Leadership-in-Action Project Outline

Full name and University of affiliation

Full name: Li Chuqi, Catherine

University: The University of Hong Kong

University contact

Full name: Audrey Chung

Department: HKU Laidlaw Programme Office

Email address: audrey.chung@hku.hk / laidlaw@hku.hk

Title of LiA Project

Health, Community & Youth Project

Organization/charity partner

Think Pacific

Organization/charity contact

Full name: Simon Darker

Email address: simon@thinkpacific.com

The supporting need or cause

• Health and sustainability
• Fijian culture spread and exchange
• Diabetes screening and awareness raising
• Mental health & suicide prevention
• Community workshop with reflection on community advocacy
• Community involvement and development
• Youth Empowerment

Goal

• Building a nursing station (health center) to expand the provision of medical care, increase the capacity of the local nurses and health teams in rural settings, and facilitate training and skills development for Fijian students and unemployed youths
• Organizing and participating in indigenous Fijian culture courses to encourage an appropriate mindset, facilitate a meaningful experience, and work towards wider goals for Laidlaw scholars, to stimulate engagement with and revitalize local customs and traditions, harness pride in one’s culture and upbringing, and practice skills and communicate knowledge that defines the region and Fiji for local youths
• Supporting the delivery of Diabetes Fiji’s rural Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) screening and awareness program for people with or at risk of diabetes to be empowered to take ownership of their health and adopt a healthy lifestyle, for healthcare providers to be better equipped with knowledge, skills, and equipment to provide better service with international management standards, and for Laidlaw scholars to understand the medical provision and support available within Fiji
• Supporting the Youth Champs 4 Mental Health to promote the discussion of positive mental well-being and plan activities to combat mental health stigma and conduct suicide prevention. Following YC4MH’s mission to “create communities of care and acceptance by building resilience in youths using youth-friendly, positive, empathetic, and hope-based approaches” and their vision for “young people and communities with positive mental attitudes using creative strategies to deal with mental, social, physical, and economic aspects of life.”
• Planning and bringing community & youth workshops and activities to utilize our understanding of Fijian culture and customs and our interactions from collaborating and learning from local Fijian stakeholders and involve us in positive community advocacy to improve community-wide health and well-being in rural areas.

Objectives

1. Our goal is to build a nursing station (health center) by August 11th. Laidlaw scholars and local youths will accomplish this goal by involving in every step of the construction, from the foundation to the finishing touches. Accomplishing this goal will expand the provision of medical care, increase the capacity of the local nurses and health teams in rural settings, and facilitate training and skills development for Fijian students and unemployed youths.
2. Our goal is to organize and participate in Fijian culture courses from July 17th to 28th. Laidlaw scholars will learn about the nuances of indigenous Fijian culture, while members of the community youth group and Think Pacific leaders will deliver these structured courses. Accomplishing this goal will encourage an appropriate mindset, facilitate a meaningful experience, work towards wider goals for Laidlaw scholars, stimulate engagement with and revitalize local customs and traditions, harness pride in one’s culture and upbringing, and practice skills and communicate knowledge that defines the region and Fiji for local youths.
3. Our goal is to support the delivery of Diabetes Fiji’s rural Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) screening and awareness program from July 31st to August 4th. Laidlaw scholars will involve in the process of highlighting community members who are diabetic or at risk of developing NCDs and presently unaware of the dangers, raising their awareness of NCD and risk factors, and enabling the host community to have face-to-face consultations and discussions with local medical professionals. Accomplishing this goal will empower people with or at risk of diabetes to take ownership of their health and adopt a healthy lifestyle, to better equip healthcare providers with knowledge, skills, and equipment to provide better service with international management standards, and for Laidlaw scholars to understand the medical provision and support available within Fiji.
4. Our goal is to support the Youth Champs 4 Mental Health organization from August 7th to August 11th. Laidlaw scholars will involve in the process of training local Fijian mental health ambassadors and the implementation of sustainable local mental health support in rural villages. Accomplishing this goal will promote the discussion of positive mental well-being and plan activities to combat mental health stigma, and conduct suicide prevention.
5. Our plan is to plan and bring community & youth workshops and activities from July 31st to August 16th. Laidlaw scholars, program facilitators, and Fijian youths will collaborate to deliver content and share reflections and ideas around topics of health, wellbeing, community, and youth. Accomplishing this goal will utilize scholars’ understanding of Fijian culture and customs and our interactions from collaborating and learning from local Fijian stakeholders and involve scholars in positive community advocacy to improve community-wide health and wellbeing in rural areas.

Challenges, barriers, or risks

1. Cultural differences or conflicts: Fiji has a unique and vibrant culture that may differ significantly from Laidlaw scholars’ home country. Laidlaw scholars not only need time to adapt and adjust to the local customs, traditions, and way of life, but also need to adopt a culturally sensitive approach when implementing health, culture, youth, and community projects.
2. Language Barrier: English is widely spoken in Fiji, but some remote areas may have limited English proficiency. Laidlaw scholars may face challenges in communicating effectively, which could hinder the effectiveness of training, construction, workshops, and advocacy efforts.
3. Limited Resources: Fiji, particularly in remote areas, may have limited resources, including funding, medical supplies, and infrastructure. Laidlaw scholars may need to work within these constraints and find creative solutions to overcome resource limitations.
4. Sustainability and Long-Term Impact: Sustainable impact requires more than short-term volunteer efforts. Laidlaw scholars may face challenges in developing strategies that can be sustained after their departure. Building local capacity, training community members, and fostering ownership of the initiatives can help ensure long-term impact.
5. Health Education and Literacy: Health literacy levels can vary in different communities. Volunteers may need to develop tailored educational materials and programs that are easily understood and culturally relevant to ensure effective health advocacy and promotion.

Ideas to overcome barriers or challenges

1. Cultural Differences: Understanding and respecting the local culture, customs, and beliefs is essential when implementing health infrastructure and advocacy campaigns in Fiji. Before departure, Laidlaw scholars can familiarize themselves with the local customs, traditions, and beliefs through Think Pacific’s online portal and from other online sources. During the project, Laidlaw scholars need to approach the community with cultural sensitivity to gain their trust and ensure that the initiatives are culturally appropriate.
2. Language Barrier: Laidlaw scholars can learn basic Fijian phrases through Think Pacific’s online portal and from other online sources (e.g., Duolingo, YouTube, online websites) to help bridge the language barrier and establish rapport with the local community.
3. Resource Mobilization: Laidlaw scholars can support Think Pacific’s fundraising initiatives and explore partnerships with local organizations, businesses, or international donors to secure additional resources for health, culture, youth, and community campaigns and projects.
4. Capacity Building and Training: Prioritize capacity building by providing training and education sessions to community members, health workers, and local youths. This empowers individuals within the community to continue and sustain the initiatives after the LiA session
5. Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation system to assess the impact and effectiveness of the initiatives. This will help identify areas for improvement and measure long-term outcomes. Regular feedback from the community is valuable in understanding the initiatives' success and making necessary adjustments.
6. Foster Long-Term Relationships: Develop long-lasting relationships with local organizations, community members, and stakeholders. This facilitates ongoing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and support even after the LiA period ends.

Milestones per week