Fiji: Intro to Community Service

South Pacific Eco-Lodge Base: The Eco Lodge consists of a main house with kitchen and activity space and several small houses that sleep eight to ten participants on bunk-beds. Students share rooms with others of the same gender. Each house has an attached bathroom with solar powered showers, sinks, and flush toilets. There is an infinity-edge swimming pool, soccer field, small weight room, and volleyball court.

Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders and organizations to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. Please note that while we try our best to ensure we provide our advertised projects, some changes may occur due to the communities and project partners we work with.

Up to 30 hours of community service will be awarded on this program.

After School Education Programs: Create and deliver after-school Kids Clubs that promote cross-cultural exchange with local students. Help the youth of Fiji develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through activities that focus on language, arts and crafts, and physical education. Learn about the education system in Fiji and build programs around topics and themes outlined by our partner schools. Please note that these sessions will be facilitated after school so as not to disrupt regular school hours.

Environmental Service and Sustainability: The daily life of most Fijians is still closely tied to the natural world, but increasing urban development, pollution, and other environmental challenges are a growing concern. Learn more about these issues as you help protect Fiji’s magnificent natural environment through beach cleanups and reforestation projects with park rangers who are working to reduce pollution and prevent erosion along the coast. Explore Fiji’s amazing island eco-system as you support local environmental conservation efforts.

Village Infrastructure Project: Rural villages in Fiji often have limited access to the basic infrastructure that is essential for healthy, productive, and sustainable communities. Join our ongoing work to build toilets and footpaths in a Fijian village to improve health and sanitation. You will be amazed at the warm welcome you receive as you work with villagers to mix cement, lay pipes, and make a positive impact. Lead health awareness activities for village children and get a real taste of what life is like in a traditional Fijian village.

Building Schools: Make much-needed improvements to school and kindergarten facilities and paint colorful murals alongside village students. We work with a group of rural schools around our Eco-Lodge Base that operate on very limited budgets yet continuously strive to improve their facilities to provide a better education for their students. Join forces with local children, parents, and teachers, and share in lots of laughs and fun as you work on building projects to improve school facilities and make new friends in Fiji.

Home-Cooked Meals: For Fijians living near the poverty line, the high cost of food in the country can be a major concern. You may spend a morning or afternoon in the home of a village family preparing healthy meals and then head out to deliver them in partnership with social service agencies. Or, you may work on our chicken coop project, which works with local families to develop both a source of food and income so they can better meet basic needs. Learn best practices of sustainability through this popular initiative.

This program involves service and adventure activities that require students to be physically active.

The Eco-Lodge has its own resident chef and team of cooking staff. Students will eat a combination of local Fijian dishes and more western-style dishes. Breakfasts typically include cereal, baked goods, eggs, and fruit. Lunches and dinners range from traditional Fijian lovo feasts of chicken, cassava, and dalo (root crops similar to potatoes) to barbeques, pastas, stir fries, curries, salads, and vegetables.

Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – The Eco-Lodge can cater to most specific diets including, but not limited to, vegetarian, vegan, gluten and lactose-free, as well as peanut-free cooking. If you would like to speak with one of our Global Program Advisors about your particular dietary needs, please give us a call using the number below!

Rustic Pathways uses sterilization techniques to ensure that all drinking water for students is potable and safe to drink. We ask students to bring reusable water bottles in order to reduce plastic usage.

This program takes place during the dry season in Fiji. Rain is not likely, but can occur so we recommend bringing a light raincoat. The weather is an average of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Mornings and evenings tend to be a little cooler so a light jacket is advisable.

Flights: Rustic Pathways uses Fiji Airways for our escorted group flights from the United States to Nadi, Fiji. Students will depart from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and arrive at the Nadi International Airport (NAN). The advertised dates for this program include travel time from the USA.

Visa: There are no visa requirements in Fiji for students traveling on United States passports.Students traveling with Rustic Pathways on passports not issued by the United States are responsible for determining their own visa requirements. Please check with the appropriate consulate or embassy.

Internal Travel: There are no internal flights on this program. Students will travel via private bus or private vans throughout the program.

Students are allowed to bring phones on their Rustic Pathways program, but must abide by our cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use their phones during group activities, during meals, nor at any other time where it is disruptive to the group dynamic. If students are unable to abide by this policy, disciplinary action may be taken and phones may be confiscated until the end of the program.

There is no WiFi access at the Eco-Lodge and data reception is not always consistent. Students will have one or two trips into town per week and can access WiFi at this time.

Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff once students are in country.

Checked luggage fees, personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price. We generally recommend $100USD per week of spending money.

Laundry can be washed by hand at any time. It is best to pack without the expectation of doing laundry. Laundry can be sent out once a week for $20USD a load depending on weight.

Fiji is a traditionally conservative country and we expect students to dress accordingly. While Nadi town is more relaxed, it is important that we show respect when working in schools, villages, or other local communities. The requirements are the same for any gender:

Shorts: Loose basketball-style only; no short running or soccer-style shorts. The bottom of the shorts should be approaching, or covering, the kneecap. Leggings or yoga pants are NOT acceptable at service sites as they are too form-fitting.
Loose-fitting pants or capris are acceptable and preferred.
Skirts: Maxi-length only. Long skirts are the best option for education-based service work in local schools.
Tops: Shoulders must be covered. No tank tops, spaghetti straps, low-cut, transparent, or crop tops.
Bathing suits: Two-piece bathing suits are acceptable, but no revealing or string bikinis please! One piece suits are preferred. Rashguards or sunshirts are highly recommended for island hopping and snorkeling.

All students will be given a Rustic Pathways Fiji sulu, or sarong, upon arrival.

If you arrive and your clothing is deemed unacceptable by your Program Leaders, you’ll have to purchase appropriate clothing before service work begins in the village.

Ensuring the safety of your teen as they travel with Rustic Pathways is a top priority. Please review our Health and Safety measures.

Our Travel Protection Plan helps protect our participants, their belongings, and their travel investment in those unforeseen circumstances that may arise during travel. Learn more about the plan offered through our partner.

Please know that your service contribution is an essential part of achieving the development goals we have established in collaboration with our partners and no donations are required.

If you do wish to bring donations, we are collecting basic schools supplies (listed below) for our community partners and they determine the best way to distribute these items. Donations will be collected by program leaders and then given to project partners. Donations are not given directly to beneficiaries during programs. Please also note that small gifts or donations should not be given directly to children as this often creates unintended expectations and attachments.

Acceptable donations include: Pens, pencils, crayons, coloring books, children’s books, pre-loved clothes/shoes, water filters.