GVI

Fiji Achievement Report

December 2015
Objective: Promoting the role of volunteerism in the social and econom-
ic development of Fiji

GVI Fiji facilitates International Volunteer Day celebrations alongside local

and regional development actors

Since 2014 GVI Fiji has sat on the board of the National Volunteer Steering Committee Fiji (NVSC), a
network of organisations and individuals directly involved in the mobilization of volunteers as a key
mechanism for the social and economic development of Fiji.

Members of the committee include international and local development organizations, grass-roots
groups, volunteer organisations and social enterprises. All united in their passion of championing the
role of volunteering and its contribution to the betterment of Fijian society. Originally set up in 2001
through facilitation by the United Nations Volunteer programme. Initially the primary purpose of the
committee was to organize the International Volunteer Day (IVD) celebrations in Fiji (A UN recog-
nized day held each year on the 5th December) and since then the focus of the group has developed
in order to create a collaborative working committee that advocates for the recognition and promo-
tion of volunteering in all its forms in Fiji.

Throughout 2015 GVI has made active contributions to the annual work plan and chaired several of
the committee meetings, alongside representatives from UN volunteers, the Fiji Council of Social
Services, Japan International Cooperation Agency, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Scope Global
and the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations,

Development of the NVSC logo
In early 2015 the NVSC members agreed that an important next step was to develop a brand, which
would help to promote the work of the NVSC, reach out to potential members, advertise in local
press and report on activities. GVI Fiji made contact with a local graphic designer who, through an
understanding and appreciation of work of the NVSC, agreed to volunteer their services to create a
logo. The brief given to the designer was that the logo should reference the values of the committee
by being; Welcoming, Inclusive, Active, Compassionate and Empowering. Following consultations
throughout 2015 the NVSC agreed on a suitable logo and decided that the logo should be launched
at the International Volunteer Day celebrations planned for early December.

The International Volunteer Day (IVD) in Fiji 2015
The highlight of the year for the NVSC is International Volunteer Day, held in early December, a day
in which volunteering in all its forms should be celebrated and volunteers in Fiji should be recog-
nised for their contribution during an awards ceremony. In previous years IVD celebrations have in-
cluded various calls to action, speeches by government figures and heads of state, collective action
GVI Fiji, Caqalai Achievement Report December 2015


such as clean-ups of the Suva foreshore, and opportunities for volunteers and organisations to
showcase the contribution of their work in society. For 2015 the NVSC agreed that the profile of the
committee should be raised through organising two separate events over the course of the day.

Panel Discussion
A panel discussion was held to discuss the call to action for 2015; Your world is changing. Are you?
Volunteer!. The aim of this discussion was to consider the contribution volunteers will make to the
Sustainable Development Goals leading up to 2030,
whilst also highlighting some of the challenges
faced by organisations involved in the recruitment
and placement of international volunteers in Fiji.
Invitees were targeted for their place within the Fiji
Government, local and international development
organisations, civil society organisations and volun-
teer groups, while chief guest Litia Mawi (Roving
Ambassador/High Commissioner) was invited to
open the discussion. Alongside representatives
from PIANGO and SCOPE Global, GVI Fiji was invited
to sit on the panel and give a short presentation on
the role and challenges of volunteering in Fiji and the Pacific.

International Volunteer Day Awards Ceremony & Launch of the NVSC Logo
In the lead up to IVD, advertisements were placed in national newspapers and circulated amongst
the committee members calling forth organisations to place nominations for their volunteers to be
formally recognised for the work they had carried out in 2015. Nominations were open to volunteers
who had proven their contribution to the development of Fiji in the following sectors; Environment,
Human Rights, Sustainable Livelihood, Youth Development, Health, Community Development and
Education; with overall winners selected from National, International and Youth categories. The
awards ceremony was held at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva on the 4th December 2015. During the
evening event other highlights included the launching of the NVSC logo by GVI Fiji, as well addresses
by Fijis Roving Ambassador on the Role of Volunteering in achieving Agenda 2030 in Fiji and
Leave no one behind, support volunteering by Ms Osnat Lubriani (UN Resident Representative).

Looking to 2016 and beyond
GVI Fiji would like to thank all members of the NVSC for the opportunity to contribute to the work
plan of the NVSC and for being given a key role in the facilitation of the IVD celebrations. Looking
towards 2016 it is hoped that the collective work of the NVSC will continue to champion the contri-
bution volunteerism makes to society, both within Fiji, and towards meeting the global Sustainable
Development goals set out in agenda 2030.

For more information on GVIs projects in Fiji please visit
https://www.scribd.com/user/171170539/Global-Vision-International-Fiji
For more information on our global impact visit www.gviworld.com
To make a donation to our community projects in Fiji please visit www.gvi.org for more details
GVI Fiji, Caqalai Achievement Report December 2015