Tribewanted: Vorovoro

It was the 13th August 2009 when the Island was invaded. Not by some alien beings, but by 50 children from Mali District School.
It was the day they came to Vorovoro, rather than the tribe visiting the school. Several boats packed with mild mannered and timid faced children, arrived at 9.30 am, sending the tribe into overdrive as we urgently completed our tasks ready to welcome the pint-sized guests.

Ranging in age from toddlers to early teens, they landed on the beech and made their way to the open space behind the Grand Bure. A large blue tarp had been laid out for us to sit, where they formed orderly rows, somewhat timidly facing the tribe.

As the sun warmed our backs the children sang to us – a melody of beautiful Fijian song. Jone from Team Fiji played the lali, accompanied by djembe drum and instructed the tribe in the Monkey Meke and Goat song, the latter organically spilling out to include the children. This prompted an obliteration of the neat rows and uninhibited outbursts of raucous laughter. One of the school children inspired by the music instinctively moved out from out melange and showed us all how to move in Indian/ Fijian style. A second child joined in, which elevated the volume to rapturous whooping. The initial timidness of the children on arrival was no longer evident; they were fully in the moment and enjoying every second of it.

Ben then kick started the day by talking a little about the project and asking the children what they thought we were all doing here on this island. Was it for a holiday, to learn or to work? The response was pensive. Just what were a bunch of foreigners running around in sulus, attempting to Meke and site pigeon Fijian actually doing here?....

Ben summarised the day’s activities, which was about emphasising why and how we can keep our land clear of rubbish and practice recycling. The children were then split into two groups, with the older children joining a beach clean up and the younger ones playing a name and recycle game.

The recycle game was all about active learning and getting the children to remember the names of things which can be recycled. The children were each given a name relating to rubbish – in this case glass, paper, plastic and tin. Fun and competitive spirit was the key, so when their name e.g. plastic was called out, everyone with that name would run as fast as they could into the middle and then back to their seats. When recycle was called out all the children would run to the middle, all competing to be the first back to their seats. It was exciting and engaging for all the children and a great way for the tribe to connect with the local children and have fun in the process!

Part of the game also included art, whereby collected materials from around the island were used. Including both natural items and recyclable rubbish, an under water collage was created depicting what everyone taking part thought and hoped the sea would look like if we all recycled and looked after our world. The children took on the task with relish, mimicking fish swimming in the sea and the piece itself looked amazing against the backdrop of the bright blue tarp.

As the younger children enjoyed their learning perhaps more subconsciously, the beach clean up was more of a conscious exercise. It was hard not to notice the effects of what rubbish can do to a beautiful beach or mangroves. Beer cans, plastic coke bottles, a children’s toy, half a flip flop. The material world all washed up on a Fijian island, curling around mangrove roots and half buried in the sand. The number of sacks filled was telling and sad to witness. The team of children and tribe collected about a dozen sacks, each weighing approximately 6KG. Quite a hoard, yet only a small section of the island was touched and limited time was spent. Just how much would we collect if we covered the whole island? Perhaps this is a project for the future?....

Despite such sobering thoughts, the children of Mali were upbeat and steadfast in their task. Barefooted, they forged ahead and with such ease threw sacks on their backs and made all kinds of carrying devices out of sticks. Inspirational. Such nimbleness was not however afforded to the soft soled tribe members who found the bare footed approach to be a bit too much of a challenge. Sharp stones and rocks proved an obstacle too far, so remained in the mangroves close to Tanoa Park, as they watched the majority of the party disappear into the distance – with all the sacks! Initiative did not however fail and although gingerly, this offshoot group gathered more offending objects. Thankfully in this case, a plastic bag in which to carry the hoard back to the village and (taking a leaf out of the Fijian’s book) Chuck’s shirt, tied together by the sleeves making a neat sack. Eventually the clean up team was rejoined and made our way back to have lunch.

Sports including football, touch rugby and volleyball became the nature of the afternoon as groups of children and tribe members could be seen and heard all over the village. The thud of a tribe member being tackled to the ground by a child half their size, cries of “mine” echoed from the volleyball court and shouts and pounding feet on the football pitch at Tanoa Park.

With much fun had and energy spent we all re-grouped on the tarp and Ben asked once more his opening question. Why is the tribe here, on this island in the Pacific? On this occasion the response was more confident with hands raised to the three reasons. Ben replied that we are in fact here for all three – to have a holiday, to learn and to work.

The day was coming to an end, but before they headed to the boats and back to Mali, the children were given one last treat – to play in the sea. Within seconds the tarp was void of children as they competed to be the first to the beach. Bodies merged with the waves, legs and arms emerging in a frenzy of white froth. It was a marvellous site to see as beaming smiles and laughter rang out across the shore line. Tribe members were jumped upon and pulled under with great glee, many posed for the camera, whilst others buried their class mates in sand.

Wet but happy, it was time to say moce (goodbye). The boats were once again filled, but this time rather than timid, uncertain faces, their eyes were bright and full of Fijian warmth. The children had worn out the tribe with their abundant energy, but we were all left with a glow and memories that will last forever. It was a good day on Vorovoro.

Photos by Sarah Charters and Jenny Caihill