When the issue of poverty is raised, people often visualise images of starving children in parts of Africa and Asia. These images may not be so starkly visible in Fiji and the Pacific, having the image of a tropical paradise. However, there is evidence of poverty of varying degrees and magnitude. If something is not done about the situation of children in Fiji and the greater Pacific, in time to come the images of starving children would become a reality in this part of the world.

Introduction
  • Reports suggest that an estimated 45% of the total population in Fiji live in poverty of varying degrees and over 40% of children in Fiji are malnourished.
  • Around 104,000 people in Fiji currently reside in squatter settlements (shanty towns). The squatter population includes Indigenous Fijian as well as Indo-Fijian families.
  • Considerable concerns are being expressed that an increasing number of children who are day scholars bring inadequate or no lunches to school.
  • While aid agencies largely concentrate upon development-focused approaches to poverty alleviation, the immediate needs of children such as nutrition and access to education remain unattended. Voluntary agencies often struggle to cater for the growing number of children in need of assistance, food, shelter, and education.
  • There are indications of declining health conditions among children of all ages. Their decline is a loss of human resource upon which communities grow and develop.
  • Although basic food supplies are distributed to destitute families in some areas, appropriate feeding programs and children's nutritional needs in urban as well as rural communities remain neglected.

News & Updates

  • 200 Million Meals Milestone

    In November 2009, the donations of 100 million meals milestone was achieved! Onto the next 100 Million...

  • Call to tackle rural poverty

    TIMOCI VULA, Saturday, October 02, 2010

    With rising poverty incidences in Fiji's rural areas accounting for 43 per cent in 2008, serious development strategies must focus on rural development. And an expert says policy makers must ensure 70 per cent of all poverty alleviation resources have to be devoted to the rural areas or the rural-urban drift would worsen. Read the full article at www.fijitimesonline.com

  • 45% of People in Poverty

    Wednesday, April 21, 2010

    Forty-five per cent of people in Fiji are living in poverty, this was revealed at a workshop on poverty alleviation impact assessment. Read the full article at www.fijitimesonline.com

  • FENC to give children new lease of life

    Sunday, February 21, 2010

    THE Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC) Fiji will provide educational and related support as appropriate with the view to allow children and their immediate families to get out of the traps of poverty. Special administrator Josefa Vucago said the foundation's contribution would definitely help in fulfilling the vision of the people's charter for change. Read the full article at www.fijitimesonline.com

  • Working Together to Exceed 200 Million Meals in 2010

    Since its launch in 2002, Nourish the Children has provided over 189,000,000 meals to malnourished children around the world. Our goal is to exceed 200 million meals in 2010. Read the full article at www.nourishthechildren.com

  • Child sex offence questions safety

    VERENAISI RAICOLA, Friday, October 31, 2008

    Friday, October 31, 2008 - The reports of child sexual offence in communities and institutions raise questions about the safety of children, says Fiji Council of Social Services tutor Irshad Ali. Read the full article at www.fijitimes.com

  • Teachers feed 15 students

    MERESEINI MARAU, Thursday, June 05, 2008

    Three children who are in a household that has no woman are part of a group of 15 students who are fed breakfast and lunch by the teachers of Vatukoula Convent School. Read the full article at www.fijitimes.com

  • 100 Million Meals Celebration

    In November 2007, Nu Skin celebrated the donations of 100 million meals through their Nourish the Children initiative. With this major milestone achieved, they have set their sights on their next milestone - 200 million meals which they hope to achieve in 2010.

  • Truth behind our poverty

    WADAN NARSEY, Sunday, June 10, 2007

    Who are the poorest in the country? Who are the largest groups of poor? How much 'affirmative action' resources should government give to each group to close the "poverty gap?" Read the full article at www.fijitimes.com

  • How child labour is kept alive in the death grip of poverty

    IRSHAD ALI, Wednesday, March 07, 2007

    THE complex issue of child labour has emerged once again. The notion that children are being exploited and forced into labour while not receiving an education crucial to development, concerns many people. Read the full article at www.fijitimes.com