Volunteer Programs in Fiji

While there are a number of islands in Fiji, there are a few locations that stand out in terms of volunteer placements. Depending on what you want to experience, in terms of rural versus urban Fiji, there’s bound to be a city that fits your goals as well as desired lifestyle as a volunteer in Fiji.

Suva, the capital of Fiji, offers numerous opportunities for volunteers. Suva is the largest cosmopolitan city in Fiji, and therefore attracts a number of students within the South Pacific region. Although there is no industry that stands out from the rest in Suva, volunteer placements in education are readily available, whether you want to lead a class of students or assist in an already established curriculum. Other popular types of volunteering in Suva include health, journalism, and tourism.

The Yasawa Islands. Consisting of six main islands and many other small inlets, the Yasawa Islands only opened to land tourism in 1987, making tourism a relatively new but rapidly growing industry. One of the most popular areas of interest for tourists is diving, so having diving experience and open water certification is extremely beneficial for those who want to volunteer on the Yasawa Islands. Volunteers might even have the chance to assist tourists with dives or explore the underwater world of diverse aquatic life in their volunteer placements.

Nadi is the location of the largest international airport in Fiji, and is therefore the point of entrance for most international travelers. As a result, there are a number of tourists that cycle in and out of Nadi, and the city has a number of outdoor activities that facilitate the influx of tourists. Therefore, there are many opportunities to volunteer in Nadi as an activity guide for rafting, sailing, snorkeling, and other eco related tours.

In addition to these locations, there are numerous small towns and rural areas that offer a range of volunteer opportunities in Fiji. These areas are often in the greatest need for teachers and teaching assistants, as many of children are not supplied the educational luxuries that many living in the bigger cities have. There are also many farming and gardening volunteer placements available in the more rural areas of Fiji.