The non-profit student group Fiji Village Project (FVP) are calling on health professionals, students and members of the community to attend a fundraising trivia night at the RUC in Turner on Friday, 12 September.
The Project, which involves students from ANU as well as members from around Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, is hoping to beat last year’s fundraising total of $2,500.
“Essentially we’re trying to raise money for this ANU-founded annual global health initiative, whereby medical and nursing students from all over Australia, New Zealand and Fiji head to rural Fijian villages that are under-developed and struggling to meet basic health needs,” Fiji Village Project Coordinator Sam Moore says.
The students provide health education for adults and school students, medical screening for residents and they even help install water tanks to improve access to clean water.
The program gets underway for two weeks each January, financed by fundraising initiatives from the previous year.
“Generally the program costs about $20,000 to put on and we share the cost between New Zealand, Australia and Fiji,” Moore says.
“Students find their own way there and pay for their accommodation out of pocket. The money raised goes directly to communities in the form of medical supplies, water tanks and equipment, and materials needed for the health promotional activities.”
The recipient villages are picked by Fijian medical students via an annual feasibility study that seeks out communities most in need of assistance.
In April the FVP raised around $800 when 50 walkers participated in a five kilometre fun run/walk around the University campus.
To register a table or RSVP to the event, email fijivillageproject@gmail.com or visit the website.
Entry is $10 per person.
