This summer I had the opportunity to travel to the beautiful land of Fiji and spend five weeks volunteering with the Naqaqa Giving Foundation. While in Fiji I was able to work in two very different locations while gaining experience and furthering my skills. The first two and a half weeks were at the Savusavu Medical Centre with Dr. Ishaque. The Medical Centre provides services including regular doctor consultations, emergency services, and minor surgeries. While at the clinic I learned how to do several medical practices including suturing, giving shots, and respiratory services. In addition, I was able to create and distribute informational healthcare material to indigenous villages where it was impossible to receive proper medical treatment. This material was then used to teach those in the village proper sanitation techniques, hygiene, and proper nutrition. Lastly, working at the clinic provided insight into prevalent local economic issues. After my time at the clinic, I worked at the Nasavusavu School for Special Education. The school houses children with mental, learning, and physical disabilities. While teaching at the school I primarily worked with two deaf girls, Cecilia and Keleira. Cecilia was fluent in Australian Sign Language but Keleira could not communicate at all. I made it my goal to begin breaking the language barrier between Keleira and her parents. I taught them the basics of what I know, and by the time I left, Keleira was able to ask basic questions, identify people, and could even communicate with her parents for the first time in her entire life.

1. Goals for this Project Conclusions
• Gain experience in the medical field while After spending five weeks in Fiji I began to
worki at the Savusacu Medical Centre. reflect on the experience as a whole. I first
• Further my sign language skills while The first two weeks in Fiji I spent the majority have come t the conclusion that I achieved
of my time working at the Savusavu Medical all of my goals for the enrichment trip as a
working at the Nasavusavu School for
Centre. The Medical Centre was opened in whole. In addition, I gained further insight
Special Education. 2008 and provides services including regular
• Immerse myself in the Fijian culture and into future career paths as well as what I
doctor consultations, some emergency
gain knowledge of village life. hope to do in the coming summer projects. I
services, and minor surgeries. During my
time at the clinic I was able to work with Dr. hope to continue to work with my vision of
Ishaque and learned how to do several helping underprivileged children in varying
medical practices including suturing, giving demographics (i.e. orphans, children with
shots, and respiratory services. In disabilities, children with terminal illnesses,
addition, working at the clinic allowed me to etc.).
understand cultural as well as economic
issues that are quite prevalent in the islands
of Fiji.
The last three weeks of my time in Fiji I spent at the
During my stay in Fiji I Nasavusavu School for Special Education. The school
lived with a host family houses children with mental, learning and physical
in Vivili Village, which disabilities. Children from all over the island come to this Summer of 2013
is about a half an hour school as it is the only one of its kind (some children even Next summer I hope to travel
outside the town of travel three hours each way). While teaching at the school to Tanzania, Africa where I will
Savusavu. The village I primarily worked with two deaf girls, one who was fluent work in a Pediatric Oncology
is home to about 200 in Australian Sign Language and one who could not hospital. While there I will live
residents. In my communicate at all. I began teaching the basics and by the with the children in the
specific hut lived four time I left, the young girl was able to ask basic questions, hospital. In the mornings I will
families and 9 children. identify people, and even could communicate with her perform rounds with the
The villages in Fiji are parents for the first time in her entire life. doctors and in the afternoon I
very traditional and will spend my time teaching
during my stay I was math, science, and English to
able to participate in the children. In addition, it is a
Kava Ceremonies, co-learning environment, thus
Fijian Church Choir, the children will also be
Birthing Ceremonies, teaching me Swahili lessons.
and even traditional
Fijian dances.