As part of your homestay experience there is the opportunity to get actively involved in the life of a community by working side-by-side with dedicated local people. Service projects are co-financed by hosts and guests, and vary depending on the needs of your host community. Examples of past service projects include building a guest house, a community hall, devising more efficient ways of tanking fresh water and the sponsorship of children's education. Your efforts and skills make a valuable contribution to your host community. Participate in a community service project and gain an insiders understanding of the culture of the participating villages. The rewards will live with you forever.
Village Homestays are also deal for educational groups and special interest groups. The experiences for visiting children will last their lifetime and many friendships across culture are forged. The "Friends of Malevu (Fiji)", based in Canada, are currently helping the community fit out their new primary school. Children can spend 5 - 15 days in a village environment and participating in the activities and teaching methods of the local school.
Importantly teachers leading the group can structure these programs to meet the unique requirements or goals of their class. In this regard we are looking for ongoing educational partnerships with different educational institutions, training organisations and other groups. The overriding intention is to use the local knowledge through interaction with local guides, community resources, and traditional knowledge, with option for visiting institution/organisation/group to provide their own academic support
Some examples of projects Global Village Homestays are exploring include areas such as:
Community development project visits (tourism, microfinance, agriculture, community/education, etc)
Indigenous cultures (bush foods, native medicines, tracking, etc)
Cultural anthropology (learn about traditional customs, ways of life, etc)
Environmental education (from the basics to marine biology, environmental management, sustainability, etc)
The Educational Tours & Packages can only offer what local knowledge or expertise, community resources, and traditional knowledge can support. There may be untapped wisdom in areas of Fiji that could form the basis of significant and unique educational packages.
Would you like to participate? Then email us.
