The Navakavu communities celebrated the launching of their Waste Management demonstration Projects on the 15th of February 2013. The launching took place at the Vueti Navakavu Project with the opening of the Compost Piggery and the Compost Toilet demonstration. These demonstrations are a major component of the Navakavu Waste Project funded by the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grant Program (GEF SGP).
The whole communities of Navakavu gathered at Nabaka Village for the launching in which USP representative Mr Semisi Meo reminded and emphasized the importance of the waste demonstrations to the overall waste project and its value to the natural ecosystem and the raising of the communities health hygiene levels.
Apart from Institute of Applied Science representative, the presence of the Provincial Office, the “Turaga na Roko Baleni” and the “Turaga ni mataqali” made the event more characteristic in terms of traditional respect towards the UNDP funded project. Although some key stakeholders did not attend, the communities were not deterred in gathering to witness the launching of their effort. Navakavu was chosen to trial out the community-based waste management strategy because of their effort & commitment towards marine conservation initiatives over the past decade and continue still doing so. The implementation of the waste project will extend the conservation focus of the people in a holistic approach to managing and conserving the environment from the mountain to the reef.
The GEF SGP funded project activities started way back in 2011.The project components included community awareness and education, community planning and orientation and implementation of the 4 R’s strategy in reduce, reusing, recycling and refusing. The 5 villages involved had been given clean up equipment, installment of organic compost, installment of bottle recycling bags; recycle empty can repositories and its basic monitoring and evaluation plans.
The UNDP funded project work will also support a Recycle and Arts Training targeting women and youths of Navakavu with the expectation to expand their capacities in making art from waste material and to contribute to their livelihood
The IAS of University of the South Pacific, UNDP GEF Program, Ministry of Health and the Rewa Provincial Office are the major stakeholders in the project.
