Foundation for the Education of

Needy Children in Fiji

ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015

The Foundation for the Education of Needy

Children in Fiji (FENC Fiji) is a local, non-

government organization, which was registered

under the Charitable Trusts Act (Cap 67) in late

2009. As a voluntary, non-political, not-for-profit,

cause- oriented organization, it being the first of its

kind in Fiji, FENC Fiji’s primary goal is to provide

educational and related support to the children of

the poorest of the poor families in Fiji.

Our Vision

Making education accessible to the poorest

of the poor children in Fiji

Our Mission

To enable the poorest of the poor children in Fiji to

realize their potential through the provision of

education assistance & related support

Message from the Board ………………………………………………………...….. 1

Message from the National Executive Coordinator ……………………. 2

Board of Trustees

National Organizing Management Committee …………………………. 3

Program of Activities ……………………………………………………………..…… 4

Financials …………………………….………………………………………….….………..

Stats ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 9

Donor Listing …………………………………………………………………….............. 11

Call To Action …………………………………………………………………………….... 12

CONTENTS

MESSAGE From the Board

Page 1

Poverty remains an international andnational problem. Variousorganizations have taken on theresponsibilities and we at FENC Fijiare dedicated to the provision ofeducation for the neediest children inFiji. This is with the firm belief thateducation is a main tool that willassist eradicate poverty.The operational and financial year weare reporting on, has not beenwithout the normal challenges butthe organization moves forward inpursuing more opportunities and tofoster more associations with otherorganizations. It is therefore pleasingto note that we were able increasethe children we support by 20% overthe previous year.The Australian Government throughAQEP came on board and assisted inthe funding of Learning Center andsoon after the New ZealandGovernment indicated theirwillingness to assist with computers.I am particularly happy that welaunched our first Fiji Day on the 28th

of March, and we look forward to thisannual event that will be marked by amajor fundraising activity in thewalkathon. Both the President andthe Prime Minister participated.

I thank Government for theircontinued support in funds and ingetting behind our initiatives.We express our gratitude to thecorporate, and academicorganizations, individuals andgroups; both local and abroad forthe financial support and thoughtsand trust. Some donated books anditems that we distributed.I also thank my fellow members ofthe board, the members of theorganizing and managementcommittee and the hard workingstaff and volunteers of FENC Fiji.The task remains and our effortsare required in order to give thosedisadvantaged in society a chance.Let us be tireless in this cause.

Father Kevin BarrChairman.

MESSAGE From the NEC

Page 2

The 12 months to June 2015 was as challenging as ever. The ever present need to improve our programs and activities d finding new partners and new sources of funds were paramount.

To highlight some achievements:The increase of 20% over previous year on the number of children supported.

Doors were open for us from the New Zealand and Australian Government aid programmes in FijiRationalizing on learning centers –we opened a new one in Nadi and Lautoka and we relooked at the one in the North.

Our first FENC Fiji Day was held where we had our walkathon and raised over $50,000.00Establishing volunteer groups in our main centers

Firming up partnership programmewith University of Western Sydney and Help International. No doubt there are always areas of improvements which we will continue to work on.

We welcomed two new members of the National Organising and Management Committee; MessrsRupeni Silimaibau and Rev JoneTuiono. Their contribution has been invaluable.

I thank the Board members, members of the National Organizing and management Committee for the guidance and support.

I thank also all our staff members and volunteers for the hard work.

Joape KuinikoroNational Coordinator

Board of Trustees

Father Kevin Barr: Chair

Mrs. Selina Leewah: Labasa

Mr. Sushila Rameshwar: Nadi

Mr. Noel Lal: Australia

Mr. John Samy (Co-Chair)

Ratu Meli Vesikula (Co-Chair)

Mr. Raj Sharma (National Treasurer)

Ms. Sashi Barros

Mr. Jone Tuiono

Mr. Rupeni Silimaibau

National Organizing Management Committee

Educational Support

Child Education Sponsorship Scheme

Page 3

Number of children assisted:

2010: 9522011: 9392012: 9702013: 11382014: 9702015: 1103

* An additional number of children were assisted in the FENC Fiji Learning Centres – 2014: 87 & 2015: 124.

25%

19%

56%

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSISTANCE

Western Northern Central/Eastern

Learning Center’s were set up as

a child centered, family oriented

‘space’ where children could

come to after school and

complete their homework, or to

study under guided supervision.

FENC Fiji caters for many

children who come from homes

that are not conducive to

learning.

The rules and consequences are

developed by the children and

enforced by the adults.

We took this approach as a way

of interacting with the children

and to encourage them to take

ownership of their actions,

behaviors and mannerism.

After it’s official launch in 2014,

this program has continued with

greater expectation from the

children,.

With 5 center's in operation (as

seen below), FENC Fiji has since

incorporated extra-curricular

activities to engage children.

Child Support ProgramCommunity Learning Centers & Community Tutoring

Page 5

Case Study:Nanuku Community Learning Center

Page 5

Trends and Awareness: Engaging Children

An integral part of our community

involvement with children was taking

a break from the ‘usual’ school work

and bringing awareness programs to

them. This was not only to generate

discussion, but more so to encourage

these children to be aware, alert and

active. To encourage them to be

components of change in the very

communities they lived in.

Of particular highlight was the “café

style” event conducted at engaging 50

children to think hard about “Child

Labor in Fiji.”

We began by defining what child labor

was and introduced the children to the

basics of the UN Convention on the

Rights of the Child.

We then took snippets out of the

Employment Ordinance Act [Chapter

92, Part VIII, 59-65] via PowerPoint

Presentation, and gave the children

some handy hints on recognizing it in

our communities and reporting it to

someone in authority.

Several short documentaries were

screened in 4 stations based on cases

where children we engaged in child

labor and thankfully removed from it.

We only screened documentaries

where children were rescued and

given a chance to go to school (some

for the first time in their lives).

Although this is not the case in many

stories, we wanted to begin by

introducing the idea that we should

not support child labor. We showed

how children in all parts of the world

were engaged in child labor, from as

young as 3 and 4 years old. We

highlighted how this was detrimental

to their growth mentally, physically

and emotionally.

Immediately after the documentaries

we then proceeded to talk on

responsibilities. Many responsibilities

at home is a chance for children to

learn decision making skills that come

in handy after the formative years of a

child's life. Many in the form of

chores.

Children were then given tasks to

segregate activities and highlight the

difference between “child labor and

chores.”

We ended the session by asking what

their ‘takeout’ for the day was, to

which the response was, “Adults need

to be MORE responsible!”

Workshops

Page 7

• In our endeavor to engage children in an interactive learning environment, we provide an environment for this to eventuate.

• Of notable mention is the “Job Seeking Skills Workshop” we take out into the communities and engage children in Years 11-13.

Case Study:Job Seeking Skills Workshop

Subject choice combination plays a very

critical role in determining job choices

or career paths.

Readiness or preparedness for the Job

market is a totally different field on it’s

own. In working with children for the

past 4 years, we set out to assist higher

secondary children in the preparation

phase for job hunting.

50 students from various school across

Fiji were given an opportunity to

attend a workshop regarding Job

Seeking Skills. This compliments what

the Ministry of Education is

implementing in schools via the Career

Development Unit.

We highlight the workshop in Labasa

as this was the first of it’s kind. Areas

covered included:

Self Assessment, Self Motivation, Self

realization, How to market yourself,

Resume Writing, Job Searching,

Applications and ending with mock

interviews.

Some common issues and their level

of complexity :

1) Scanning for vacancies in the

dailies (Fiji Times & Fiji Sun)- easy

2) Applying for the actual vacancy:

complex

3) Attending the interview: difficult

Having workshops such as these give

children an opportunity to practice,

practice, practice. It is indeed worth noting

that at some point in their lives, they will

come across either applying for a

job/vacancy and possibly going through

the interview process.

Some Statistics

Majority of our assistance extends to the Central Division. This essentially is due to the spatial distribution of people with the central division being the most populous of the 3 divisions covered by FENC Fiji

Central West North

113

55

0

NEW CASES

0 50 100 150 200

Males

Females

Gender Makeup - High School (Central)

52 53 54 55 56 57 58

Males

Females

Gender Makeup - High School (Western)

32.5 33 33.5 34 34.5

Males

Females

Gender Makeup - High School (North)

166 167 168 169 170

Males

Females

Gender Makeup - Primary School (Central)

70 72 74 76 78 80 82

Males

Females

Gender Makeup – Primary School (Western)

0 20 40 60 80 100

Males

Females

Gender Makeup - Primary School (North)

Some Statistics

621 – Central Division

270 – Western Division

212 – Northern Division

621270

212

Students Assisted

Central Western Northern

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

Males

Females

Gencer Makeup - Special Needs Children (Central)

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Males

Females

Gender Makeup - Special Needs Children (Western)

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

Males

Females

Gender Makeup - Special School (North)

Donor ListingFenc Fiji thanks the following people, organizations, companies and philanthropists for generously contributing to children’s education.

Page 9

• Jyoti Club of Sydney• Mediators Social Club• Mr Raj Sharma• T.L Arthur & P.D.Arthur• Mr Rajendra Prasad• Ms Sashi Bharos• Ms Lan• M Bhagwan Co Limited• Mr Vinay Chand• HFC Bank• Gippsland Indian

Association• Solander (Pacific)

Limited• H.E Ambassador

Ravindra Robin Nair• Life Insurance

Corporation of India• Maria Michael• Patrick Emporium• Fiji Development Bank• Boehringer Ingelheim

Pty Ltd• Post Fiji Limited• Maps Pacific (Fiji) Pty

Ltd• Fiji Beach Resort & Spa

Managed by Hilton• Ashika Raj• Jamandas & Associates• Mercure Nadi

• QBE Insurance• C K Patel & Co.• Marsh Fiji• Sigatoka Electrical• Ms Karen Philips-Ross• Mr Tudraki• Agni Deo Singh• Mr Joape Kuinikoro• Mr Sahu Khan• Corona Womens Society• Mr Anirudh Singh• Nadi Bula Festival• Blue Water Real Estate• AAPI Designs• Mr Kazu Sakai• Ratu Meli Vesikula• Nancy Rasuaki• Mr Chin Choon Fong• Nectaria Veliots• Wainikiti Navo• Mr Mahendra Bhai Patel• Kamni Narayan• Dewan Chand• Mr Babu Chowdar• Basic Hygiene Ltd• Mrs Apted• Mr Jiten Amarsee• Bernadatte Rounds

Ganilau• Fiji TV

• The Australian Association of Fiji

• Kalpesh Solanki• Hadassah Duaibe• Father Kevin Barr• Mr Noel Pratap Lal• Mr Daniel Yee• Supreme Fuel• Infinity Events Group• Golden Manufactures• Susana Clark• Government of Fiji• Mr Santa Ram• Mr. John Samy• Vuksich & Borich Fiji Ltd• Tanoa International

Hotel• Gibson Freight

International• Mrs Rockman• Jian Enterprises • Mrs. Sushila Rameshwar• Pacific Island Ltd• S. Nagindas

The Foundation for the Education ofNeedy Children in Fiji [FENC FIJI ] is anational organization registered underthe charitable trust Act (Cap 67 ) toserve voluntary, non-political, not-for-profit ,cause oriented organization thatwould provide educational and relatedsupport to the children of the poorestof the poor families in Fiji .Funding for this initiative is throughvoluntary donations and sponsorshipsform:· Individuals within Fiji and overseas;· Private Sector Business organization;· Philanthropic organizations andcharitable trust funds within Fiji andOverseas and;· From the Government and Fiji’sbilateral and multilateral developmentpartners.

Page 25

CALL TO ACTION

www.fencfiji.org FENC Fiji info@fencfiji.com(679) 3100660

FENC Fiji has been approved by the FijiIslands Revenue and Custom Authorityas a Charitable Trust and falls within theambit of Section 17(5) of the IncomeTax Act and is exempted from tax .Anycash donation made by a tax payer tothe Trust which does not exceed inaggregate an amount of $100,000.00will be allowed as a deductible expenseto the tax payer [donor ].

HELP SEND A CHILD TO SCHOOL.

DONATE TO FENC FIJI

Bank Account details :Bank : BSP Account # :7872849Branch : Suva Central Swift Code :BOSPFJFJ

“Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world Education is the only solution.” Education first.Malala Yousafzai