The first four Fijian volunteers have arrived in Paris
They had been preparing for months and were looking forward to the big moment: the first four Fijian volunteers have finally arrived in France as part of the FEF-R Fiji program, funded by the French Embassy in Suva, the country's capital. On Tuesday January 14, they were received at the Foreign Minister's Residence in Paris by Julie Le Saos, French Ambassador to Fiji. The occasion for these four young people to share their hopes at the beginning of a seven-month civic service mission focusing on sports development. Here's a look at the details of this program, with its ambitious goals for territorial cooperation.
Manoa, Makarita, Henry and Joshua landed in Paris just hours before the welcoming ceremony attended by Julie La Saos, French Ambassador to Fiji. And for good reason: as part of their seven-month civic service, these four volunteers will be deployed throughout France on “sport and development” missions, a priority focus of the French embassy in Suva.
The FEF-R program, an important step in the cooperation between France and Fiji
Many initiatives for cultural and sporting cooperation are underway between France and Fiji: French and Fijian rugby federations, for example, or the Quai Branly and Suva museums. The dispatch of the first Fijian volunteers to France, as part of the FEF-R program, is a fundamental new step in this forward. Volunteers in this program will be involved in missions of general interest within two French associations: Le Garde du Vœu Hennebont Tennis de Table and the Cool’eurs du Monde association, with the aim of making the practice of two sports – table tennis and rugby – accessible to all, particularly women and people with disabilities. The ambassador took the opportunity to point out that the volunteers “contribute to the development and promotion of international volunteering in favor of exchanges and solidarity”, before adding that they “offer a unique opportunity for our two countries to come closer together on subjects of common interest”.
This project is the first building block in a sustainable and balanced cooperation between two territories, enabling the mobility of Fijian and French young people, human and cultural exchanges, and the sharing of best practices and experiences. This emerging program is thus fulfilling its role as a powerful tool for public policy in favor of equality between human beings. It should be noted that the employability of young volunteers, the realization of professional projects in the field of sport, and the development of wheelchair rugby in Fiji are all key objectives of this project.
A meaningful civic service mission, beyond the end of the assignment
The post-volunteer component is very important in this program, which is already preparing the volunteers’ return, so that they can make the most of their newly-acquired skills while putting their experience to good use in Fijian society. To this end, each volunteer will draw up an assessment with his or her sending organization. They will all be supported in talking about their mission to young people in schools or at institutional events, to raise awareness of the V.I.E.S. (volontariat international d’échange et de solidarité) programs. The purpose? To encourage human exchanges and a lasting sharing of experience between France and Fiji.
What is FEF-R?
The Fonds Équipe France (FEF) is one of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs’ bilateral cooperation mechanisms. This financing instrument enables embassies to support cooperation projects: in the case of Fiji, the aim is to support several strategic axes in the sporting field, such as facilitating access to infrastructure and equipment, or supporting policies for inclusion, the fight against discrimination and reintegration through sport. The “R”, for “rapid”, indicates that this is an accelerated mechanism for implementing short-term projects.
