Empowering Young Lauans In Resource Management
As Fiji and Lau’s future generation, Ms Wainua said reaching out to them would help achieve strategies under the Lau Seascape Initiative.
Saturday 19 March 2022 | 16:26
Students of Vulaga District School acknowledges the ban on kawakawa and donu fish species on March 17, 2022. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga
Across the globe, young people living in vulnerable countries impacted by climate change are standing up to be heard.
They are concerned about their future.
Most of them are scared about what they see happening around them today.
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In Lau, students of Vulaga District School are taking the time to empower themselves outside the normal school lessons.
On Thursday, the 70 students were visited by their partners under the Lau Seascape Initiative. Partners from the Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Revenue Customs Services, WWF Pacific, and the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network (FLMMA) visited the school.
FLMMA project officer Peniana Wainua said it was their first visit to the schools to talk to students who wanted to better understand the different fish species.
“FLMMA’s role has been to support the Fisheries Management Campaign under the Lau Seascape Initiative,”
Ms Wainua said, “It is to also support cultural mapping activities led by the Roko Sau, Josefa Cinavilakeba.”
As Fiji and Lau’s future generation, Ms Wainua said reaching out to them would help achieve strategies under the Lau Seascape Initiative.
“Students are very active at their young age, more attentive and interested in things we talk to them about, and it has made our work easier.”
Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network (FLMMA) project officer Peniana Wainua speaking with Fulaga villagers on March 17, 2022. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga
The fisheries campaign has been well received by communities.
Headteacher Tevita Ledua said such visits were always an eyeopener for the students and they took it to heart with what they had learned.
“I am quite happy with the visit from the team in terms of teaching our children the importance of the environment and the effects it has on the future if it is not well taken care of,” Mr Ledua said.
The school awareness project involved discussions on the protection of turtles from WWF, saying no to drugs from FRCS, and banning kawakawa and donu and undersized fish.
The team also visited the islands of Kabara, Fulaga, and Moce. They will continue their visits in other parts of the Lau group.
Feedback: kelera.sovasiga@fijisun.com.fj
