Building of Resilient Communities in Ra , Fiji

On behalf of the local villagers from Nakorotubu Districtin theProvince of Ra, wewould like to extend our benevolent gratitude for your generous donations in mangrove rehabilitation along coastal and vulnerable areas most specificallyto those heavily affected by the last cyclone, Winston,

We are pleased to report our most recent activity. On August 13^th, local villagers planted 1,700 mangrove saplings.Small children accompanied by their mothers, worked hard with their small hands to plant saplings.

For the past years, OISCA has been providing technical assistance andempoweringthe local villagers through the women’sgroups in mangrove rehabilitation and maintenanceof their mangrove nursery.

In our experience in restoring vulnerable coastal areas, we were able to materialize a new methodology of raising mangrove propagules in the nursery with astrategic effort to enhance function and responsibility of the local villagers in the protection and conservation initiative.

It is enormous when we seea positive outcome and local people benefitfrom the grown mangroves. Theyenjoy the abundance of the sea and even women do not need to travel far as they canspend more time in the sea to catch fish. That is why we engaged women groups in rehabilitating coastal villages as they also play a vital role in driving economic development and access to opportunities and resources.

We are very grateful to our GlobalGiving donors for all the tremendous support that we were able to continue and eventuate the mangrove project in Fiji.

Mr.Patrick is a young farmer from Fiji Island receiving general agricultural training at OISCA Chubu Training Center in Japan. His cheerful personality is making the greenhouse always full of laughter, spreading happy atmosphere to the other fellow trainees fromBangladesh, Philippines, India, and Papua New Guinea. The agricultural method he learns here in Japan is natural, organic style, using compost, micro organism substances, indigenous materials to improve soil. These are very effective methods that he can take back and apply when he returns home to Fiji. Other things he is learning here is, except for Japanese language and culture, poultry, vegetable farming and rice farming. “Time management is the most significant feature so far I learnt in Japan” he says with big BULA smile.

With your generous support, we are able to support local youth to empower their knowledge and skills. OISCA is focusing on human development, providing one to two years training for eager youth from overseas. Under one roof with discipline, trainees are learning, encouraging, and respecting each other to achieve the same purpose for future leaders in their countries.

Parick is expected to contribute to the project such as “The community-led rehabilitation and reforestation of the denuded site” as well as “The mangrove project” after he goes back. Fiji is a collective society, strong social structure in the village as a unit.

In the group oriented environment that Patrick is in now, sharing ideas with different individuals who have different background. We believe that he can learn good communication skills that will be useful when he finally leads the project in Fiji.

Patrick hopes to contribute to the community for upgrading the living standard by utilizing what he is leaning in Japan. For building of resilient communities, he also wants to learn ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.

We are so greatful to donors like you who continue to support us. We believe that through human development, to empower capable youth, we can strive forward to build resilient communities in Fiji.