Fiji Power 2016 Day 5 : 29-09-2016

After a traditional breakfast of Bupa kau, a yummy flat donut, we headed off to the marina to catch our boat the “Turanga levu” which means “Big Chief”. This is a big boat and it transported all of us and our Solar panels to the Village of Raviravi on Beqa. Two Officials from the Fijian Ministry of Health came with us to support and report on our work.

There are over 50 medical centres throughout Fiji that need electricity for their vaccination fridges. Particularly after the cyclone earlier this year there is a great need for this work to be done. The Fijian Government is very grateful for the work that Bookend Trust is doing using Australian students and experts to help with the provision of renewable energy for vaccination fridges.

Our expert Electrician Greg and Builder “Matai” –Todd organised the installation of the panels on the roof and the wiring of the batteries and inverter. It was very hot and we were all dripping with sweat. We students, Shiloh, Lauren, Alastair and Jennifa started to interview Milly (the nurse) about the vaccinations and how a simple set of solar panels can truly change the lives of the whole community. Milly was very relieved as she can now properly store vaccinations for the children in not only the village of Raviravi but many more neighbouring villages. Tomorrow we will be repairing a system in another medical centre on the other side of the island. This will mean the whole island of Beqa can have safe storage of vaccinations for their villages.

Following the installation of the solar system we were able to enjoy a swim at the beach. We were even able to have fun and play with the younger school kids. After we were finished at the beach we went for a walk in the jungle and saw some pigs. We then met everyone back at the medical centre and got ready for a Sevu-Sevu, which is a welcoming ceremony, performed by Fijians. After the Sevu-Sevu we then enjoyed a family for a traditional dinner and found out that old Fijian women lay down whilst they eat.

It has been a fantastic day and we are so happy the medical centre now has a free power source for their medical centre.

Following the installation of the solar system we were able to enjoy a swim at the beach. We were even able to have fun and play with the younger school kids. After we were finished at the beach we went for a walk in the jungle and saw some pigs. We then met everyone back at the medical centre and got ready for a Sevu-Sevu, which is a welcoming ceremony, performed by Fijians. After the Sevu-Sevu we then enjoyed a family for a traditional dinner and found out that old Fijian women lay down whilst they eat.

It has been a fantastic day and we are so happy the medical centre now has a free power source for their medical centre.