With Fiji Power 2016 finishing up we'll hear from the participants to see how they found the experience. Tomorrow trip leader David will have his say too.
Hey, I’m Jennifa Janickovic from Swan View Senior High School in Western Australia. Miss Katsere, our teacher got us to do the Fiji Power assignment which ties into the Australian Curriculum in Science. We had to present a Power Point based on the advantages and disadvantages of types of renewable energy suitable for a small village medical centre in Fiji. In coming to Fiji I was soon to realize how lucky we are in Australia and how much we really have, but more importantly we have helped to change peoples lives and make the nurses in Ravi-Ravi lives a lot easier. There won't be any gas leaks or smells and there won't be any gas bottles for children to play around with and get injured. The nurses also won't need to check the vaccinations fridge twice a day, because the solar panels keep the vaccination at the right temperature at all times. This has not only benefited the nurses but also the patients and village. I would like to say a huge thank you to Bookend Trust for this amazing opportunity and helping me to live my dreams and changing other peoples lives, not only mine.
Alastair here from Woodbridge District School in Tasmania. I think this trip has made me appreciate what I have and how lucky I am. As a team we had so many great moments together and I'll have great memories from the trip. In my opinion the best moment together was the two days on Beqa Island. Installing the solar panels, fishing and the snorkelling were all awesome!
Hello, my name is Shiloh from Swan View Senior High Western Australia. My friend Jennifa and I entered the Bookend Trust competition as a pair and when we found out that we had won we were ecstatic! This trip truly has changed my life and I hope that I’m not the only one. The part of the trip that I was most inspired by was definitely seeing what the nurses go through everyday, they truly are amazing people. From walking 2 hours to the furthest village to working really long hours for really low pay, then working after hours to vaccinate babies as well. This is scratching the surface of what the nurses go through. I was so shocked by these facts and I truly hope that installing the solar panels will ease some of the struggle off the nurses shoulders. Finally, thank you so much to everyone who has made this trip a reality, I am so grateful that have been given the chance to make a difference in this world.
Hi, my name is Lauren and I’m from Bunbury Senior High School in Western Australia. This trip has been such an amazing experience and I have made unforgettable memories. Some of the best memories for me were riding the boat up through some villages and up to Tooks’ village and I also really enjoyed swinging on vines and the adventurous time we had exploring the jungle. We had fun playing games such as volleyball, a game like charades called ‘walk this way’ but we also did a lot of work and helped both the nurses and the people living around the Ravi Ravi medical centre. This trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity and really changed how I see things. I would definitely encourage others to participate in this competition.
Hi my name is Rachael Katsere. I am a science teacher at Swan View Senior High School in Western Australia. As a teacher I am always looking for ways to make science more real, fun and engaging for the students, hence, I came across the Fiji Power renewable energy assignment. I applied to be the supervising teacher on the project and to my surprise I was selected. The renewable energy assignment was very engaging for the students and also brought friendly competition into the classroom. The assignment is also part of the Australian Curriculum for high school students. Students enjoyed doing the assignment as they could relate their knowledge of science to a real life situation. Being part of the Fiji Power trip has been amazing and has changed my insight on life and made me realise how it can be so easy to make a difference to Fijian communities. I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you for Bookend Trust for funding the trip and designing the assignment. It has truly been an unforgettable experience.
Bula! I'm Alysha. I am the team's administrator. Basically I budget the money to make sure we keep everyone well fed and happy. The great thing about this role is I have a lot of free time during the day to observe this amazing group of people and the incredible job that we are doing. This is my fifth trip to Fiji and I am starting to feel like a bit of a local and yet I am constantly amazed how every trip is different. I am relaxing and reflecting on the last two weeks (which is all a bit of a blur) and am so proud of the difference we have made, not only to Ravi Ravi but also to the lives of every member of our team.
Hi there! I'm Ashby, the elusive photographer of the trip. I initially decided to come just as an excuse for a good holiday, but this trip has been so much more than that. The opportunities I've had to live with locals, travel with a great team, and help make a difference for Ravi Ravi are things I would have missed in any conventional holiday, not to mention all the amazing photo opportunities! At this point I'm pretty worn out and happy to be headed home, but I'm going to have to see Fiji again, and the wonderful people there.
Hi we are Todd and Gregg the builder and electrician on the trip. We enjoyed the Fijian experience from the start to finish. The team of ten were great company and we gelled as a team. Installing a solar system that powered a vaccination fridge was a satisfying experience. Knowing that children can now receive their vaccinations as a result of our efforts has made the whole trip worthwhile. Most Fijian people are not very wealthy. We experienced the real Fiji and it helped me understand that there is real need in Fiji for projects like power for vaccination fridges.
