Miracle Baby Shruti - Vodafone Fiji

official newsletter of the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation
Issue 3 / October-December 2007
Miracle Baby Shruti
Jeevan is the Hindi word for Life!
Providing Support
for Kidney Patients
For the parents of 6 month
old Shruti Prasad, her heart
operation in India in August
through the Children’s
Heart Foundation and
funded by the Vodafone
ATH Foundation is nothing
short of a miracle.
Given just two weeks to live
in July, baby Shruti’s parents,
Arishma and Ritesh Prasad
had given up all hope that
their first born would survive
because of her serious heart
Baby Shruti and her mother
condition. The doctors told
the Prasads that Shruti was
in need of immediate heart surgery which could only be done overseas and
they needed to contribute $35,000.
“It was a very desperate situation for us,” Arishma told Jeevan. “We had no idea
what to do and how to raise the funds to get her to India for treatment.”
It was in the middle of this situation that Dr Wahid Khan from the Children’s
Heart Foundation called the couple and told them to prepare to go overseas
as funding had been provided by the Foundation for the most urgent cases
to go to India for immediate heart surgery.
“It was like a miracle and when we got to India we were treated so well by
the doctors who involved us with every step of her treatment. It was just
the most professional service and we are very grateful to the Children’s
Heart Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation for helping our daughter,”
Arishma said.
“Today, Shruti is recovering well and is
gaining weight rapidly. Within a month she
has gained 2.5kg and that is amazing.”
For Shruti’s parents, life is good and each
day they see her they are reminded of
how miracles can still happen even in the
most desperate of circumstances, thanks
to donor organisations.
Shruti’s mother (right) listens to an official of
the Children’s Heart Foundation (left)
The Children’s Heart Foundation was
established by the Fiji College of General
Practitioners in 2006 to cater for the growing number of children with heart
problems.
The much awaited Kidney Dialysis Clinic is expected
to open its doors in November, thanks to funding
assistance from the Vodafone ATH Foundation and
other donors.
The Foundation is providing a grant of more than
$140,000 for the purchase of much needed
equipment and supplies to get the clinic up and
running.
Honorary Secretary to the Kidney Foundation of Fiji,
Resina Koroi said there was a long list of patients who
were eagerly awaiting the opening of the clinic.
“At the moment, Kidney patients in Fiji can only
receive peritoneal dialysis locally, which involves the
changing of a bag attached to the patient three times
a day,” Ms. Koroi said. “This limits the patients’ ability
to move around and carry out day to day activities.”
“The Kidney clinic will provide access to hemodialysis
treatment, which is less expensive and only
involves around three treatments a week, allowing
the patient to function normally for most part of the
week.”
Ms. Koroi said the Kidney Foundation was extremely
grateful to the Vodafone ATH Foundation for their
support.
She added that many Kidney patients from Fiji
have had to go to India in order to receive regular
treatment.
These patients were eagerly awaiting the
opening of the facility so they could return
home and be reunited with their families.
A daughter of one of the patients who
preferred to remain anonymous said her
mother had been in India since May.
“The opening of the clinic is something we
are all waiting for,” she told Jeevan.
“It would also help to ease the financial
commitment we have at the moment because of her
treatment in India, and her return would just bring
our family back together.”

Building lives at Dilkusha
For weeks Dilkusha Girls’ Home had been a hive of activity as
members of the Suva Rotaract Club worked to complete one of
their projects; repairing and refurbishing the ablution block of the
home with funds from the Foundation.
With the project completed in July the Rotaractors decided that
a handover ceremony should include two things; the kids of the
Home and a scrumptious lunch.
But not before everyone had
had a chance to check out
the new facilities; newly tiled
toilet and shower cubicles and
laundry block.
After lots of photos and ribbing
about the workmanship; the
Rotaractors had managed
to do some of the tile-laying
themselves before deferring
to the skilled and experienced
contractors, everyone tucked
into the delicious chicken curry,
puri and dhal.
After lunch the Rotaractors had more surprises for the kids at the
Home. They opened a huge box full of brightly coloured gifts
and handed them out to each and every child. The gifts included
stuffed toys, dolls, story books and more.
The Foundation was represented at the Sunday lunch by Mrs.
Manorama Singh, Diana Fong and her 3-year old Keiara, and Lenora
Qereqeretabua.
The second Rotaract project
funded by the Foundation,
a Talking Library at the Fiji
School for the Blind, will be
officially handed over later in
the year.
The Rotaract club is a service
organisation for 18-30 year
olds which emphasises
community service and
professional development.
Deaconess Nataniela and her girls at the new facility
www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation
Children from Krishna Janardhan Primary School in Deepwater outside the new facility
Boost for
Tailevu
North
Children
For those who are superstitious by nature, Friday
13th means bad luck. But for children of the
Deepwater Community in Tailevu North, Friday
July 13th will go down in history as the day on
which they received a new Kindergarten building
from the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation.
At the hand-over ceremony, School Headmistress,
Ms. Bindra Devi said they were thankful for the
new facility which replaces the old building
closed by the Ministry of Education in 2005 due
to occupational health and safety issues.
The School conducted pre-school classes for
children from Deepwater and the neighbouring
communities of Suvasuva, Nabila and Korovou
using an old teachers’ quarters for two and a half
years.
In 2006, Ms. Devi sought assistance from the
Vodafone ATH Foundation for the construction
of a new kindergarten building to cater for the
growing need for pre-school education.
In officially handing over the building, Foundation
Board Member, Mrs. Manorama Singh said preschool
education was a significant step in the life
of any child and the Foundation was pleased to be
able to assist children in the Tailevu community
through the provision of the new building.

Helping to put sight first!
Doctors at work on one of the 53 eye operations
Assistance from the Vodafone ATH Foundation to the Lions
Club of Labasa enabled more than 1000 residents of the North
to receive free eye glasses and 53 people to have specialist eye
treatment in August.
The treatment was provided by volunteer optometrists and
ophthalmic surgeons from Volunteer Ophthalmology Service
Overseas (VOSO) of New Zealand which assists the Lions Club
International Sight First Project in helping prevent blindness
around the world.
The Foundation’s $8000 grant was supplemented by $3000
from the Club and enabled the team of two ophthalmologists
and five optometrists to attend to the hundreds who turned up
for free screening, eye checks, glasses and surgery, with some
people coming in from as far away as Nabouwalu, a day’s travel
away.
This year, because of the downturn in the economy and a
decrease in membership, the club was forced to apply for a grant
from the Foundation to be able to conduct the nine-day clinics.
To inform the population of the free service, the club put up
banners and posters throughout Labasa town and outlying
settlements with radio announcements reaching those further
away.
At the current treatment rates the total value of the medical
assistance made possible by the project is estimated at
$300,000!
The crowd waiting for treatment
Funding the
provision of water
Having access to safe drinking water is a luxury that continues
to elude many communities in Fiji despite the best efforts of
Government and other major stakeholders.
It is in response to this that the Rotary Pacific Water for Life
Foundation has been established with the objective of bringing
relief to many rural communities with limited or no access to
safe drinking water.
Launched in Suva in September, the Water for Life Foundation is
being supported by the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation through
a grant of more than $150,000 which has already started to
filter through to communities in Savusavu, Taveuni, Ra, Tailevu,
Cakaudrove and Labasa.
“The assistance from the Water for Life project covers all aspects
of water supply in these communities,” Chief Executive Officer
of the Foundation, Ms. Resina Koroi said.
“We assist the communities by providing technical assistance
and advice and have also been working through selected NGO’s
to ensure that we are building the capacity of the villagers
through these projects,” she added. Children from Vunalagi in Savusavu capture water
Communities are invited to submit requests for assistance to
a local Rotary Club or to the Foundation. Applications will be
assessed for viability before any assistance is given. Communities
that have received assistance to date have been provided with
water tanks, bore holes and other supplies essential for the
delivery and supply of safe drinking water.
All nine Rotary Clubs in Fiji, working with other Rotary Clubs in
the world will be involved in the implementation of this major
5-year project.
www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation

Rheumatic
Heart
Disease
patients
appreciate
SMS service
www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation
Vodafone ATH Foundation Deputy Chairman Mr Tomasi Vakatora serves the men
The ladies eagerly await lunch
A hot meal
for the elderly
In line with the Vodafone Passion, “Passion for the World Around Us” and misson to make a
difference in the lives of communities and people, four members of the Foundation Board
and the Foundation Manager visited the Samabula Old Peoples’ Home on July 28th.
The Foundation Officials spent the afternoon mingling with the 49 residents and served
them a hot home-made lunch of chicken soup, chicken curry and puri, and dessert.
While the lunch and the company were warmly received and obviously appreciated by the
residents at the Home, the Foundation team seemed to benefit most from the visit.
Director Diana Fong relating her experience to Jeevan mentioned, “It was a rewarding
experience; it touched my heart to be part of the team that prepared a meal for our elders.
We can all contribute in some way to our communities and I’d encourage everyone to do
what they can.”
Mrs Manorama Singh who enjoyed the preparation that went into the visit said, “it was
very satisfying to actually cook and serve the residents of the Home. It’s wonderful to give
money, but to actually do the shopping, and the cooking and then the serving…that was
really fulfilling. And it was a change from the everyday menu for them.”
Mrs. Singh had made contact with the Home earlier in the week and asked the staff to
recommend a lunch menu. The Vodafone Foundation team was then assigned certain
dishes on the menu to prepare which they all took to the Samabula home.
Foundation Manager, Lenora Qereqeretabua said the visit and the activity was a wonderful
way of encouraging the spirit of volunteerism amongst Vodafone and ATH staff.
In May, a combined effort by the Ministry
of Health, the World Heart Federation,
and Vodafone Fiji, enabled 30 Rheumatic
Heart Disease(RHD) patients to receive
free text messages reminding them that
they were due for treatment.
Reports from the RHD Programme at the
Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva
indicate that the text messaging system
has had a significantly positive impact on
the progress of the RHD Programme in Fiji
since its implementation.
Programme Assistant, Kavita said the
number of patients receiving text
messages has increased to 51, with text
message reminders sent directly to
mobile phones every three and a half
weeks.
“The reminders sent to those suffering
from rheumatic fever (RF) and RHD are
to ensure they all turn up for regular
Benzathine penicillin injections and a
number of people have commended the
initiative as it helps them to remember
their injections,” she added.
The RHD Programme updates the text
message and mobile phone numbers
every three months.
Kavita said the RHD programme will
continue to add patients with mobile
phones to this service as well as monitor
the number of injections received by
people who receive the text messages
to see if the message service helps to
improve treatment compliance.
The RHD team in Suva manages a
database of all people in Fiji with RF and
RHD. The database currently has a total
of 876 people in the database from
the Central/ Eastern, Western and the
Northern divisions.

Chevalier Duck
Farm receives
a boost
A student with the ducklings at Chevalier
When the Vodafone ATH Foundation
first visited the rambling Chevalier Farm
Training Centre at Wainadoi outside Suva,
the resilience of the Centre in continuing
its teaching programme despite numerous
challenges indicated that they were worth
supporting.
So when the Centre requested assistance
for the construction of two duck houses to
replace the duck farm which had succumbed
to the wear and tear of the elements and
the neighbourhood dogs, the much needed
assistance was soon on its way.
Until two years ago, the farm was renowned
for its ducks.
“A good day at the market would mean
about $350 or $400 for us,” Isaia Natata, the
centre’s welding teacher, told Jeevan. “So
when the dogs finished the last 60 ducks
we had, the centre really felt it. We rely on
donors and the duck farm was one of the
only other main sources of revenue for us.”
The Foundation provided the $15,000
needed for the duck houses and in
September, Father Nikora of the
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
welcomed Foundation officials
to the Centre for the opening of
the new facility.
“These duck houses will
now allow us to strengthen
a sustainable project that
represents for us ways of
meeting additional expenses
for the centre,’’ Father Nikora
said. “Additionally, the project
allowed our carpentry students
to demonstrate their skills. The
project is also an example of
what students can do as selfcreated
businesses for future
employment in the villages.”
Speaking to the students at
the official opening of the
duck houses, Vodafone ATH
Foundation manager Lenora
Qereqeretabua told the students
to be passionate about lessons
learnt at the centre.
“Learn all you can. I know it’s
become a cliché but you are the
future and in here, you have a
remarkable opportunity.”
The centre offers an all-encompassing
programme which comprises joinery,
welding, mechanics, farm and livestock
management courses to an average of 50
young men who study for two years for a
certificate. Through the Centre, the young
men, mostly school dropouts are given a
second chance at school and learning a
skill. Students pay $20 a term and practice
subsistence farming.
The School Principal
Supporting Project Heaven
Project Heaven staff Arvind Lal
Foundation Manager Lenora Qereqeretabua with
school principal Saga Dewan
For school principal Saga Dewan, who teaches
math, technical drawing and woodwork,
finding other sources of assistance besides
the steady funds from the Missionaries of the
Sacred Heart is almost a full time job.
Mr Dewan is passionate about his work with
the boys because they reflect to an extent his
personal struggle to acquire his qualifications
– his mother struggled to put him and his
siblings through school.
“I could be getting paid more in another
school but to work with these boys makes me
happy; makes the work and struggle to look
for donors all worthwhile,’’ Mr Dewan said.
“Some companies have a list of our students
and when they need replacements or new
positions come up, they call us. But our
students are not given special treatment
because they are from here. They are as good
and as qualified as any other student from
similar schools.”
Mr Dewan acknowledged the Foundation’s
timely assistance, describing it as a ‘miracle’
as there had been no other expression of
interest from all the other organisations
and/or individuals approached for assistance.
“This centre teaches the boys to create for
themselves a meaningful life, a future they
can look forward to,’’ he said. “This is a good
thing and we must all pray that the centre
continues to have the financial and moral
support to continue its work for boys whom
society has turned its back on. ”
A new sight around the country is
the new Project Heaven van with the
Foundation logo. The Foundation is
making $150, 000 available to Project
Heaven over three years to ensure it
reaches its ongoing target of screening
every primary school age child in Fiji for
hearing and sight impairment.
Last year the organisation reached a
milestone with the screening of the
250, 000th child.
www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation

Caring for the
Environment
Students at Adi Cakobau School testing water
As part of ongoing efforts towards encouraging
environmentally conscious young people, NGO Live
& Learn have continued to conduct teacher and
student training workshops in major districts around
the country.
Graduates of student RiverCare training
Student training conducted in term one of this year
included Secondary Schools in Navua, Suva, Nausori,
Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka and Labasa. Through the
workshops, students learnt how to conduct water
quality monitoring, establish waterway projects and
also shared knowledge and information with students
from other schools.
Through the programme, RiverCare members
undertake simple social and environmental research
including water quality monitoring to improve their
understanding of water issues such as pollution.
Live & Learn continue to work hand in hand with the
Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Development
Unit on the implementation of the programme with
the financial assistance from the Vodafone ATH
Foundation to continue to next year (2008).
Another aspect of the
programme, Sandwatch has
been undertaken by schools
with better access to the
coast and students study
the composition of their
beach, the types of activities
that occur and debris and
pollution found on the beach.
Sandwatch students can also
conduct water quality tests of
their marine environment.
Using the theme “We can
make a difference — adopt
a waterway”, the teachers
are taken through student based learning activities
which include water quality monitoring, education
for sustainable development, resource management,
simulation games and project management.
www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation
Good Neighbour lauds
Foundation support
Ask The Good Neighbour International
(TGNI) chairman and founder, the
Reverend Paul Ramswarup about the
Vodafone ATH Foundation and he will
give you a list of reasons as to why
Foundations are the way forward for
corporate organisations in Fiji.
TGNI is a non governmental organisation
officially registered in 2005 but has been
operating for over a decade, helping
and supporting low income earning
communities around Fiji.
The Good Neighbour recently received a
grant of $18,983 from the Vodafone ATH
Foundation to assist in equipping and
building its centres around the country.
“We have been blessed indeed to have
a donor in the form of the Foundation
as it is something that has been set up
locally,” Rev Ramswarup said.
“We have been able to upgrade, build
and equip our five centres in Fiji with
computers to help our volunteer
officers in the field with their work in the
communities that they serve,” he said.
“Basically we help people to help
themselves and help others, that’s what
Good Neighbour is all about.”
While they have yet to advertise or
create awareness of their existence in
Fiji, the work that has been done with the
800 plus people that Good Neighbour
has come to work with has sent out a
fresh and reassuring message to the
community, he added.
“And this is why we are thankful and we
can’t even comprehend how blessed we
are to have a donor like the Vodafone
ATH Foundation.”
“Through their assistance these
communities that we reach out to
are enriched with ways to remain self
sufficient and how to play their part in
building our Fiji to be a better place.”
“I have a thought that if we can create
this ripple effect on the community
through the help of the Foundation
through us and the other NGOs that are
supported by them, Fiji will succeed in
eradicating poverty and educating its
people to use their resources to their
full potential,” he said.
TGNI centres around Fiji that have
benefited from the funding by the
Foundation include their McGregor
Street centre in Suva, Savura, Wailoku
Destiny Home centre, Vunisoco, Namosi
Centre and the Barotu, Ra centre.

Meet the
Board
Name: Diana Fong
What is your job title? Peoples Manager
What does your job entail? My primary responsibility
is to work with our people in driving and encouraging
the Vodafone culture, creating an appreciation of what
it means to be part of a Values Based Organisation
When did you join Vodafone? September 2001
When did you become a Foundation Trustee? 2005
What excites you about the Foundation? Knowing
that I can make a difference. It is absolutely the
best feeling to see people’s lives change through
contributions made by the Vodafone ATH Foundation
What do you think has been the Foundation’s
biggest challenge? Our biggest challenge has been
trying to get people to understand the areas we focus
on. It is always difficult to say no to projects when
they do not align to our strategy of sustainable social
investments.
What’s the best thing about being a Trustee of
the Foundation? The best thing has been seeing the
success of projects and seeing the lives we have been
privileged to touch and change through our work
Where do you live? Raiwaqa
Any pets? Yes, a dog
What do you like to do in your spare time? I try and
spend a lot of time with my family and when I can I
love to travel.
Favourite movie this year? “Because I said So!” I am
a big softie for romantic comedies!
www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation

About Us
How to apply
for funding
www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation
Vodafone ATH Foundation Deputy Chairman Tomasi Vakatora
being interviewed by Fiji Television
Who We Are
The Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation (The Foundation) was established
in March 2004, under the Charitable Trust Act as an avenue through
which our companies, Vodafone Fiji Limited, Amalgamated Telecom
Holdings (ATH) and Vodafone Group Foundation of the UK can
invest back into the community and the environment.
The Foundation follows the establishment of the Vodafone Group
Foundation (www. vodafonefoundation.org), to ensure a harmonised
global approach to social investment activities conducted through
local foundations. Similar foundations have been established in
other countries around the world with a Vodafone presence.
A local and relevant approach is made possible through partnering
with credible not-for-profits and non-governmental-organisations
(NGOs) and by funding projects that will benefit and enable the
people and communities of Fiji to have fuller lives.
The Foundation is comprised of a board of trustees made up of
staff of Vodafone Fiji and Australia, and ATH, and the Foundation
Manager overseeing the day to day running of the Foundation.
Our Mission Statement
Through our Passion for the World Around Us (one of Vodafone’s
passions) we can lead and make a difference for our communities
and our people.
What we invest in
We will support education programmes to better communities,
inspire innovation and encourage leadership.
We also welcome applications for other projects in other areas if:
· You are a registered Fiji N.G.O. or not-for-profit,
· The project you are proposing is in line with our
Mission Statement,
· The beneficiaries of the grant are Fiji based.
While we welcome applications all year round, invitations
for applications are advertised every quarter in the main
dailies a few weeks before the board of trustees’ meetings.
Proposals should include:
· Name, background, financial profile, registration details,
constitutional documents and purpose or mission, of the
organisation.
· Summary of projects that have been undertaken in the
recent past; and
· Details of the project to be undertaken, including
description, objectives, amount of funding required,
financial analysis, implementation plan, letter of support
from relevant government or regulatory authority, and
any other information which may be relevant to the
project.
Alternatively, organisations can download and fill out
the Foundation application form at www.vodafone.com.
fj/foundation .
Proposals should be sent to this address:
The Board of Trustees,
C/- Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation Manager,
Vodafone Fiji Limited,
168 Princess Road,
Tamavua,
Suva.
Or to foundation@vodafone.com.fj