Fiji

Fiji is a South Pacific nation comprised of 332 islands. About 100 of them are inhabited, while the uninhabited islands are nature preserves. The majority of Fiji is mountainous and the climate is very moderate. By the end of April, temperatures are comfortably warm during the day, 79° F, and pleasantly cool at night, 66° F. Fiji is part of an island group in the South Pacific Ocean, and it is about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. It is slightly smaller in size than New Jersey.

It is a desired vacation spot for many tourists, in part because of its beautiful scenery and warm and hospitale people. The islands contain many beautiful coral reefs and that is one of the reasons why scuba diving is a very popular tourist activity. The population of Fiji is 883,125 and 25% of the people there currently live on less than $1 per day.

The cuisine of present day Fiji is a combination of Polynesian, Indian, Melanesian, Chinese and Western food. Some of the ingredients that are used most often in Fijian cuisine are yam, breadfruit, cassava, taro root and leaves. Beef, poultry, pork and seafood are also an important part of Fijian food. Spices also play an essential role in the cuisine of Fiji and many different spices are used, such as ginger, garlic, turmeric, fenugreek, coriander, cumin, Indian-Fiji curries and chilies. These can greatly add to and increase the flavor of any meal.

Development in Fiji

HELP teams have worked in Fiji since 2009 between the towns of Tavua and Ba. In 2012 HELP will be expanding to two in-country teams, with one team returning to Ba and a new team placed in Suva. There is a high level of poverty in Fiji, especially in rural areas. Projects include; organic gardens, business mentoring, microcredit, public health, HIV/AIDS awareness, and social work.