BELIEVE Global and Planetshakers message to schools during their visits last week was “be the change”.

About 70 Believe team members from Melbourne, Australia visited 23 schools within the Suva area.

The team also had the opportunity to visit corrections facilities, informal settlements and marketplaces during their mission.

There were three teams visiting schools and they interacted with over 15,000 students from the broader Suva area.

The Believe team was in the country for their Believe Fiji 2023 Campaign and the Night of Celebration event held on August 18 and 19 at the Vodafone Arena.

Believe Global director, Neil Smith said it was great to be in Fiji and that the team enjoyed it.

“It’s just a privilege to be back in the country serving and doing what we feel is our part to play in this region,” he said.

He said it’s the team’s fourth time in Fiji and they have served Suva, Lautoka and Labasa during those visits. He said their team members interacted well with students during their school visits.

“In the program we speak to them (students) and the statement that we use is to be the change and so we give children the opportunity to respond to that statement,” he said.

“The response is overwhelming because with the children first it’s like wow, second is listening with intent and thirdly this applies to me.

“I think children are early adapters, early learners and so they don’t want to necessarily learn in traditional ways. They want to learn based on what is happening and I think we are scratching that itch.”

Their Night of Celebration event at the Vodafone Arena was a success as many turned up to be part of the event. The two nights featured the Planetshakers band, speakers, fun pre-show activities and more.

The event was not a youth event but a family one.