the heart - Vodafone Fiji

Jeevan
official newsletter of the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation
Issue 1 / April-June 2007
Jeevan is the Hindi word for Life!
Message from the Vodafone
ATH Foundation Deputy
Chairman, Mr Tomasi Vakatora
Ni sa Bula! Namaste! and Welcome to the first issue of
Jeevan the official newsletter of the Vodafone ATH Fiji
Foundation. As we embark on the beginning of our
fourth year in operation, we reflect with great
satisfaction on what has been achieved by our partners
and stakeholders in the community through our
combined effort.
Since 2004, the Foundation has contributed over $2
million towards various charities and disaster relief
efforts.
Through the commitment of Vodafone Fiji Ltd,
Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) and Vodafone
Group Foundation of the UK, our obligations as a
corporate citizen intent on improving the life of the
community continues to take form.
By partnering with credible not-for-profits and
non-governmental-organisations (NGO’s), we have
been able to fund projects that will benefit and enable
the people and communities of Fiji to have fuller lives.
Whilst we continue to make progress, our communities
continue to face numerous challenges. Successfully
addressing these challenges requires a commitment
from more corporate organisations towards specific
areas of social responsibility.
We hope that Jeevan will inspire more corporate
organisations to develop a similar approach.
Betty with her village friends at Waikete village near Nausori town
Touching
the heart
13-year-old Betty Simpson is clear about what she
wants to do when she completes school. “I want to be a
doctor,” she whispered.
The young lass from Waikete village in the Nakelo
district near Nausori town has spent a lot of time in the
last few months under the care of doctors and has
learnt to appreciate the work they do in making people
feel better.
Betty was identified as suffering from acute Rheumatic
Heart Disease last year when a screening team led by
Paediatrician Dr Andrew Steer visited schools in the
Central Division.
With an added focus on the prevention and treatment
of the disease made possible with funding by the
Vodafone Group Foundation through the World Heart
Federation in partnership with the Ministry of Health,
more youngsters like Betty are expected to be
identified, treated and given a new lease of life.
Rheumatic Heart Disease develops from Rheumatic
Fever. The symptoms of Rheumatic Fever are sore
joints, sore throat and a fever. If untreated Rheumatic
Fever affects the valves of the heart and leads to
Rheumatic Heart Disease, which can lead to death.
The funding will also make way for a public awareness
campaign on the disease.

Funding a rural Kindy
Children from a rural community in Tailevu have
also been on the receiving end of the Foundation
funding with assistance given towards the
construction of a new Kindergarten facility for
them last year.
Prior to the construction of the new building,
children from the Deepwater Farming community
in Tailevu used an old condemned structure for
their early learning activities but thanks to a
funding application put together by Headteacher
Ms Bindra Devi and the approval of the Board, the
new facility is now up and running.
“The Foundation has been making an extra effort
to identify projects in the rural areas that need
assistance and this was one such project where we
were glad to assist, Foundation Manager , Lenora
Qereqeretabua said.
“I think the Management of the School were only
too pleased to demolish the old structure which
had been standing for decades in order to make
way for the new building,” she added.
The Deepwater community is made up of farmers
with the kindergarten facility providing much
needed early learning exposure for their children.
The facility is expected to be officially handed
over by the Vodafone ATH Foundation to the
Management of the school shortly. The
Foundation assistance was to the amount of
$8000. Other kindergarten projects are expected
to be completed soon at Tamavua Village and
Namarai, Ra.
Books for needy
children
More than 3000 school students from
around the Lautoka area received much
needed assistance in the form of
exercise books and educational
supplies at the beginning of the 2007
school year through a grant of $25,000
presented to the Sugar Festival
Committee
The Sugar Festival committee had
requested assistance from the
Foundation last June and their
application was approved by the
Foundation Board in July. The funds
were be used to manufacture, print and
distribute 32,000 exercise books to
needy children in and around the
Lautoka area.
Committee President,
Mr Bijesh Chand said
the festival organisers
were extremely
grateful to the
Vodafone Foundation
for their contribution
towards the project.
“The Festival Committee has been
working hard over the last few years to
assist families in need by providing
education for their children and last
year we were able to help 1700
students with 16,000 books,” Mr Chand
said.
“This year we wanted to increase the
number of books because we have
been inundated with requests from
families who need assistance,” he
added.
The Sugar Festival committee has been
working with school Head teachers and
other prominent members of the
community to identify families who
need assistance. The committee also
intends to purchase pencils, rubbers
and other stationery items for needy
children.Books for
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Young Jope’s
new glasses
12-year-old Jope Ralulu Nuku is no different
from your average young boy. He enjoys
playing rugby, hanging out with his friends and
likes going to school.
Originally from Vutia in Rewa, Jope attends
Vishnu Deo Memorial School and lives with his
family in Raiwaqa.
A few years ago, when he was in Class 5, Jope
started to have difficulty seeing what the
teacher was writing on the blackboard and
would often rub his eyes because of blurred
vision.
It was at this time that a team from Project
H.E.A.V.E.N. which tests for hearing and vision
impairment for Primary School children in Fiji
visited the school, tested his eyes and issued
him with a pair of glasses.
“The glasses they gave me really helped me
with my school work because I was able to
see the board well and I was able to
understand what the teacher was talking
about,” Jope told Jeevan.
“I was a bit surprised when they told me I had
problems with my eyes, but I am glad that I
know now.”
Since being issued glasses, Jope has broken
one pair and is hoping that the Project
HEAVEN staff will visit him with new glasses
soon.
Project Manager, Mrs. Fani Volatabu said the
project was now embarking on the second
phase which includes trying to reach
isolated schools and a revisit to all the
schools to screen Classes 1 – 5.
“We covered all the primary schools in the
first 5-6 years of operation and we're going
around now to screen the primary schools
again, as well as nearby secondary schools
for the first time,” Mrs Volatabu said. “At the
close of school last year, we had completed
the Viti Levu schools, and we have now
started on the schools in Vanua Levu.”
Since commencing operations the project
has found that 10% of the children screened
have some degree of hearing or vision
impairment.
Project HEAVEN assists with eyeglasses at a
reduced cost, or free to those who cannot
provide for themselves, hearing aids,
medication and consultation and even free
transportation from the islands or interior of
Viti Levu, if parents do not have the means.
The Foundation has granted $150,000 to the
project from 2006-2008. 12-year-old Jope
Ralulu Nuku is no different from your average
young boy. He enjoys playing rugby, hanging
out with his friends and likes going to school.

Educating
deaf
children
Equipping
the Blind
Executive Director of the Fiji School for the Blind, Mrs Barbara Farook will
be the first to tell you that special children have special needs and
meeting those needs is not easy with the number of children attending
the Blind School increasing each year.
Therefore, the School Management was relieved to receive assistance
from the Foundation last year which allowed them to purchase 15 sets of
low vision tables, 15 sets of Braille tables, 10 sets of teachers tables, 40
steel chairs and two group tables.
Speaking to Jeevan, Mrs Farook said the enormous support received from
their various donors allows the School to provide the best facilities to
meet the growing needs of the blind and visually impaired in Fiji.
“Our children receive Braille education and computer training which
gradually equips them for tertiary education and all this is made possible
through support from our various donors,” Mrs Farook said.
“They have to work twice as hard as normal children because they learn
through Braille and it’s only right that we give them as much support as
possible.”
Students at the school are classified as totally or partially blind. Mrs
Farook says one of their totally blind students scored the highest mark in
3rd form maths at DAV Boys School last year.
“Krishneel’s achievement is something that we are all so very proud of,
and it just shows that there are no limits. If he can top all normal
students at a normal mainstream school in a subject such as Maths, then
anything is possible for our visually impaired students,” Mrs Farook added.
Most of the students who attend the school live in the school hostel
premises and are given full time assistance with homework.
Other services offered at the School include Orientation and Mobility for
new students, an Early Intervention Program for infants and pre-school
children, Braille and Transcription services for students of all ages and
Integrated Education in the form of special tuition and visits to respective
schools.
The School, in Nanuku Street Vatuwaqa, has also been actively involved
in providing assistance to visually impaired children in the community
through its Community Based Rehabilitation Program.
When the Gospel School for the deaf was
established in 1999, the School Management
Committee was adamant that no deaf child who
came to their door seeking education assistance
would be turned away.
The pledge was made despite what the
Management knew were the enormous costs
involved in providing a specialised education
service which often involved the provision of
hostel accommodation for those who came from
rural parts of Fiji and around the Pacific.
Eight years later, Gospel School for the Deaf has a
roll of 48 students from as far away as Savusavu
and Rabi with a few students from Kiribati and
Tuvalu.
Much of the assistance to the students comes
from local and international donors, so when the
School Management learnt of the Vodafone ATH
Foundation through an advert in the paper they
seized the opportunity to seek assistance.
The Foundation Board approved funding for 10
students to attend the boarding school for one
year as well as for the refurbishment of the school
kitchen. Vodafone Foundation Manager, Lenora
Qereqeretabua said they also funded four sign
language interpreters last year through the Fiji
Association of the Deaf. Two of those interpreters
worked at Gospel High School with the other two
at Marist Brothers High School.
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Caring for the
Environment
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Creating a cadre of environmentally conscious young people who can
nurture and protect their surroundings is a challenge that NGO Live &
Learn Environmental Education have passionately embraced.
Working hand in hand with the Ministry of Education Curriculum
Development Unit and with a three year grant from the Vodafone ATH
Foundation, Live & Learn will be extending the reach of the RiverCare
program to a further 61 school and 10 communities
RiverCare is a program designed to raise awareness and education
with secondary school students, teachers and communities on how to
care for their surrounding waterways and the environment as a whole.
“What we have been able to do through RiverCare is create a link
between students and teachers to mobilise action in taking care of
the environment in their school community. The activities have
ranged from students breeding prawns in a creek that flows through
their school, constant monitoring of designated waterways,
replanting mangroves and trees in their school surrounding, and
monitoring beach erosion and human activities alongside nearby
beaches,” Field Trainer Iva Bakaniceva said.
“We also encourage the students to take things a step further by
linking with nearby communities to identify problems with the
waterways and create more awareness and a responsible attitude
towards the environment,” Iva added.
Since its inception, RiverCare has been established in 39 schools in
the Suva, Nakasi, Nausori and Sigatoka districts and 10 neighbouring
communities.

Reaching
Rotuma
A grant of $30,000 was given towards
efforts by the Rotuman community to
safeguard and protect the island's natural
resources through the Laje Rotuma
project.
An initiative of a group of young
Rotumans, Laje Rotuma was launched in
2002. The assistance from the
Foundation has been a major contributor
to the successful implementation of the
second phase of the project, Coordinator,
Monifa Fiu, said .
“Our objective is to create a more
environmentally conscious population
and the funding received has greatly
supported the community action
programmes that we have organised,”
Monifa added.
“Through the funding we have been able
to conduct training on the island on
waste management practices, support
the community in coastal rehabilitation
and introduce best beach practices. We
also have been creating more awareness
on the damage caused by irresponsible
dumping of household waste.”
The initiative aims to protect Rotuma's
heritage for the future and to mobilise the
community to better manage their
natural resources.
“Many of us who are directly involved in
the coordination of LRI have been
privileged to experience life lessons whilst
interacting with our own kinsmen, as well
as share that knowledge with others by
learning from different cultures through
our extended networks,” Monifa said.
Rotuma Island has an approximate land
area of 43 sq. km, and is located about
465km North of the Fiji Islands.
Ms Fiu said Rotuma has often been left
out of the development process due to its
distance from the mainland but through
initiatives like this they were hoping to
change that and address the threats on
the island's marine ecosystem and the
effects of climate change.
Conserving
Gems
In line with the Vodafone ATH Foundation focus on the protection of the
environment, a grant of $91, 753 was made towards researching and
documenting the marine life at the Great Sea Reef in Vanua Levu by WWF
Pacific.
The Great Sea Reef has been identified as one of Fiji’s hidden gems, of global
importance in terms of its biodiversity. It’s the third longest barrier reef in the
world, the most complex sea reef in Fiji and it boasts some of the most
outstanding array of sea life.
The grant made way for a survey which assessed the threats to the reef and
identified sites for conservation projects. A total of 23 sites were surveyed,
including outer barrier reefs, back barrier reefs, channels, mangrove island
fringing reefs, rocky island fringing reefs and submerged patch reefs.
The diversity of marine life was found to be of global, regional, national and
local importance with initial results revealing unique mangrove island
habitats, endemic fish species and some coral and fish species found outside
their usual range.
The survey resulted in the publishing of two scientific reports which confirm
that the reef system is home to 55% of the known coral reef fish in Fiji. In
addition, the Great Sea Reef contains 74% of the actual known corals found in
Fiji and 40% of all of the archipelago’s marine flora and fauna collection.
Further information on the reports can be obtained from the WWF South
Pacific website at www.wwfpacific.org.fj.
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Participants at a recent PALM youth camp
Life Management
Bringing youth leaders together, building their skills,
teaching them creative ways of generating income and
exploring ways in which they can maximise resources is all
part of the objectives of the Fiji Council of Social Services,
PALM Project.
PALM (Promoting Adolescent Life Management) has been
given funding by the Foundation to support the running of
the program for three years from 2006.
Empowering
Program Coordinator, Tevita Tokalauvere said through the
Young Lives
Teaching young people
skills to help them
become independent
and contribute positively
to their communities is
the objective of the
Soweri Youth Bee
Farming Project.
The Project which is currently underway in Ba received $5400 from the
Foundation towards the purchase of beehives, bee suits, rubber gloves,
a honey extractor and other supplies necessary in establishing a bee
farm.
The Project applied for funds under the umbrella of Youth for Christ Fiji,
an organisation that was established in 1997 to cater for the growing
needs of young people moving away from the traditional way of life.
“We desire to see a holistic approach to youth development which
includes the Social, Mental, Economical, Physical and the Spiritual,”
Youth for Christ Coordinator, Sereki Korocowiri said.
He said the project aims to provide 15- 20 young people with a sense of
purpose and a positive way to making a living and to impact their
various communities.
Income generated from the project will come from the honey which
will be marketed and sold by the young people.
The project is receiving technical assistance from the Ministry of
Agriculture.
funding they have been able to conduct a series of
workshops and camps in the Central, Northern and
Western divisions and have been able to provide a
platform for young people to positively contribute to
the development of the nation.
“We encourage a participatory approach in all our
meetings and camps and it's really about sharing
knowledge and just building capacity amongst our
youth leaders,” Tevita said.
“These young people have a lot of influence in their
communities and we expect them to go back and
implement some of what they have learnt with their
peers.”
The training conducted covers areas such as anger and
stress management, improving communication,
maximising limited resources, being creative, handling
drugs and substance abuse, peace building and social
leadership, health issues and also how to interact and
socialise with people within their families and
communities.Bringing youth leaders together, building
their skills, teaching them creative ways of generating
Lusiana Niudamu – It is really
enjoyable because I learn new
things like how to interact with
other races especially my Indian
brothers and sisters, and it is really
interesting to meet new friends.
Training School
A few kilometers outside Suva is Wainadoi and the
Chevalier Farm Training Centre. The Centre is run by
the Catholic Church and is home to young men who
are eager to get another chance at life by learning
trade skills including mechanical engineering,
carpentry and farming.
With a successful chicken run already supplying eggs
to regular customers in Suva and teaching the young
men entrepreneurial skills, revitalising the Centre's old
duck farm became a priority.
With a grant from the Vodafone ATH Foundation, the
Centre has been able to provide its students with
another lucrative learning opportunity breeding and
selling meat birds.

The Bare
Necessities
Foundation Board Member Mrs Manorma Singh with
one of the new facilities at Marata
Families in the Marata and Biliwai
settlements in Wailoku are benefiting from
much needed assistance towards the
improvement of toilet facilities in their
respective communities.
Youths of Marata have completed the
construction of modern standard toilet
facilities for 30 families to replace the old
facilities that had been in existence for more
than 50 years with work in neighbouring
Biliwai currently underway.
The project is being coordinated through
the Ecumenical Centre for Research
Education and Advocacy (ECREA) Social
Justice Program.
Families who needed assistance were
identified after ECREA conducted a survey
in the communities.
ECREA Field Coordinator, Semiti Qalowasa
said the project has boosted the lives of
many families in Marata and will have a
direct impact on the quality of life in Biliwai.
Mr Qalowasa added that the projects were
being implemented at an ideal time as it
helped the residents of the settlement
focus on positive developments and not on
the current political situation.
Developing medical
professionals
Since 2004 a total of thirty Fiji School of Medicine students from Fiji and the
region have received assistance from the Foundation for overseas attachments
as part of their study for either a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery
(MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
programmes. Mr Julian Sing from the Deans Office at FSM spoke to Jeevan
about the assistance.
What does the assistance mean to students
The elective scholarship allows Fiji School of Medicine students (usually in their
final year) to carry out their practical in an overseas teaching hospital or
institution. The elective runs for between four to six weeks and this allows our
students to train alongside some of the best specialists in the more developed
world. The assistance is invaluable, exposing the students to working
environments that are fairly advanced in expertise, technology and method.
How are the students selected
Student selection for Vodafone ATH Foundation scholarships to do electives
overseas is carried out by committees made up of teaching staff at the three
departments. The criteria for selection include academic excellence, proven
capability and promise in the various fields of study. Students make their own
arrangements for their overseas electives by finding their preferred institutions,
arranging for a supervisor and other attachment details. Needless to say, the
elective scholarships are extremely competitive.
What is the level of assistance
The $15,000 that the Vodafone Foundation has been giving annually has been
equally shared amongst all 10 participants; therefore each elective student
gets $1,500. How they use this money is entirely up to them… however most
use it to pay for their air fare. Individual students privately subsidise the rest of
their expenses including living costs (board, meal, travel etc) and sundry during
their stay abroad.
Any Other Relevant Information
· The scholarship began in 2004 with a $15,000 grant
· In 2005, a three year agreement was reached for the Vodafone
Foundation to annually fund a $15,000 per year elective programme
· Two of the more popular institutions where students go to are the
Royal Melbourne Hospital and Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital
“The elective programme will allow our students to experience through their
training attachment a level of expertise and technology that would greatly
benefit them. The Fiji School of Medicine is grateful to the Vodafone ATH
Foundation for their continued support for our students and through this
intervention will ensure the school’s objective of properly and highly qualified
health professionals for the region” – FSM Dean, Professor David Brewster.
Supporting Disabled Sports
The Fiji Sports Association for the Disabled received funding assistance to conduct a
series of sports development workshops for sports teachers in 17 special education
schools in Fiji.
The training was conducted in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa with the main objective of
enhancing the knowledge of the teachers to in turn benefit the 1096 registered
disabled children in the Central/Eastern, Western and Northern Divisions.
Following the training, three regional sports competitions were held in the above
divisions. The Association promotes participation in sports for disabled people, and
encourages physical education and exercise for disabled people.
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About Us
Board Member Diana Fong and Foundation Manager Lenora Qereqeretabua
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
(NGO’s) 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
Though we would love to, the Foundation cannot fund everything
so we have identified the following three focus areas as our
flagships;
HEALTH and the access to health services,
ENVIRONMENT – sustainable development and the protection of
our environment, and
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT – Youth and the community.
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.
How to apply
for funding
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
What we
do not fund