One island at a time
Sat 05 June 2010
Anna Jones, Bachelor of Communication
They are like most children; their eyes are full of curiosity, their smiles big and their spirit bigger, but they live in one of the most poverty stricken regions in the world.
Sunshine Coast organisation Friends of Pacific Islands (FPI) began with the hope of providing aid and assistance to disadvantaged children and families living in the Pacific regions.
While the task may seem daunting, FPI member Enid Maloney urges Sunshine Coast residents to get involved, saying the personal rewards are worth it. 
“The benefits I see coming out of this aid engagement is empowerment to move forward with purpose toward greatness in ourselves,” Ms Maloney said.
Ms Maloney first got involved with the organisation two years ago after travelling and seeing the difference that could be made in the lives of others.
“I saw the opportunity to travel in a way that I could meet and share something of myself with other indigenous people and their culture, and that they in return would have something of value to share back,” Ms Maloney said.
One of the ongoing projects FPI Islands is currently undertaking is making repairs and upgrading education facilities at the Nadarivatu High School in Viti Levu, Fiji.
The mission has seen many repairs to the school, and most importantly provided girls and boys dormitories, meaning that children who would usually have to walk five hours to school can now board.
The school now also runs organic farming and fish farming programs, which will teach self-sustainability to the community.
Ms Maloney said programs like these are vital in creating change within these communities.
Papua New Guinea is another port of call for FPI, with their current Project Irafo hoping to establish a school and medical outpost in a village in the eastern highlands.
Many of the island communities are remote and have little access to good health care services, food and water, sanitation facilities and education.
The diversity of land, culture and sustainability which inhabits Papua New Guinea is widespread, and tackling any one of these issues can be difficult.
Ms Maloney hopes that her work with FPI can improve community members’ health, give them education and eventually guide them to self-sustainable enterprises.
Sunshine Coast couple Kay and Al Spearing, along with FPI, hope that by doing small things, big things will be achieved.
The couple first began their trek to Papua New Guinea in 2007, after feeling passionate about the impoverished situations children experienced.
It took five hours on a truck and one hour by boat to reach Miaru, a village in the Gulf province of Papua New Guinea on the west coast.
For Mrs Spearing, a primary school teacher, the project was especially close to her heart.
“Being a primary school teacher, I see firsthand the importance of education on these young minds, and it was great to go over there and come back and share my experiences with the children,” Mrs Spearing said.
“It was a teaching experience for all of us.”
For Mr Spearing, a policeman, the experience was a real eye opener.
“A lot of the kids don’t have pencils and paper and basic things like that, the classrooms have mud floors and very poor facilities,” Mr Spearings said.
Mr Spearings also highlighted how close Papua New Guinea is to Australia, yet it is still a third world country.
“It made us very aware of how close these people are to us, yet they live so differently,” Mr Spearings said.
While Mr and Mrs Spearing saw that improvements need to be made, they also saw that the best way to help is to provide education.
Both said that change cannot be given, only the tools to do so.
“If you give these people fishing rods, they can fish for their own food and also for food to sell,” Mr Spearings said.
“A kilo of fish will sell for $A3 dollars, which may seem like nothing to us, but to them is quite a lot.”
Donations can be small or big, in dollars, or as FPI said, “in kind”.
Trivial things which are taken for granted such as garden tools, spades, shovels, hand towels and bedding can add phenomenal value to these people’s lives.
Ms Maloney said the best way to help is to understand the people first and their way of life.
“First take the time to truly understand the people you wish to serve and support, engage in dialogue with them, and listen, listen, listen,” Ms Maloney said.
“I see happy children and families living simply without clutter, yes they need health care and education, but not to the detriment of letting go of their native language, good values and customs.”
Image(s) designed by Anna Jones