Fiji Hub Caqalai Achievement Report

May 2016

Promoting Cleanliness & Healthy Living in the Moturiki District post Winston
One of GVIs core principles is to build and maintain close community relationships at the grassroots
level. Here at GVI Fiji we value and uphold these principles daily and pride ourselves on the close
community relationships we have built and continue to build in country.
After Tropical Cyclone Winston hit Fiji, four villages within the Moturiki District were left in a state of
devastation. The GVI team on Caqalai island were quick to assist and reach out to these affected
communities in the Moturiki District.
One of the most important areas identified was around Water and Hand Sanitation necessary
supplies and awareness to prevent the outbreak of communicable disease following the cyclone.
Using an internationally recognised standard set through WASH workshops, GVI had the capacity to
reach out to the children of the community by carrying out this work within the schools we have
formed a strong rapport with.

Figure 1 GVI Interns delivers hand washing lessons to students of Uluibau Primary School

On the 29th of March, GVI staff along with 3 GVI interns delivered a WASH workshop to year 3&4
students of Uluibau Primary School.
Standing for Water Sanitation Hygiene, the WASH workshop is an initiative by UNICEF to address
these three facets of health care that are of particular importance in rural areas. These three
elements are addressed both as individual concepts, and as interactive components of basic health
care that are dependent on each other.

For instance, in order to have good hygiene, water is essential. Conversely, without good sanitation
systems, water sources can be easily contaminated. Therefore, the first approach was to teach
students on proper hand washing techniques.
Uluibau was first school wherein GVI conducted WASH training. Carrying out the workshops within
the schools meant that the issue was addressed not only with children, but families at large, as the
goal is for them to take these lessons home and talk about it at home. The workshop was planned by
the interns and included theory as well as hand on learning exercises such as a sing-along hand
washing step-by-step song.

Figure 2 A GVI volunteer instructs Primary School Students during the handwashing lesson. In the background is the
water tank from which students get water to drink as well as to wash their hands.

One of the interactive lessons incorporated into the WASH lessons, involved a ball with glitter being
passed around to teach the concept of dirt and germs being spread. The workshop was well received
by the students many of the students were heard singing the wash song weeks later whenever
washing their hands.
Along with the workshops, the school was supplied with one carton of hand soaps so as to assist
them in carrying out effective Hand washing methods and also to ensure that the workshop was a
sustainable one. The teachers were also very receptive to the WASH lesson with one of them saying
This kind of issue is usually considered minor, especially the hand washing. What we do not realise is
that without it being properly addressed it then leads to more serious issues and illnesses such as
water borne diseases
GVI Caqalai hopes to continue with further outreach to all the 10 villages within the Moturiki District,
with WASH workshops helping to ensure that all communities have awareness in the importance of
Water management, Hygiene, and sanitation practices.