Tribewanted: Vorovoro

who are you?

I think there are two points to be made here. Firslty, the girls you are talking were two of the very first staff members working on the island, which in itself was a huge responsibility. They also lived together in very close proximity in not ‘ideal’ conditions (I would probably kill my colleagues if I had to live with them in a tent). The ‘behaviour’ that was shown was a dispute between them and no one else, and there was no indication that this was affecting their ability to look after tribemembers.
Secondly, I think you have to remember, this is TV! It’s very rare that the editorial voice will remain neutral when real people are the subjects of tv programmes. Editing has the ability to make everyday situations appear hugely dramatic and therfore more watchable. To not ‘share this with the world’ would be pointless censorship as we are all only human afterall.
Vorovoro may be paradise, but the people are still real. Thank God!

I thought they made a big mistake by introducing backpackers with no previous knowledge of the ethos of Tribewanted. I hope this has now stopped (I assume it was done to improve cashflow at a crucial time). The strain showed on all the regulars of having late night parties and inappropriate dress around the Fijians, plus the new visitors did not appear to contribute anything to the village or the project but used up valuable resources. The saddest thing for me was to see that the newcomers introduced theft to an island community that had not previously known it. Paradise lost indeed – but, I hope, recoverable.

Lesley – I’d like to respond to your comments.

This episode was filmed over 6 months

The newcomers referred to in the documentary:

1. Did not dress inappropriately – the beach shots are away from the villages where it is agreed that this dress is ok.

2. Did not create late night drinking suddenly. Alcohol has been on Vorovoro and other islands in the area for a long time. Yes, of course

3. Did embrace the ethos of the project very quickly and contributed significantly to the work going on – leading the building and delivery of a shelving unit for the local school.

4. Theft exists in every village – and its not new to Vorovoro. I’ve worked on over a dozen community projects in the last 8 years and the relationship and trust in this community is stronger than any of my previous experiences.

I don’t deny their have been problems or mistakes made but the overall picture needs to be considered here – and that is, that this initiative, by the fijian landowners, not ourselves, has been a good one so far for all involved.

Watch next week, I’m sure you will see things balance how out.

Lesley, don’t know if you are a full member and have access to the other blogs and the forum but please read this from one of the “alcoholic backpackers” who was an absolute asset to the tribe and who has made firm friends with the Fijians:

“I was on the island during this time and featured in last night’s episode quite a bit and feel my time on the island has been completely mis-represented. I understand they wanted to make the point ‘more numbers, more problems’ and as you say it would be a surprise if there weren’t teething problems but I feel like they really focussed on negatives too much last night – and exaggerated and sensationalised the truth.

I was there for 2 weeks and I recall 3 nights where we drank on the island, and I seem to remember the Shine crew actually buying us some Bounty Rum to say thanks for taking part in filming. I don’t know who edited this and how involved John / Jenny were so I’m not going to point the finger at them.

As I say they focused on the negatives too much in my opinion. Where was the coverage of Children of Fiji Day, where was working alongside the Fijians to build Ben’s Bure, where was the coverage of the Music workshop I did with the kids in the school. It didn’t show Mikey taking it upon himself to try and build extra water collecting devices to catch more water… it didn’t show Laura, Alex and Sophie’s and other members working on the vegetable garden or us talking to the WWF represenatives who came to island to discuss the impact we’re having on the coral.

All the points about the dress / hygiene etc have been covered so I won’t go there. I do feel like I’m defending myself and the other members who I shared my time with on Vorovoro (‘the alcoholic backpackers’) which is a real shame.

The most Ironic part for me was when I was shown sat on the beach with Epeli, Tevita and a few other elders drinking Kava. I’d awoke on my last morning and wandered down to the headland for one final time. On my way back I strolled through the village (making sure to announce my arrival with the traditional ‘Bongi’) and I was invited in for a delicious breakfast of cocunut rice, cake and lemon tea with Francis, Poassa, Epeli and Va. They told me how they would miss me, especially at night around the Kava bowl when I spent the nights singing songs and trying to learn Fijian songs. Epeli asked me to meet him and a few of the elders down on the beach for a goodbye round of Kava. I met them half an hour later and they sat me in the chiefs position. They explained they were ‘burying my footsteps in the island’ which meant that I would never truly leave. It was the proudest moment of my life and Tevita said I was the first person from the Tribe (that he knew of) to receive such a ceremony. On the programme they showed this moment whilst they were talking about relationships with the Fijian’s being at an all time low. I know its editing but to be honest… it hurt.

I’m gutted to be honest but I will not let it tar my memories of our beautiful island, the people I shared it with, ot the amazing experience I had while I was there.

Vinaka

Spud”

I think what I blogged about here has been misinterpreted a little – possibly my fault for how it reads…

Firstly, Hannah I was not only meaning the crossed words between the two girls on the island but more the general atmosphere between all the staff; Fijian and TW staff. Obviously, I appreciate that they were all living and working together over a long period of time – I understand this, as I said I’ve been involved in community projects and various other things before so I know how stifling it can feel sometimes. I also know island life and also completely appreciate that the media sensationalise things.

I was not meaning to trivialise anything on the island and I was certainly not meaning to slate anyone or the good work that is going on. I was simply saying it was a shame that all that was aired and as I was watching I had concerns, that’s all – perhaps I’m being over sensitive!

And, I might be wrong but I get the impression Farrell is suggesting I have no place to comment on this subject by his post asking who I am. If I’m wrong, then ignore this bit – but if that is what he meant, then this hostile response only goes to heighten my concern further.

Hi Leisha,

Thanks for posting, and as you rightly say, it is media spin. Really hope you’ll get to visit Vorovoro and your concerns about the relationship between Fijians and the TW tribe can be put to rest.

Hi Leisha… thanks for your posts… it’s always nice to have new posters! One thing you will quickly learn here… people talk very openly about their opinions here and once you get to know us, you will see that no one was upset by your thoughts nor aggressive in response.

We do love a good debate at TW… how do you feel about babies, smoking and God? (long thread story… just a TW joke).

As one of the early members who knows most everyone here at TW on the forum, I can also say to Farrell.. who are you? But I don’t think it was meant meanly… we have had tons of new posters here lately… with full names instead of our tribal names (I’m Gilligan BTW) and sometimes we don’t know who is who.

Thanks guys…

That’s cleared some stuff up. I’m new to blogging really and it’s pretty hard to tell how something is meant to come accross in text sometimes.

Oh, and in answer to your question David, it really depends on which baby, what kind of smoking and which God you’re talking about!

Hi guys, Lolly thanks for posting my story…. saves me the job of posting it again here!

I just wanted to say a few things about this ‘backpacker’ tag that’s knocking around. a lot of Vorovoro visitors have been backpackers passing through, some of them who signed up before they arrived in Fiji, some last minute. I joined up in April 2006, went to a few gatherings and got involved with the project and then went backpacking in October 06. When I arrived in Nadi in April 07 I had a few days to kill and I got chatting to Laura, Alex and Sophie about the project. They really didn’t want to do the whole ‘booze cruise’ thing around the Fijian islands and straight away I knew they’d love the project so I called Ben and they booked their flights. They ended up staying on Vorovoro longer than me and made a huge contribution to the island while they were there. Now they might not be the most active on TW now, but that’s their choice. it doesn’t change the fact that they, and other backpackers who have since decided to join in Nadi didn’t contribute to the project or have a positive effect.

Yes the island has had problems, but the way the documentary made it out to be the fault of ‘random’ backpackers arriving from Nadi is completely mis-guided.

Naka.

Leisha I think you opened up a good debate here! Just a heathly exchange of ideas I think the best blogs are the ones that get everyone talking so dont feel you have to defend it. ;-)
To be honest, if I hadnt visited myself, I think my view would have been a lot different if I had seen the last episode, but I think Ben made some good points. Lets see what the next episode brings.