“The BBS training opened our eyes to building strong houses.” If he hadn’t partnered with Habitat for Humanity Fiji, Varasiko Naituku and his family would still be living in a home that could be wiped away by the next cyclone to hit Fiji.

Fiji has extremely high exposure to tropical cyclones. Climate predictions show that the intensity of these cyclones will increase. This is a frightening reality for Fijians especially when twenty percent of adults in Fiji cannot afford regular savings for emergencies including home repairs. In villages across Fiji, houses typically aren’t strong enough to withstand a cyclone.

Varasiko Naituku is a skilled man. He gained carpentry training through the Nadave Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development. But it was after attending Habitat for Humanity Fiji’s (Habitat Fiji) community training programs that he began using his skills to give back to his neighbours and family in Nasele village. Varasiko learnt how power tools can improve the quality of the homes he builds. His first goal after the training was to purchase his power tools.

“I had the skills,” he said. “Timber was readily available, but I wanted to buy power tools and I did because I saw how useful they were during Habitat’s training.”

Habitat Fiji’s trainings in Nasele took place in 2020. Varasiko and his two sons were participants and they worked together to build secure resilient homes for themselves. After moving overseas to work under the Australian work scheme his sons financed the construction of their houses while Varasiko used his skills to build them. When the Habitat team visited the village in 2023 he was mid-way through constructing his second son’s home after having finished building a house for his eldest son.

Building resilient homes can make a world of difference for families and communities. When he thinks back to the Habitat Fiji training, Varasiko knows that it transformed the views of not just his family but the whole community. “Ask any adult who attended your training,” Varasiko emphasized. “They’ll tell you that Habitat has changed the way we build houses here in Nasele.”

One in four homeowners in Fiji live below the national poverty line and a further 35% are at risk of falling into poverty in the future. Your support – any amount you can give – helps people like Varasiko build safe and resilient homes for their loved ones and neighbours. Give today!