at ease and welcome. The tropical fruits are abundant, the weather divine. We may have a recollection of military coups, splashed across the news from time to time, but this memory is soon pushed aside as we settle in for a relaxing afternoon by the pool or in the tropical waters.

Although Fiji is a wonderful holiday destination, is what we see in these brochures and from our sun drenched lounge, the real Fiji - or is this image, carefully manufactured for our western eyes, merely a mirage created by the giant multinational holiday companies to keep our gaze away from a harsher reality?

The Fiji that is often overlooked is a Fiji of social and economic disadvantage.

With a population of 840,000, Fiji is ranked about half way down the United Nations Human Development Index (94th out of 177 countries), alongside countries such as Turkey and Sri Lanka. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries worldwide and is used to measure the impact of economic policies on quality of life.

Although Fiji is doing well in some areas such as education, with over 74% of children receiving primary, secondary or tertiary education, they are falling behind in other areas. Life expectancy for example is sixty eight years compared with eighty years in Australia, and 53% of the population do not have access to safe drinking water.   

With the country under military control following the military coup in December 2006, everything seems calm, but there are simmering signs of discontent. This contributes to a feeling of instability for many Fijians that may be overlooked by the short stay holiday maker.

Photo: Sean Sprague

Many local Indigenous Fijians (who make up just over 55% of the population) live in rural communities neighbouring the many holiday resorts. If you venture out of your hotel and explore the islands or mainland you are likely to see traditional thatched roofed houses built on stilts. There are lots of cane fields and small plots of land where vegetable crops grow. Near the waters edge you will see women, men and children fishing or searching for shell fish to supplement a diet which is dominated by cassava and taro. Local produce markets, where everyone barters for the best price, are common.

Cakaudrove has been identified by the Asian Development Bank (in 2005) as one of the most impoverished areas in Fiji. The population in the area is generally very young; with the average age of people being under 19 years of age. The area does not offer many opportunities for work or education so cash incomes per working age household in the region are very low. Most people are considered poor. In order to better their situation as people reach working age, there is a high level of outward migration. Individuals often move to bigger towns or cities to seek employment, often without any indication of when they will return.

As a rural based society, Fiji needs to develop a skilled agricultural workforce to capitalise on its natural agricultural resources.  Rural farmers must develop skills in land management, production methods and financial management to ensure that they can use these natural land resources in a productive and sustainable way. For people in poverty, a sense of community, and self esteem are also essential to forging new futures.

Photo: Sean Sprague

On the Island of Taveuni, in the provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata Caritas Australia works with the Marist Training centre to assist young subsistence farmers to move beyond social disempowerment to become professionally productive, self employed members of their community, with an enhanced self respect, confidence and an ability to plan for their future.

Founded over two decades ago by Father Michael Bransfield (SM) to assist in the training of lay brothers and support villages in the outer regions of the provinces, the Marist training centre now has a strong focus on building local capacity in farming.

At the training centre, through the Tutu Program, non-formal adult education courses are offered to young farmers. Here students gain knowledge and skills in how to establish their farming activities as a business and thus improve their socio-economic status and living conditions, as well as reducing their need to migrate to find employment. One beneficiary of this program is Atanasio Dianirove a 24 year old young man who is the focus of this week’s Project Compassion story from Fiji.

Atanasio and other young farmers have gained much from their participation in the Tutu program. To read Atanasio’s story go to www.caritas.org.au.

Photo: Sean Sprague

The Marist Training Centre also runs a course entitled the Young Single Women’s Course which aims to train and support single women aged 19-24, by providing life skills to assist them to become active, productive and responsible members of their communities. The course covers a range of topics, such as managing the household, income generation activities and physical and psychological wellbeing of themselves and their families.

At the World Economic Forum which was held in Davos, Switzerland earlier this year we were reminded by world leaders, including heads of government, cabinet ministers, religious leaders, leaders in business, and the media, and prominent public figures such as Bono and Bill Gates, that we must work together to make 2008 the turning point in the fight against poverty.

The 2,500 participants from 88 countries who met in Davos, declared that the world is facing a "development emergency", and they pledged  “to work together to help the world get back on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

At the Millennium Summit in September 2000 our government along with all United Nations Member States, set themselves eight goals, (The Millennium Development Goals) aiming to halve world poverty by 2015.

To date these goals have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest but unless we all continue to work together countries such as Fiji will not meet their MDG targets and will remain socially and economically disadvantaged.

Anna Orchard
Communications Officer, Caritas Australia