In addition to producing the world’s best water, FIJI Water is committed to contributing towards the communities in which we work and live. In Fiji, we are doing this by funding projects in health, water, and education through FIJI Water Foundation, and by engaging our employees and local communities in the effort as well.

Partnering with Give Clean Water , FIJI Water recently organized volunteer days devoted to the installation of clean water filters in the nearby communities of Natalecake, Vadravadra, and Wavuwavu in the province of Ba. These villages suffer from frequent water shortages and during times of water supply disruption residents rely on rain and river water,  resulting in high levels of water-borne disease. To eradicte this problem, we provide a water filter which removes 99.999% of all bacteria and protozoa like E.Coli, Cholera and Typhoid. The filters come with a one million gallon guarantee –essentially for the recipient’s lifetime. For many employees, participating in the hands-on installation process is a joy. Said FIJI Water production team leader Taravaina Ranadi, “With Give Clean Water, we are able to give these people a real blessing.”

More than 60 volunteers teamed up over the weekend to install 130 water filters in these villages.  Helping us were FIJI Water employees, family, friends, sports clubs, and students from nearby Vatukaloko Jr. Secondary School. While installing filters in the homes, volunteers instructed the residents on use and maintenance as well as basic hygiene and sanitation.

One inspiring aspect of the initiative, which took place on April 30 and May 1, was the spirited involvement of students attending the local Vatukaloko Jr. Secondary School. Give Clean Water Founder and Board Chair Darryl Larson noted that the youths were not only learning about the importance of clean water and hygiene, but were also empowered by the opportunity to be teachers and volunteers in a new community. “If you raise the bar, you’ll find that young people will rise to exceed your expectations,” Larson said.

FIJI Water is proud to partner with Give Clean Water as it seeks to install 200,000 home filtration systems over the next ten years. To date, the FIJI Water Foundation has donated $60,000 to the effort, resulting in 600 home water systems benefiting some 3,000 people.

 

The United States has the Superbowl; Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has the Super 15s for Rugby; the world has the upcoming World Cup... and Fiji has the Coca-cola Light Games.

On the first weekend of Fiji's 1st term holidays, secondary school students from every corner of the country come to the National Stadium in Suva to compete in an athletics meet of epic proportions.  For two days, families across the nation are glued to their TVs; some whole villages run generators overtime and huddle around 20" screens to cheer their sons and daughters on. The winning schools get bragging rights, but to qualify to race at the "Cokes" is an honor in and of itself, particularly for students from rural areas who train barefoot on dirt and grass tracks.

Such is the case for seven local boys and one girl from Vatukaloko Jr Secondary School who qualified to participate this year in the track and field events. They had no formal coaching, but excelled in the zone and regional matches with the support and training from their subject teachers and Principal Apisalome Vunisa. FIJI Water wanted to do our part to support these brave students as well. Using revenue from our community recycling program, FIJI Water was able to provide team track suits to the students to match the uniforms we donated to the team in years past. We also supplied the athletes with canvas sneakers, track shoes, and accommodation for the duration the tournament. Upon arrival in Suva, the team was treated to a special breakfast at the FIJI Water/Neptune offices, hosted by Business Development Manager Vijay Pillay. And of course, they had all the FIJI Water they could drink!

Though the team did not bring home any gold medals, they are all big winners in our hearts. Congratulations to all involved!

Vunimoli Islamia School is about 20 km down a worn and dusty road from Labasa town on Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu. The school was founded in 1948 by the Labasa-area Muslim league, but it now boasts more than 200 students of many ethnic backgrounds. Students attending the school come from the surrounding villages and farmlands and have the opportunity to study hindi, urdu, and fijian languages.

The school's management has done an exceptional job over the years in maintaining the school with limited financial means. Recently, however, they faced a renovation challenge: the school needed its roof completely replaced. Years of patching and band-aid fixes had left rotting holes in the roof supports and during rainy seasons students and teachers were dodging leaks. The new school computer lab was also in danger and indeed, during Cyclone Tomas in March three computers were destroyed due to water damage. 

With a grant from FIJI Water Foundation and the generous support of Labasa area business people with ties to the school, the Vunimoli management were able to completely replace the school's roofing irons. The community gathered on the evening of May 19th to feast and celebrate the occasion with representatives of FIJI Water and local government. FIJI Water Foundation is priviledged to partner with motivated groups such as Vunimoli who are dedicated to bettering their schools and communities. This was our first school partnership in the Macuata Province, but we know it will not be our last!