Individuals need to know and understand their traditions and culture because it links to the Vanua, and contributes to our culture by providing resources for peace in society.
The Rotuma Project Co-founder, Jonathan Fong says his project helps to showcase and also to enhance the appreciation of the culture of Rotuma which can be used as an educational resource for their future generations.
Fong says one of the major worries in Rotuma is the eroding of their language, and younger generations are taught to speak and understand the language before it is lost.
He says now they are working together with the elderlies back on the island who still knows about traditional knowledge.
European Union for the Pacific Head of Section Civil Society, Gender, Human Rights, Health, Development and Cooperation Unit, Pedro Velazquez says culture is an engine for social and economic development.
Velazquez says creativity and cultural heritage offer opportunities for something very important in the Pacific.
Meanwhile, Human Rights and Social Development Director, Miles Young says 12 new grants under the ACP-EU received funds for their projects which focus on enhancing the capacity of the cultural and creative industries.
Young says 20 grants with 19 grantees of which five were large or living, medium and small grants and the projects are spread across the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
