Sian Rolls Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) rob people of opportunities, quality of life and loved ones, yet are

incredibly prevalent in the Pacific. People want this to be changed. A project supported by the Fiji National University, the Ministry of Health and AusAID is creating a space to allow for that change to happen and contribute to a happier and healthier society. The Educating for Sustainable Lifestyles though the Arts project has brought together 20 artists of various backgrounds and media. They have all been given the opportunity to be educated, inspired and create artwork of various media forms that will be used to educate the public. According to the Senior Projects Officer, Peter Sipeli the project was developed to address the fact that people in the health sector needed to communicate differently. What they were doing was not working, Sipeli sa ys. A week-long training session has already been conducted to set the groundwork for the understanding issue. The project will continue to host weekly discussion spaces until July 15 to help the artists formulate ideas, concepts and potentially collaborate. NCDs are prevalent in the Pacific and the focus of the project is primarily on prevention and communicating. Artists have already started sharing issues directly related to non-communicable diseases, their ideas, concepts and art experiences. Sipeli believes these artists are creating a community currently lacking in Fiji's capital.

Marie Koya, a graphic designer and photographer, is excited by the change in the artistic process she is currently experiencing. I usually make something pretty, she says. She is looking forward to making something that could change how people think about their lives. The group of 20 people is diverse with writers, poets, musicians, painters, graphic artists, photographers, carvers, pottery makers, masi makers and multimedia artists. As diverse as the group is, the artists are all committed to the same goal; communicating and advocating wellness. Wellness is a tricky concept that varies from person to person when it comes to the specifics.

It is a sense of balance between body, mind and spirit. Often, this balance needs to be defined by the individual to be achieved or acquired. This acquisition, as it was discussed during the training, often requires conscious decision making about numerous things; exercise, relaxation, the type and amount of food we eat, what we do and how we treat others to name a few. Such conscious decision making has influenced Dave Lavaki, a hip hop and spoken work artist. Lavaki shared that during the training in particular, he began thinking about how the habits in his home will influence his son. I want to make an impact, shared William Tabakau, a painter. Tabakau says he found the training important and greatly expanded his knowledge that would help him become a better wellness advocate. I want to make a change in someone's life, he added. While the artists know that they must be the change they want to see in the world, they also need to start conversations about lifestyles and choices before anything can change. Despite the recent statistics that show that one in six Fijians over 25 have diabetes, one in five Fijians over 25 have high blood pressure and four in 10 Fijians smoke, we often tend to overlook the facts. We dismiss them as things that other people deal with until it hits close to home. The real action needs to be in prevention and these artists aim to be that first step towards a country that thinks a little bit differently about what they do to themselves and those they care for. Everyone deserves to feel and be well. Education, through a piece of art or otherwise, is a step towards a happier, healthier people.