Bringing books to the YasawasBeing a ''volun-tourist'' can be very rewarding, writes Gillian Vine.
Diane Myers is helping a little boy with his reading.
For an experienced reading recovery teacher, that's normal but Diane's situation is unusual, for she is working as a Vinaka Fiji volunteer at Naviti District School in Fiji's Yasawa Islands.
Being presented by the Otago Daily Times with a large parcel of books delights her, as resources are scarce here.
Four New Zealand publishers provided books suitable for primary and preschool children, ideal for Diane's work.
The brand-new books are a welcome change from the sometimes unsuitable, dirty and battered books that are donated, she says.
Diane and others like her support not only the pupils but also the teachers.
It is difficult, one senior staff member says, to attract teachers to the area and the work of ''volun-tourists'' from Vinaka Fiji is invaluable.
Here for a fortnight with her husband Chris, a retired engineer, the couple, who live in northern New South Wales, had volunteered overseas before.
However, in countries such as Tanzania, they found not speaking the local language ''made it very difficult'', so they looked for an English-speaking option.
As English is the official language in Fijian schools, it was ideal.
''We're loving it,'' Chris said.
Like other volunteers, their base is Barefoot Island Resort, a three-hour ferry trip from Nadi.
From Barefoot, it's a 20-minute boat ride to the school, a much easier trip than that taken by many pupils, whose passion for schooling sees them walking for as much as an hour each way to attend classes.
While Diane is helping improve youngsters' reading, Chris is busy outside helping assemble colourful play equipment donated by Wellington's Makara Model School.
Principal Gail Dewar explains: ''We ... had a new playground installed, so instead of throwing the old one out we decided to donate it to Naviti District School through Playco. Playco supplied our new playground and very kindly arranged for the usable parts of the old one to be refurbished and shipped to Fiji.
''We are thrilled to know that our old playground, which was so well loved here, is still being used and appreciated by children in Fiji,'' she says.
Working outside in temperatures around 30degC, Chris gets welcome relief when he can stand under a tree to watch pupils perform songs and dances for passengers from Fiji Princess.
The passengers are a New Zealand group with a common interest in music.
They are greeted by young women from Yasawa High School's hospitality class, a Vinaka Fiji ''second chance'' initiative, then move through the shared grounds of the primary and secondary schools to see what is offered to pupils.
As well as items by the young people, the visitors are addressed by Temalesi (Tema) Savu, co-ordinator of Vinaka Fiji.
A former teacher, she talks about the programme and the number of countries from which the volunteers are drawn.
''But we would like more from New Zealand,'' she says.
Tema points out that the absence of children from the sports field is not from lack of enthusiasm - this is rugby-mad Fiji, after all - but because there is insufficient water to rehydrate them after games.
As a result, sport is played only on Friday afternoons.
The subject of water is one dear to Chris Myers' heart and he is keen to be involved in sustainability projects, such as harvesting rainwater in the wet season (January to March) so it can be used in the dry months.
He goes back to work in the playground, while Diane reads one of the books from the Otago Daily Times parcel to a small group of rapt children.
Between them, publishers Hachette, Macmillan, Scholastic and Steele Roberts supplied 10.5kg of books for young readers.
Some were given to Conua School, inland from Sigatoka on Fiji's main island, Viti Levu.
Again, the books were very welcome and it was great to see the children willingly sharing them, reading favourite passages to friends or showing illustrations to younger pupils.
• Gillian Vine took books for the reading recovery programme in Fiji which were kindly supplied by the following publishers:Hachette, Macmillan, Scholastic and Steele Roberts
Vinaka Fiji
• Vinaka Fiji (literally ''Thank you Fiji'') is a charitable trust set up by NZ-owned Awesome Adventures Fiji. The aim is to provide improved basic amenities missing from village and school life in the Yasawa Islands.
• In 2014, Vinaka Fiji efforts included the establishment of a community library and organic poultry farm at Muaira village, Naviti Island; and sponsorship of the first dux trophy at Yasawa High School.
• Volun-tourists pay to take part in the various Vinaka Fiji programmes. The education and sustainable communities programmes start at $F1520 ($NZ1070) a week. The weekly rate, which drops for longer stays, includes accommodation at Barefoot Manta and three meals a day. Volunteers also pay a donation to the projects.
• Visit www.vinakafiji.com.fj and www.fiji.travel for more information.
