FIJI, Naikorokoro Village, Ovalau Island - November 2002
Construction of a kindergarten and upgrading a community hall in exchange for the establishment of a no-take marine reserve
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Naikorokoro Village is located on the island of Ovalau. Ovalau has played an important role in Fiji's history as it is home of the nation's first capital, Levuka. Naikorokoro is located two miles away from Levuka Town. There are two mataqali (tribes) in Naikorokoro, which has a population of 107 people. Due to its proximity to Levuka, much of the waters near Naikorokoro have been over-fished. In exchange for the village's establishing a no-take marine reserve for ten years in a 17 square mile (10,880 acres) section of their traditional fishing area, Seacology is providing a much-needed kindergarten and upgrading the existing community hall.
UPDATE July 2004 - Construction of the new kindergarten and work on the community hall has been completed. The buildings were officially dedicated during Seacology’s 2004 expedition to Fiji. The expedition shared the dedication with students from the John Gray Recyclers of Grand Cayman, a high school group that helped fund the project.
UPDATE January 2007 - Seacology funded the repainting of the kindergarten and community hall, as they were in need of maintenance.
Project page at the John Gray Recyclers' website
