Fiji renews volunteer service agreement with Vanuatu

Fiji and Vanuatu renewed a memorandum of agreement on Friday as part of Fiji's development cooperation efforts to assist its neighbours and facilitate their development needs through the enhancement of human resource capabilities under the Fiji Volunteer Service (FVS).

"The renewal of this MOA is to re-engage the initial 10 volunteers for another two years teaching assignment along with an additional seven volunteers," Fijian Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Semi Koroilavesau said after renewing the document with Jean Pierre Niurua, Vanuatu's minister for education and training.

The initial memorandum of agreement between the two governments was signed in November, 2013 for the engagement of ten Fijian volunteers for teaching assignments in Vanuatu for the duration of two years, according to Koroilavesau.

The contribution by Fijian volunteers has greatly benefited the students of Vanuatu and they have seen improved exam results, said Niurua.

"Today's signing signifies yet another step for Fiji volunteers to continue to transform the minds and lives of our students and through this partnership, we will see new leaders emerge to take on the helm of our society." Niurua said, expressing his appreciation to the Fijian government for choosing and continuing to partner with the Vanuatu government through Fiji's volunteer service and its support in assisting in Vanuatu's human resource needs.

Under the National Employment Center of Fiji's Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, the FVS is an initiative by the Fijian government to provide assistance in identified areas of needs which will further strengthen partnership with Fiji's Pacific island neighbours.

The FVS currently has a total of 38 volunteers engaged in regional countries with an engagement period of two years, according to the Fijian government.