Fiji Animal Health & Welfare

The Fijian archipelago lies scattered lazily in the achingly blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, bathed in the radiant antipodean sunlight. Its towns and villages are veritable melting pots of cultural influences – see multicoloured Hindu temples perched next to relics of the traditional indigenous spirit houses with their lingering sense of an ancient magic.

Its irresistible shores are fringed with picture-perfect palm trees, and the azure waters that surround the islands are inhabited by an astonishing array of marine creatures; over 1,200 species of fish including clown fish, trigger fish, blue tangs, 12 species of whales and dolphin, anemones, soft coral and much more.

Enjoy fragrant sun drenched days and balmy exotic nights – try a Fijian beach party for whirling fire dancers, traditional dancing and delectable food cooked in a traditional underground oven. Fiji will enchant you with its infectious, chilled out "Fiji time" lifestyle and its heavenly beaches – the perfect paradise location for your Frontier adventure!

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Provide care and assistance to Fiji’s stray and abandoned animals
• Visit this irresistible tropical paradise
• Make lifelong friends with your team mates and co-workers

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

You will work closely with a local animal welfare charity and will be substantially involved in the day to day running of a large urban animal welfare centre. You may cover activities ranging from cleaning animal cages, caring for stray and abandoned cats and dogs, helping to re-home pets or educating local communities about the importance of animal welfare. Your level of involvement will of course depend on your skills, practical work experience and academic qualifications.

You will be encouraged to bring your own initiative and enthusiasm to the project , whilst also constantly learning from professionals working alongside you. Those with Veterinary experience may be able to involve themselves in minor procedures, whilst those with less experience will be able to take part in the general care of animals and maintenance of the shelter. You will have the choice of either concentrating on a particular aspect of the animal welfare centre you are interested in or work across many different elements. Wherever your goals lie, whether purely in a career in veterinary sciences or just as a personal interest to protect vulnerable animals, this project has something for you. As well as all this, you will discover more about this exotic destination and its people through your work and involvement in the project.

Sample Itinerary*

7:30 a.m. – Breakfast at the volunteer house, prepared by the Fijian family!

8:00 a.m. – Volunteers travel to the animal shelter by bus or taxi where the fun begins helping with the day to day running of the busy animal shelter.

12:30 p.m. – Volunteers break for a packed lunch

1:00 p.m.  -  Volunteer work at the animal shelter continues for the afternoon.

4:00/5:00 p.m. – The working day comes to an end. Volunteers are free to catch up on anything, plan for the next day’s work and socialise.

6:30 p.m. – Dinner at the Volunteer house prepared by Fijian family.

7:00 p.m. - Socialising, kava ceremony, cinema, night out in Suva or weekend away!

*This itinerary should only be considered as an example of the kind of activities and timescales to expect.  Actual itineraries may vary depending on the season and the requirements of the project.

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

An airport pick-up service is offered to volunteers arriving on the first Monday of the month only, whose flights land before 2:30pm local time. All other volunteers must make their own way to the project site. We will provide you with easy to follow instructions prior to your departure to enable you to plan your journey. If you are arriving into Fiji before the first Monday of the month but wish to travel to the project site with the main deployment group on the first Monday of the month, the overland arrival meeting point is at Nadi international airport arrivals hall. Please make sure that your intended arrival/travel plans have been arranged and confirmed with the project field staff a minimum of 1 week before your project start date.

If you are travelling to a marine project on Beqa island, you will only be able to travel to the island on the same day if your flight arrives before 9am on the Monday (due to limited boat timetables). However, you are more than welcome to spend one night with us at our homestay family in Suva, or you can choose to stay in Nadi or Suva for a night, in preparation for your journey to Beqa the next morning.

You will travel from the airport along the Coral Coast of the Island of Viti Levu to the town of Navua. Following this you will take a local boat for the one hour journey to the spectacular and famous south Pacific island of Beqa.

If you are an independent traveller arriving on any other date you are welcome to join the project on any Monday, (please discuss your intended arrival date and duration of stay with our travel advisers, especially if you need to book a dive training course, to confirm availability), and please be aware that you will need to organise your own transfer between Nadi and Suva and first night hostel accommodation in Suva at a cost of EUR 34/$40. We will arrange for you to transfer from Suva to Beqa the following day at your own cost where our field team will be ready to welcome you to the Frontier house and camp. Again, you must confirm your exact arrival time/date with in country staff at least 1 week before arrival.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

Your home in Fiji will be a comfortable and welcoming homestay with an hospitable Fijian family or, if you choose to upgrade, in a simple and comfortable lodge near the centre of Suva, where you will be in a single sex dorm with access to a kitchen, TV, garden, sun deck, laundry service (10 FJD for 1 bag), cold showers, linen and please note that house rules apply (an extra cost of EUR 81 a week applies for hostel accommodation). You will need to bring your own eating utensils or you can hire them for a FJ$10 deposit.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

You'll be able to sample Fijian home-cooked meals which will be prepared for you by your host family. Some local dishes to look forward to include taro, breadfruit, sweet potato, cassava, dahl soup and rotis. A delicious Fijian speciality is a lovo feast, which is a meal cooked in a hole in the ground – unusual but very tasty.

If you are in the lodge you will prepare your own breakfast and dinner each day using supplies purchased for you by the in country staff.

HOW WILL I GET TO WORK?

Transport from your accommodation to your place of work each day will be by local bus, taxi (cost not included) or foot. 

What Next? Apply Now!

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

In your spare time you can enjoy the spectacular scenery and beautiful beaches and go snorkelling in the clear blue waters of Pacific harbour, just a bus ride away. Whatever you do you'll be amazed at the Pacific Islanders' tremendous hospitality and culture. You'll quickly make friends as you play rugby, netball, and other sports with the villagers.

You can take part in traditional ceremonies, learn Fijian cooking, and learn how to weave hats in the local style, visit the hot springs or take a scuba diving course. There is also the opportunity to trek in the nearby rainforest, and bathe in natural waterfall lagoons. Please note that these activities cost extra and we encourage you to book them direct with local providers helping to support the local economy.

Nausautoka Village Visit – Day / Weekend Trip

If you want to experience the real rural peaceful and humbling side of Fiji, outside of the City, then Frontier Fiji have a new optional once in a life time cultural excursion available for you!

Visit Nasautoka village, roughly 2 hours north of Suva, where the local community will welcome you with open arms and big smiles, including a traditional performance of a village song and dance! Be treated to the Fijian way of life; experience how they live totally self sufficiently, off the land that surrounds them.

This village trip is available as a day excursion or a weekend trip. A minumum of 4 volunteers need to book for a day trip to be scheduled. This can be booked with your Project Coordinator in country.

A day trip pragramme will include a selection of the following:

Traditional village song and dance

Bamboo Rafting across the Rewa River – don't forget to bring your swimming trunks!

A mountain hike / trek to a spectacular view– walking boots essential

Traditional prawn fishing in the Rewa River

Followed by the traditional Lovo / Bamboo cooking of the prawns – where a Fijian feast will subsequently be laid out for you to indulge! (at extra cost)

Home-stay option (for weekend trip – at extra cost)

Volunteers can book this experience directly with their homestay family or enquire with Frontier's in country Project Coordinator. Volunteers should expect to pay approximately 65FJD for a 2 day experience

Modern conveniences

Suva

• Banks / ATMs; ANZ bank, Westpac bank
• Bars / cafes
• Bureau de Change
• Cinema
• Dentist
• Department store
• Hospital
• Internet cafe
• Laundry services
• Mobile phone shop
• Pay phones
• Pharmacy
• Post office
• Supermarkets
• Traditional markets and cafes
• Western style restaurants
• Western Union