Community Projects - Past Projects

Fiji Solar Lighting - Outer Yasawa Islands

Tucked away from the rest of the world in the Pacific Ocean, lies the island village of Nabukeru (Pron. Nam-boo-keru). It is situated in the far north of the Yasawa Islands off the North West coast of the main island of Viti Levu. The village people in this part of the world struggle to improve their largely subsistence life and they place a high value on education as key to ongoing development. Whilst all the children in the village attend primary school, not all families can afford secondary education. Those fortunate enough to get this further education still face ongoing difficulties to study - and one obstacle has been a simple one - the light goes as the sun goes down.

Rotarians worldwide share this belief that education is the key for development. And to that end, members of the Rotary club of Hampton have worked with the villagers to source and install an easy to maintain solar lighting system for the village hall (pictured ‘pre-solar’ above). Our aim was also to create a model for other Rotary clubs to repeat. There are thousands of villages in all corners of the world where lighting is not available after sundown. When it is, it is often the dangerous benzene and paraffin lamps, the cause of many horrific burns to the children of the Pacific Islands.

History of the Project:

Club member and International Projects Director Greg Wragg visited the island in 2005 and returned with the hall dimensions and other necessary details to investigate the possibilities of lighting the hall. After some extended consultation with solar lighting companies in Australia, a kit system was identified that was good value and could be easily transported and assembled. The systen was simple to assembly without an electrician - a “plug and play” kit (if you could put together a simple stereo system, you could do this).

GREG’S REPORT: Solar Lighting Project Fiji

The need in the village of Nabukeru was obvious to me on my visits to the area. The generator was old and often maintenance was not carried out or fuel could not be purchased through lack of funds. This meant that children were forced to study in front of open fires in their bures or use benzene lamps. Both these forms of lighting were considered dangerous fire hazards. Indeed, many severe burns occurred when the children fell asleep and literally fell into open fires or knocked lamps over. Our club has seen many such instances through its support of Interplast Australasia.

• The Community Hall in the Village was seen as the obvious place for the children to study at night, supervised by the older students.
• The headmaster of the local school, Master Seta, agreed with the perceived outcomes of the project and an approach was made to the Ratu (or Chief) of the village for his approval. This was discussed by the village elders and subsequently granted.
• Quotes were obtained for the equipment and as a priority, funds were sourced. Firstly, from Captain Cook Cruises in Fiji, a company that cruises into the Yasawa Islands and takes guests on a tour of the underground limestone caves adjacent to the village. They donated a cruise in Fiji, which was subsequently sold for $2,500. The Rotary club of Bentleigh Moorabbin Central donated $2,500. The total cost was $7,300, with the balance of the cost raised from Hampton’s fund raising activities.
• Costs included the two batteries, two solar panels, the inverter, the switching and cabling and finally, the cabinet. Additional costs included the local VAT and shipping to the village by barge. The Government waived the import duty of $fjd2,300 after a submission from the Club confirming the donation.
• Half the community hall is now lit at night. This allows 30 or so village children to study with proper lighting. The installation took place in May 2006 involving RCH members and a number of local men. The club thanks all who were involved.