Charity in the island
Vinaka Fiji Yasawa Trust Foundation general manager Elenoa Nimacere. Picture: SITERI SAUVAKACOLO
WHEN Elenoa Nimacere was first thrown into the Yasawa group of island to start off the charity for South Sea Cruises, she did not know what to expect.
As a woman from the highlands of Naitasiri, life on the island was a totally different one for her, however, being an iTaukei woman, she took the offer and promised herself to work with the people of Yasawa and helped improve their living through consistent dialogue and visits.
It all began more than 12 years ago and today, almost every villager from Yasawa knows Ms Nimacere as the awesome woman who will always come to their rescue when they needed assistance in development or in any aspect of life “From the highland to the island,” is how Ms Nimacere of Serea, Naitasiri, loves to introduce herself.
“I did not find it hard in the first place because I grew up in Nadi most of my life and I have worked extensively in the tourism industry for a number of years so working with villagers was nothing new to me.
“In fact it was a challenge as I had to work alone travelling to nearly all the villages and islands on Yasawa and try convincing the chiefs and leaders on setting up something which would allow us to work together and achieve a common goal.”
Ms Nimacere is the Vinaka Fiji Yasawa Trust Foundation manager — the charity arm of South Sea Cruises.
Her work revolves around assisting the indigenous community in improving living standards and creating income generating projects for villagers and also assists those who want to start their eco-tourism businesses.
She started from scratch visiting each and every village on Yasawa right from the southern to the northern tip of the island just to convince chiefs on the importance of working together in partnership with tourism stakeholders.
The Vinaka Fiji Trust was set up by South Sea Cruises sister company, Awesome Adventure Fiji, to give something back to the villagers and to say “thank you (vinaka), for welcoming us into your islands.”
Through fundraising and volunteering, Vinaka Fiji aims to improve the provision of basic needs and amenities, often taken for granted in modern society, yet missing from village life in the Yasawas.
Vinaka Fiji provides direct aid and acts as a facilitator, bringing those who can help — companies, Government, aid agencies and volunteers — together with the Yasawa villages.
Every week, Ms Nimacere travels to Yasawa to work in close consultation with the chiefs, administrators and headmen in each village to establish what is needed to achieve an improvement in living conditions.
Through her leadership and work with Vinaka Fiji Yasawa Trust Foundation, new income generating projects for the people of these islands are beginning to take shape.
The Serea woman held senior managerial positions with the leading marine tourism company South Sea Cruises Ltd before she was offered the Vinaka Fiji post by her then managers.
There are now 11 resorts in Yasawa which are owned by indigenous Fijians mostly landowners and most have been successful through the continued partnership they have with Vinaka Fiji.
Ms Nimacere acknowledged that the work she does was rewarding because it had brought about change in the community especially to the people of Yasawa.
“At first, I was given the role as a consultant which I mostly interact with locals, the vanua and making sure that the advice to the company is right.”
“I love working with the people of Yasawa and it has given me a sense of pride having to reach back to my own people and give in ideas which can help improve their standard of living.
“I will continue to do this work as Yasawa is now my second home and there are a number of projects in any of these villages that have become successful and there are many others that we are still yet to complete,” she added.
As a woman from the highlands of Naitasiri, life on the island was a totally different one for her, however, being an iTaukei woman, she took the offer and promised herself to work with the people of Yasawa and helped improve their living through consistent dialogue and visits.
It all began more than 12 years ago and today, almost every villager from Yasawa knows Ms Nimacere as the awesome woman who will always come to their rescue when they needed assistance in development or in any aspect of life “From the highland to the island,” is how Ms Nimacere of Serea, Naitasiri, loves to introduce herself.
“I did not find it hard in the first place because I grew up in Nadi most of my life and I have worked extensively in the tourism industry for a number of years so working with villagers was nothing new to me.
“In fact it was a challenge as I had to work alone travelling to nearly all the villages and islands on Yasawa and try convincing the chiefs and leaders on setting up something which would allow us to work together and achieve a common goal.”
Ms Nimacere is the Vinaka Fiji Yasawa Trust Foundation manager — the charity arm of South Sea Cruises.
Her work revolves around assisting the indigenous community in improving living standards and creating income generating projects for villagers and also assists those who want to start their eco-tourism businesses.
She started from scratch visiting each and every village on Yasawa right from the southern to the northern tip of the island just to convince chiefs on the importance of working together in partnership with tourism stakeholders.
The Vinaka Fiji Trust was set up by South Sea Cruises sister company, Awesome Adventure Fiji, to give something back to the villagers and to say “thank you (vinaka), for welcoming us into your islands.”
Through fundraising and volunteering, Vinaka Fiji aims to improve the provision of basic needs and amenities, often taken for granted in modern society, yet missing from village life in the Yasawas.
Vinaka Fiji provides direct aid and acts as a facilitator, bringing those who can help — companies, Government, aid agencies and volunteers — together with the Yasawa villages.
Every week, Ms Nimacere travels to Yasawa to work in close consultation with the chiefs, administrators and headmen in each village to establish what is needed to achieve an improvement in living conditions.
Through her leadership and work with Vinaka Fiji Yasawa Trust Foundation, new income generating projects for the people of these islands are beginning to take shape.
The Serea woman held senior managerial positions with the leading marine tourism company South Sea Cruises Ltd before she was offered the Vinaka Fiji post by her then managers.
There are now 11 resorts in Yasawa which are owned by indigenous Fijians mostly landowners and most have been successful through the continued partnership they have with Vinaka Fiji.
Ms Nimacere acknowledged that the work she does was rewarding because it had brought about change in the community especially to the people of Yasawa.
“At first, I was given the role as a consultant which I mostly interact with locals, the vanua and making sure that the advice to the company is right.”
“I love working with the people of Yasawa and it has given me a sense of pride having to reach back to my own people and give in ideas which can help improve their standard of living.
“I will continue to do this work as Yasawa is now my second home and there are a number of projects in any of these villages that have become successful and there are many others that we are still yet to complete,” she added.