35 hrs of fieldwork per week
1:6 staff to participant ratio
Includes GVI ExperiencesJoin us on an impactful journey to the Dawasamu district in Fiji. Your role will directly influence children’s lives, fostering their growth and development. On this volunteer with children program you’ll get involved in fun activities and educational support, shaping their cognitive, physical and emotional well-being. Your contribution counts – be part of this transformative experience today!
Upon arrival at our base in the village of Silana, participants undergo initial training with GVI. This includes orientation to GVI’s protocols, an introduction to both GVI and Fijian culture, and a tour of Silana, your home away from home during your stay.
Participants receive specialised training, including TELF techniques, preparing them to lead structured learning sessions and early childhood development courses with caregivers.
You’ll be working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. Part of your role will be to develop and deliver sessions for children under five, enhancing their cognitive, emotional, social and physical skills. You’ll also provide short courses to caregivers, emphasising the significance of early childhood development and ways to support children’s growth at home.
On Mondays, we focus on planning, choosing engaging themes for activities. For instance, exploring colours helps develop fine motor skills and promotes teamwork. Participants also delve into the science of childhood development and receive training on delivering modules to caregivers.
From Tuesday to Thursday we visit nearby communities to deliver sessions. Friday is set aside for reflection and adaptation. Constant support is provided by trained field staff and participants will be accompanied by a local member of staff to facilitate these sessions.
Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.
Some of the partners we work with on base.
Boasting magnificent sunset views and swaying palm trees, our base is located on the edge of a traditional rural village, in the district of Dawasamu. We have Tova Peak on one side (the third highest mountain on Viti Levu) and the beach on the other. From your bed you can listen to the sounds of the crashing waves. A short boat ride away, you will find the famous Moon Reef with its resident pod of spinner dolphins.
Participating in a GVI program offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into Fiji’s culture of hospitality and warmth, and to experience what it’s like to be part of the community. On arrival, you’ll get to experience a “Sevusevu ceremony” – as a sign of respect you present yourself to the community to ask “permission” to stay. The ceremony is an age-old tradition that marks the formalisation of the community accepting and welcoming you, and celebrates your arrival.
We want you to make the most of the chance to live in – and contribute towards – the most diverse and unique wildernesses and communities on earth. Introducing GVI Experiences – immersive adventure, cultural and wellness activities exclusive to GVI that have been specially designed in collaboration with our local partners to support and stimulate sustainable economic development.
Enhance your impact. Expand your adventure. Explore your world.
By joining a GVI program, you not only have the opportunity to work in collaboration with local communities, you also get the chance to explore the surrounding area or venture further to see what else the region has to offer on weekends.
Our field staff are a great source of advice on local travel options. Many participants choose to travel before or after their experience, solidifying friendships made on the program.
Engaging with a new context teaches global awareness, adaptability and critical thinking – skills highly valued in today’s world. Cultural immersion is encouraged, and there are many activities to enjoy during your free time or before and after your program. Please note, these suggestions aren’t included in the program fee and are at your own expense.
Fiji has a thriving souvenir industry. Local artists produce various intricately carved wooden items.
Dive with bull sharks in Beqa Lagoon, one of the world’s most famous shark diving destinations.
From Pacific Harbour, you can join a jetski safari, or go white-water rafting on Navua River.
If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
Program Manager
Meet Michele, our brilliant Program Manager in Fiji. She has travelled widely in the US,
Community Coordinator
This is Meli Rabele, our Community Coordinator from our base in the district of Dawasamu, Fiji. He is very proud of the work he is a part of here in Silana village, where he ass ...
Education Coordinator
Meet our Education Coordinator, Litia. She is based in Silana village in Dawasamu, Fiji. She is extremely passionate about teaching children and early childhood development and ...
Community Health Officer
Meet Sereima our Community Health Officer in Dawasamu, Fiji. She is a local of Silana village where our Fiji hub is based. She loves new meeting people, playing volleyball and w ...
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals.
We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile.
This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
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All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the UN SDGs. Then once you arrive on base, you’ll learn about the specific goals we have in this particular location, our various objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to be an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
While on a GVI program, you will make an impact by assisting with the conservation of a staggering 1,500 marine species through underwater surveys and data collection, all of which are endemic to this region.
The communities we work with in Dawasamu often do not have access to sufficient resources to carry out regular data collection in their fishing grounds. Access to data provides greater insight into how to address coral reef and fish stock-related problems, which can be hampered by natural disasters and unsustainable fishing practices.
The data collected on our programs is provided to the local community and our local partners along with alternative livelihood methods and management strategies to help stakeholders make informed decisions with regards to their existing marine resources and long-term food security.
Research is shared with local communities to support decision making regarding the management of their marine assets.
The data is also shared with our in-country partner – the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) network.
GVI Dawasamu long-term objectives:
1. Improve waste management in Dawasamu by developing community-based waste management solutions such as a successful recycling initiative.
2.Assist communities with the acquisition and set-up of rainwater harvesting tanks and educating them on how to safely use and maintain the system.
3. Introduce and promote the principles of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and preventative health measures in the Dawasamu District.
4. Develop and deliver sessions for young children that support the key developmental areas of cognitive, emotional, social and physical skills.
5. Waste Management: Conduct regular cleanups of the sea and beaches on and around the Dawasamu district.
The best decisions in international development and conservation cannot be made without accurate and up-to-date data or informed research. Our many field teams around the world collaborate with local and international partners to analyse data and draw conclusions. In addition, many of our participants have used research they have collected on their various GVI projects to complete their Masters, Doctorate, or postdoctoral studies. We also run a fellowship program which connects postdoctoral researchers at globally-respected universities with our many sustainable development programs around the world to support their research and ensure continuous improvement of our best practices on base.
Fiji Times Newspaper
Fiji Times Newspaper
A GVI program is an investment in your career. No matter which you choose, you will be working toward improving your employability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise and earning qualifications in many cases. Most of our staff are, in fact, GVI Alumni, and we have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs. Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects around the world.
Learn about the importance of child and vulnerable adult protection best practices and how to apply them while on project.
Introduction to the history and evolution of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and how these related to your project work.
Learn about our country locations and further opportunities available to you during or after your program.
During your first days on the project, you will participate in several training sessions that emphasise the key teaching skills useful for our education program, including learning through play and lesson planning. You’ll also gain soft skills in communication, collaboration and organisation, and complete an overview of completed project work, items in process, as well as future plans. Lastly, you will learn how our work contributes and longer term sustainable goals, and how they link to the SDGs.
Dawasamu on Education and Community project.
All about the village of Silana, traditions and cultural information.
Overview of GVI and Project work.
Overview of Fiji and its traditions and culture.
In this course, you’ll explore the most common pitfalls of community development initiatives so that you can avoid them. You’ll also learn how to carry out community development work effectively and ethically and how local context impacts program development. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.
