Cultural Immersion Week in Fiji, Coral Coast

• Explore the beautiful island of Fiji
• Immerse yourself in the culture of the island
• Experience a traditional Fijian welcome ceremony called “Kava Ceremony”
• Attend a weaving class
• Join a class to learn Fijian language and Fijian cooking

We highly recommend you start your trip with a comprehensive cultural immersion week followed by one of our community projects. It will help you settle in by meeting new people and understanding great aspects about the country you are visiting. Search other activities for week two onward in the ‘Related trips‘ section.

Note that the culture week happens during the first and third week of every month, so if you want to start your trip with it then factor this in, otherwise you can do it in and around other activities.

Cultural Immersion Week in Fiji

The best way to embrace Fiji is in Sigatoka, where you will get familiar with the culture and people of Fiji. During this week we will explain the do’s and don’ts regarding safety and transport. Various crafts give Fiji a unique identity that along with traditional etiquette and local architecture tells a story of culture and its evolution over time. You will be invited to join a kava ceremony during your stay. After the formalities, this is a wonderful way to make new friends and learn a little more about their countries. Dig a little deeper and see what you can discover! Visit the Fijian markets, attend a weaving class, learn Fijian language and cooking and get to know about your projects. The week consists of three days of activities to introduce you to the Fijian culture and surroundings and also for you to interact with the fellow participants. During the last two days of the week, you will be visiting your project and commence your work.

Criminal Records Check
We require you to complete a criminal records check in order to take part in this experience. We can accept those that have been done in the last two years if you have the certificate. In the UK it can be done through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), in the USA further details can be found on Travel.State.Gov, otherwise please search for your local service provider. We may also request a reference from a reliable source. You must supply these to us before departure and also take a copy with you to present to the in-country team.

Why do we require a criminal background check?
1) Ensuring a safe environment is conducive to learning, productivity and overall positive experiences for everyone involved.

2) We implement thorough screening processes and we are committed to safety and integrity, fostering trust among participants and the local community.

3) Conducting background checks serves as a preventive measure, deterring individuals with questionable backgrounds from attempting to participate in our programme.

4) Safeguards vulnerable people from potential harm within the programme.

Start dates are every first and third week of the month with your activities starting on a Monday. We therefore request you arrive on Sunday between 06:00 – 18:00 where we will meet you. Early or late arrivals will incur an additional charge for the transfer and/or accommodation.

Your trip will finish on the Saturday morning when you will need to vacate the accommodation or continue with another trip of ours.

Aims & Objectives

Introduce you to Fiji’s diverse geographical and cultural environment by fostering a deeper understanding of cultural similarities and differences through experiential learning in Fiji and to help you develop awareness and deeper understanding of culture.

Schedule
Monday to Friday
Highlights:

• Introduction regarding the culture and people of Fiji
• Sessions on safety, transport and do’s and dont’s
• Sigatoka town and the village
• Attend a weaving class
• Attend a class to learn Fijian language and Fijian cooking
• Experience a traditional Fijian welcome ceremony called “Kava Ceremony”
• Make friends around the world! – take part in our cultural exchange session where you share your culture with the fellow participants
• Visit your project placement sites and get to know the projects you will be working upon

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Additional Requirements

Participants above 16 and below 18 are required to present a parental consent letter and participants below 16 are required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Additional Equipment

• Personal Medicines
• Hat
• Small padlock to secure valuables
• Tidy clean clothes for formal occasions

Location

Coral Coast is the coastline connecting Suva and Sigatoka stretching over a large area along the Southeast coast of Fiji. The location is perfect, sitting along a beautiful stretch of coastline, and has the best beaches on the island with a chilled out atmosphere. The area lives up to its reputation as a spot for adrenaline junkies, offering a wide variety of activities to get your heart racing, from surfing and shark feeding to four-wheel-drive tours. For a more laid-back experience try a round of golf on the championship course, or enjoy a spot of fishing. Offering lush rainforests, rivers and waterfalls at your back door and a beach looking across to Beqa Island which is world-famous for fire walking.

Accommodation & Food
About the Accommodation

Participants will stay at our beachfront centre which is located in the Sigatoka area, yet it can vary depending on the project you are enrolled with. The accommodation is dorm style with a private bathroom. There are refrigerators at the accommodation for the participant’s convenience. The house has a garden as well as a volleyball court.

Available Room Types

* Three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends and public holidays
** Water, tea, coffee and milk
*** At an additional fee

Food Arrangements

We serve breakfast and dinner at a normal time during the weekend. Breakfast is western style and lunch and dinner are typical Fijian style.

Facilities

• ATM’s: There are many ATM’s near the Centre which is about a 5 to 10 minutes from the house
• The local supermarket is a 5-minute walk from the centre
• Personal SIM card for your mobile: You can buy at the local shop
• The closest City is Nadi about one and a half ride by car/bus from our Centre
• The closest town is Sigatoka town which is 10 mins away
• About 10 mins to Medical Centre

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule

• Welcome, introduction to Fiji and projects, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
• Sigatoka City Tour
• Kava Ceremony – The Traditional Fijian Welcome Ceremony

Activities & Events

No scheduled activities outside the program

Sights & Surroundings

• Sigatoka sand dunes
• Kila Eco Adventure Park: enjoy high rope course, a leap of faith and a giant swing
• Scuba and snorkelling
• Tavuni Hill Fort
• Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course
• Sigatoka Market
• Arts Village at Pacific Harbour: Enjoy the footbridges, the water-lily ponds, the pathways, the Fijian bure and experience how life was in the olden days which is one and hour drive

Transportation

From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations

Accommodation

Participants will stay at our beachfront centre which is located in the Sigatoka area. Accommodation is dorm style with a private bathroom. Shared rooms (4-6 people per room); Basic but comfortable; Communal areas for socialising and relaxation designed with an authentic Fijian style; garden; volleyball court; internet access in communal areas.

Food

3 meals a day are provided on weekdays, and then 2 meals per day on weekends; breakfast is western style and lunch and dinner are typical Fijian style.

Airport Transfer

Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early/late. Accommodation surcharges apply for those arriving on Saturday. From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.

Training

A full orientation and project induction takes place.

Support

Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Donation

Part of your fee is donated to help the community where you will be based.

• Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Visas; Vaccinations
• Spending money
• In country travel
• Laundry service
• Extra activities not on itinerary
• Departure transfer

Preferred Duration
The maximum time for this programme is 1 week.

Pre-requisites
No prior experience or qualifications are required. It is important that you can speak basic English. All participants require a CRB check to take part in the project activities and will need to provide a copy of their passport on sign up.

Ideal for
Cultural Immersion Week in Fiji; Activity Breaks in Fiji; Volunteer Gap Years and Career Breaks in Fiji; and Student Summer Holidays in Oceania.