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 [email protected](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