The members of the women’s group, Soqosoqo ni marama,of the island of Moturiki were invited to the village of Niubasaga (on Moturiki’s southern coast) to kick start recycling in Fiji. We discussed how you can organize houses in order to make recycling easy. The women had been the first to initiate the building of recycling…

Joeli Veitayaki is Associate Professor and Head of the Division of Marine Studies, University of South Pacific. He visited us in Niubasaga and explained, from his perspective, the threats to and solutions for the local environment. The talk further inspired the village, and Professor Veitayaki was able to answer questions to issues previously only addressed…

The recycling station built in 2009 in the village of Niubasaga on Moturiki was destroyed in 2010 by cyclone Mick. As a result, a new recycling station was designed and proposed for a more central location in the village. AES also suggested that Moturiki Environmental Committee push for improved infrastructure to deal with the growing…

Several meetings were held in Niubasaga – weekly meetings with the women’s group, Soqosoqo ni marama, monthly meetings with the village, and monthly meetings with the Moturiki Environmental committee (MEC), which where attended by all village leaders. Important discussions on how to manage resources and plan for future needs were the main topics.    …

We decided on building four Eco-toilets with composting chambers. Most of the materials (timber from coconut palms, shells for washbasins, fronds for thatching etc) can be found growing on the island, but items such as PVC pipes, cement and tiles needs to be purchased. Our first delivery made it to Niubasaga on the 19 July…

Anna returned to Niubasaga village on 1 July 2010 to start a six-month environmental project with the community. A sevusevu (gift of yaqona root) was presented to the village, and a kava ceremony followed. The project officially started on 5 July with a bose ni koro, village meeting.