Community development goes beyond physical infrastructure and must include investment in knowledge, education and cultural preservation.
This was highlighted by Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts Charan Jeath Singh while inaugurating the Fiji Sevashram Sangha Library in Suva today, supported by the Ministry with a $14,955 grant through its Multi-Ethnic Grant Programme.
Singh says while buildings, roads and other physical infrastructure are important, investment in people, knowledge and learning is equally important as well.
He says a community that invests in knowledge is investing in its future, and providing young people with opportunities to read, learn, research and understand their heritage gives them tools they can carry throughout their lives.
The Minister says the project reflects the Ministry’s broader commitment to supporting community-based organisations that contribute to education, cultural preservation, community development and social cohesion.
He says libraries and other community learning spaces can also help ensure knowledge, language, history and cultural traditions are preserved and passed on to younger generations.
Singh says Fiji's diversity is one of the country's greatest strengths, but preserving that diversity requires ensuring languages, histories, traditions and cultural knowledge are not lost over generations.
He adds that providing young people with opportunities to learn about their heritage can also strengthen cultural understanding and appreciation within Fiji’s diverse society.
The $14,955 assistance was provided under the Learning and Development Grant Category during the 2024–2025 financial year and supported the establishment and setup of the library.
The library now provides access to more than 10,000 books and reference materials, including resources on Indian history, culture, language and literature.
It also contains encyclopaedias on Hinduism, collections of short stories and poetry, speeches and presentations by former Presidents and Prime Ministers of India.
