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Trip Highlights
· Volunteering project at Homes of Hope or 'Happy Homes'
· White water rafting
· Hiking in highlands
· Snorkelling
· Cruising in Yasawa Islands
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
You can choose to assist at 'Homes of Hope' - an organisation dedicated to the welfare of solo mothers and their children, or 'Happy Homes' - an orphanage. Your activities will be fairly similar at both: repairs and renovations. However if you have teaching or building skills, 'Homes of Hope' is probably for you, and if you have landscaping, mechanical, electrical or plumbing skills, 'Happy Homes' is probably your best choice.
Trip summary
We begin in Nadi, on the west coast of the main island, Viti Levu. We drive straight to the Coral Coast, stopping at beaches, sand dunes and a world renowned eco bird park. We spend the next day white water rafting on the Upper Navua river, before returning for another night on the Coral Coast.
We then transfer you to Pacific Harbour, where you will spend the next four nights, choosing from hiking, snorkelling, swimming, or just relaxing by the pool or lagoon. Evenings will provide you with opportunities to sample traditional Fijian food.
We then transfer to Suva and begin our volunteer project with Homes of Hope, nestled in the foothills of Suva, or Happy Homes, located just outside of Suva.
Homes of Hope are dedicated to the welfare of single mothers and their children, and you can help with gardening; concrete block laying; painting; carpentry; cleaning; cooking; brushcutting; building; helping teach some of the illiterate teenage mothers, or working with their children in the preschool or primary school.
Happy Homes is a small orphanage set up by a remarkable woman, and began when she discovered a young man, Sujit, who was chained to a bed, and had spent part of his boyhood living in a chicken coop. Sujit's transformation is remarkable, and he was the catalyst for this remarkable orphanage. There are general repair and renovation opportunities here, but if you have specific plumbing, electrical, landscaping or mechanical (they have been donated an old 4WD which the boys would love to restore!) skills they are especially helpful.
After 5 days of volunteering, we say goodbye to our new friends and transfer back to Nadi. The following day we have a one-day highland trek which takes in waterfalls and stunning vistas, before our 3 day 2 night cruise of the Yasawa Islands begins.
Aboard your boat, you will spend three days cruising the Yasawa Islands, where you can snorkel, dive, kayak, swim, or just work on your suntan while enjoying your well earned rest. You will sleep on board your boat, in dormitory style shared accommodation. Your trip ends back in Nadi, with transfers to the airport.
* Note re: Comfort Level
Your accommodation is in comfortable bures (traditional huts)/hotel (8 nights), a resort (4 nights), and 2 nights in dormitory-style accommodation in the Yasawa Islands.
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