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| Happy villagers in the completed bus shelter |
Hot sun, torrential downpours and driving winds
Standing outside with the hot sun roasting you in Fiji is almost as bad as getting soaked by a torrential downpour, and if the wind is driving in, it is almost too much too bear. Until recently, all the elements can throw at you has been borne by Savusavu villagers waiting lengthy periods for the bus to come along. It did not matter whether those waiting were children to go to school, or seniors and ill villagers waiting to go to town for medical appointments or to the hospital for treatment, or for villagers to take their goods to town to sell at the market, the wait could sometimes be a real ordeal.
Not anymore. Villagers can now wait in safety and comfort, thanks to this ongoing project of the Rotary Club of Savusavu whose decision in 2012 to fundraise to build much needed bus shelters in and around the township of Savusavu has seen eight bus shelters constructed. The club has not gone it alone, as the funding for these and at least two more planned for 2014 has been possible thanks to a wonderful relationship with some overseas Rotary clubs, mostly from District 5370 in Alberta, Canada plus others in Australia and Auckland, NZ. Often these are valued as more than just bus shelters, as they have also been used for talanoa (local Fijian story-telling and conversation).
These are no ordinary bus shelters, as they are constructed to a specific cyclone standard and are a generous 17’x10’ or 14’x10’. The actual construction is a close partnership with the village involved. The Rotary contribution is: arranging the initial meeting with the Headman and Ratu (Chief) of the village; providing professionally drawn plans and all building materials and transport to site; supervising the project and then displaying a Rotary sign at the completed bus shelter acknowledging the contributing overseas Rotary club. The recipient village or school provides carpenters and general labourers, builder’s mix, building tools and equipment.
In typical island style, there is always a wonderful celebration of food during the build, often with the entire Savusavu Rotary Club at a special ceremony with speeches of thanks, more food, singing and dancing.
More information: www.savusavu.rotarysouthpacific.org
