Go Make A Difference

Teaching & Building in Fiji

The sun is already hot and the sea looks spectacularly blue in the distance as we wake up and get ready for the day ahead. Breakfast is a self-service affair but there's always a good supply of food. Everyone mucks in and helps out with things around the house and our crew are always on hand to sort out any problems and facilitate the whole programme. As people eat, plans are made and revised for the day ahead; even the best laid plans in Fiji can fall foul of the relaxed island mentality and pretty soon everyone knows that 'Fiji time' is infectious and you just become more relaxed with every day.

There is a full programme of coaching almost every day and you have the flexibility to focus on just one sport or combine all the sports depending on what's happening that day. Some volunteering travellers came out with the intention of just coaching football but might have ended up coaching netball, tennis and hockey by the end of it! I'm focussing on coaching rugby and the Fijian's are mad about it! We coach primary school kids for a couple of hours in the morning and do a few more hours in the afternoon with the older kids. A couple of days a week we coach at the local college academy.

We return to the house and maybe after relaxing in the pool for a bit, head out to train with the local team in the evening who welcome us like neighbours and don't go too hard on us in the tackles, thankfully. The coaching is really rewarding and despite their obvious and natural flair for nearly all sports, the Fijian's are really keen to learn more and improve their skills and technique as well as learn about us. I've made some incredible friends, not just among the volunteers, but in the local community too. Occasionally we drink the ceremonial and traditional grog made from Kava root which is a big part of the culture here and to feel part of the community and the culture is something really special.

All the volunteering team are back at the house for a big group meal later that evening. We take turns cooking which is always fun, then depending on plans for the evening we might just relax in the house, plan tomorrow's coaching sessions, watch a DVD or head out to the sleepy town of Lautoka to check emails and who knows, maybe even have a few cheeky beers before coming home to bed! All this and we've still got the weekend to look forward to, to visit some of the most beautiful beaches and swim in some of the clearest water in the world. Not a bad day's work!

-Dan Robinson, football coaching in Fiji

For more information go to www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/pmb