Community Outreach Activities in Fiji Joeli Veitayaki University of the South Pacific

Importance of Community Outreach Management of resources is about managing human beings and their activities Management of resources is about managing human beings and their activities Importance of ocean, coast and islands resources not fully understood Importance of ocean, coast and islands resources not fully understood Capacity building is critical due to lack of resources and the challenges to be addressed Capacity building is critical due to lack of resources and the challenges to be addressed Community based initiatives are critical as their impact people’s lives Community based initiatives are critical as their impact people’s lives Partnerships - sum of our collective effort is more than sum of individual work Partnerships - sum of our collective effort is more than sum of individual work Activities to articulate sustainable use of ocean and island resources are required at all levels Activities to articulate sustainable use of ocean and island resources are required at all levels

Community Outreach Activities Chemistry Outreach to Schools (COTS) Chemistry Outreach to Schools (COTS) –Operated by Chemical Society of South Pacific –Organise open days and Science Clubs –Produce booklets, video and posters –Prepare students for seminar presentations –Schools Cloud Observation Online (SCOOL) Green Schools Fiji – Live and Learn Green Schools Fiji – Live and Learn –Encourage teachers to provide sustainable environment through education –Promote local action to address environmental deterioration University of the South Pacific Student Association and affiliates University of the South Pacific Student Association and affiliates –Organise community visits during semester breaks –Assist with community development projects

Community Outreach Activities Ocean Future Society’s Sustainable Reefs initiative Ocean Future Society’s Sustainable Reefs initiative –promote culturally appropriate, multimedia educational resources that show value of coral reefs –show harmful human activities Collaboration in community development by NGOs and education institutions Collaboration in community development by NGOs and education institutions –WWF set up Fiji’s one and only MPA –FSPI set up waste water treatment and Coral Gardens –USP collaborate with communities to set up marine reserves –Coral Cay conduct coral reef monitoring –Green Force assist with community development

Community Outreach Activities Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network – established community managed marine areas Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network – established community managed marine areas IOI-PI’s Women and Sea initiative IOI-PI’s Women and Sea initiative –assist with alternative sources of livelihood for coastal communities –support development of women and youth (workshops on leadership, project planning, compost toilet, smokeless stoves) –assist alternative sources of livelihood that include cattle farming, recording of music, mat marketing, bee keeping, copra purchase, benzene outlet, outboard punts IOI-PI assist women activities in Samoa (workshop on MDG), Solomon Islands (women souvenir outlet, Vanuatu (micro finance) IOI-PI assist women activities in Samoa (workshop on MDG), Solomon Islands (women souvenir outlet, Vanuatu (micro finance)

Future of Community Outreach Community development is critical Community development is critical Awareness has been created sufficiently Awareness has been created sufficiently Action is being undertaken but more is required at all levels Action is being undertaken but more is required at all levels Financial support is required Financial support is required Mindful of failures Mindful of failures Partnership is more effective Partnership is more effective Use of school and university students has huge potential Use of school and university students has huge potential Youths need to be engaged for future is theirs Youths need to be engaged for future is theirs