COMMUNITY OUTREACH I Discovering the heart of Fiji

THE laughter of children echoed through village schools as a group of teenagers from Christchurch, New Zealand traded familiar classrooms for a very different lesson in Fiji.

For 10 days, 15 students and teachers from Aidanfield Christian School travelled beyond the country’s well-known tourist destinations, visiting schools and villages, sharing gifts, performing together and building friendships that crossed cultures.

What began as a service trip quickly became a journey of learning and connection, leaving both visitors and hosts with memories they hope will last long after the trip ended.

Head of Middle School Teresa Thomson said the visit marked an important milestone for the school.

“It’s our school’s first time working with Graeme and Jane Mitchell to come with them to Fiji, but we are hoping that it will become an ongoing thing where we can build a relationship that the school has developed through the Fiji Missions with the villages and the schools that we have visited,” she said.

The group of 15 students was selected a year before departure, giving them plenty of time to prepare.

“There has been a lot of time fundraising, working really hard to try offset the cost to come,” Ms Thomson said.

“We have worked as a team to develop our gifts and our talents so that we have something to perform and present to those that we visit.”

The preparations also included collecting donations after being advised that schools would appreciate picture books, sports equipment and stationeries.

“We brought those things with us. Some of the students purchased things to bring, others gathered donated goods from their network community and supporters, and Graeme and Jane had some.”

Lessons beyond the classroom

While the donations were welcomed, Ms Thomson said the greatest value of the trip could not be packed into a suitcase.

“We have enjoyed the warmth of the people, and our students have made connection with students here,” she said.

“We call it a service trip – it’s just been a wonderful networking time together.”

For Ms Thomson, the experience encouraged students to reflect on their own lives and faith.

“Our message and something that the students will have to think about is what has given value to them, how have they grown, how has this helped their faith to grow, their understanding of the world, for them to appreciate their life at home, what they can give.”

The team was guided by the Bible verse 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Connecting with the community

For Amara Hoffman, a Year 10 student at Aidanfield Christian School, Fiji had always been a holiday destination of sandy beaches and island resorts but stepping into the heart of a Fijian village opened her eyes to a side of the country she had never experienced before.

Joining a community outreach trip for the first time, Amara said the experience had been both meaningful and unforgettable.

“It’s been really great to socialise with the students and villagers,” she said.

“It’s definitely a new experience from what we’re used to at home, but it’s been great going out and seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and just connecting with them in ways that we wouldn’t usually at home.”

Although she had visited Fiji before, Amara said this trip was unlike any other.

“It’s my first time being a part of something like this. I’ve been to Fiji before, but not in the heartland. I’ve been to resorts, but I like this experience better,” she said.

She said what stood out most was the warmth and generosity of the Fijian people.

“I found that the Fijian people are very welcoming and their hospitality is really good. They gave us lots even when they didn’t have much themselves, which I was thankful for.”

As the group visited villages, Amara was fascinated by the close-knit way communities lived together.

She said village life was something rarely seen in New Zealand, making the experience even more special.

“It was cool seeing how Fijians live in their communities. Villages are not much of a thing in New Zealand and being able to experience that was really cool because it showed how families are closely knitted together.”

For Amara, the trip became more than just a visit to Fiji. It was an opportunity to build genuine connections, learn from another culture, and discover that some of the country’s greatest treasures are found not in its resorts, but in the kindness of its people and the strength of its communities.

Cultural exchange

For Lennox Spain, the past 10 days in Fiji have been unlike anything he had experienced before.

The trip gave him an opportunity to grow in his faith while discovering what he described as the “real Fiji” beyond the places most visitors see.

As the group travelled through villages and schools, Lennox noticed the differences between communities.

“What stood out the most to me was how the Melanesian villages are poor compared to the Fijian villages, and they don’t have many resources,” he said.

Visiting schools also opened his eyes to a different learning environment. Compared with New Zealand, he said many schools in Fiji had far less technology, making the experience very different from what he was used to.

Despite those differences, what left the biggest impression on him was the kindness of the people.

“It was honouring to be welcomed at schools, and we saw how some schools did a lot for us and the donation meant a lot to them,” Lennox said.

He said one of the first things he would tell people when he returned home was how colourful Fiji was and how warmly people greeted visitors.

The cultural exchange was another highlight of the journey.

Lennox led the haka during the visit and enjoyed watching Fijians perform their traditional cibi.

After spending 10 days exploring Fiji and meeting people from different communities, Lennox said the experience was one he would never forget.

“I would love to come back to Fiji to visit,” he said.

Graeme who helped in organising the trip said it was an exciting development for Golden Oldies Missions as they introduce Golden Juniors to their mission trips this year.

“The students have excelled in engaging with Fijian students and its definitely been a two-way cultural learning experience.,” Graeme said.

What began as a service trip quickly became a journey of learning and connection, leaving both visitors and hosts with memories they hope will last long after the trip ended. Picture: SUPPLIED