The I Sausau Vou Ei Tawake will organise a fundraising event this Saturday to begin a three-year development drive to raise funds for the construction of a new community hall for Tawake Village and, in the longer term, a new seawall.
I Sausau Vou Ei Tawake President Tevita Tamani says they see the hall as more than just a building, but as a place where their people can gather, hold village meetings, celebrate important occasions, support young people, host community activities and strengthen connections between families.
He says once they have made progress with the community hall project, their longer-term goal is to work towards the construction of a new seawall.
Tamani says protecting their village and preparing for the future is an important responsibility that they want to take seriously.
He adds that this is not a one-day project, but a three-year commitment requiring patience, cooperation, fundraising and continued support from their people.
The President says the day is not only about raising funds, but also about bringing their people together, strengthening relationships, remembering where they come from and working together towards the future of their village.
Tamani says there is no fixed or targeted amount that each individual must contribute, as they understand that everyone has different family responsibilities, financial commitments and sources of income.
He adds that people are encouraged to give whatever they can, according to their circumstances, and every contribution, large or small, is valued because it represents their collective commitment to Tawake.
Tamani says throughout the day, there will be meke, songs, speeches and talanoa, providing opportunities for people to share, listen, laugh and reconnect.
He says they have also invited representatives from the Police Department to speak about drugs and their impact on communities, while a representative from the Ministry of Health will speak about HIV awareness and prevention.
He adds that these discussions are important because their fundraising is not only about buildings and physical development, but also about building a healthier, safer and stronger community.
The President says there will be plenty of time for talanoa and fellowship, giving everyone an opportunity to reconnect with relatives and families.
He says some people may be meeting relatives they have never met before, while others may be reconnecting with people they last saw during their primary school days in Tawake in the 1980s and 1990s.
Tamani says they have deliberately chosen not to have a traditional Chief Guest, but instead, their sisters will be the special guests for the day.
He says this is an opportunity for them, as the boys and men of Tawake, to acknowledge the important role their sisters and women play in their families, village and community.
Lunch and dessert will be provided, and the day will also feature entertainment from their own group of singers, Cakau ni Mana kei Uluinavirivri, originally from Tawake.
Speaking on the impact of climate change on Tawake Village, Tamani says Tawake is a coastal village and their people have lived closely with the sea for generations.
However, he says the impact of climate change and rising sea levels is now becoming a serious concern for the community.
He says the old seawall, which was built to protect the village from the sea, has been severely damaged and destroyed by increasing wave action and coastal erosion.
He adds that, as a result, the sea has already taken approximately 15 metres of land from the front of the village.
Tamani says during high tide, seawater now reaches areas of the village that were previously protected, while strong waves and rising water have removed many of the trees and palm trees that once stood along the front of the village.
He says these trees provided natural protection for the coastline and were also an important part of the landscape and environment that their people grew up with.
He says there are also days when the sea reaches right into the village ground, or rara, and this is something many of their elders would not have experienced to this extent in the past.
He adds that the changes can also be seen in the loss of homes and land, with houses that stood beside the sea only around ten years ago no longer there because of coastal erosion and the changing shoreline.
The President says land that once belonged to families and was part of their village is gradually being lost to the sea.
He says for them, climate change is not simply an environmental issue discussed in other parts of the world.
He adds that it is happening at their doorstep, and they can see it, feel it and are already experiencing its effects.
Tamani says this is why the proposed seawall is an important part of their three-year development plan.
He says building a stronger seawall will help protect what remains of their coastline, village land, homes, families and community infrastructure.
He adds that their fundraising is therefore not only about building a structure, but about protecting their village and preserving a place for their children and future generations to call home.
The President says through the motto of I Sausau Vou Ei Tawake, “To Know, To Assist and to Rebuild”, they are coming together to understand the challenges facing their village, assist where they can and rebuild with a vision for the future.
He adds that they cannot stop the sea, but together they can work to protect their village from its increasing impact.
The I Sausau Vou Ei Tawake fundraising will be held at Lot 30, Vere Road, in Laucala this Saturday.
