Nestled in the Rewa River delta in Fiji’s Central Division, Vunuku Village—an i-Taukei indigenous community of 162 people—faces the daily reality of climate change. With 36 households the village is vulnerable to rising waters, flooding, and other natural disasters. But beneath the surface of this quiet village is a powerful story of resilience, leadership, and collective determination.
When disasters strike, they don’t just wash away homes. They erode livelihoods, food security, and the health and wellbeing of communities. For Vunuku, where fishing and farming are lifelines, this vulnerability has always been deeply felt.
In 2019, Habitat for Humanity Fiji—supported by Habitat Australia—began a journey with the people of Vunuku to change that.
From 2019 to 2021, the partnership focused on building local capacity and improving infrastructure. Through community-led processes and training, the project introduced:
- PASSA (Participatory Approach to Safe Shelter Awareness) for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Build Back Safer (BBS) training
- Development of a 10-Year Community Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Masterplan
This became a foundation for long-term change, embedded in the community’s own priorities.
At the heart of this transformation is Vilikesa Koroi, 63, the Turaga ni Koro of Vunuku since 2021. Before taking on the role, Vilikesa served as Chair of the Village Development Committee. He was no stranger to the hard work of community building—but now he was leading it. One of the first things Vilikesa did in his new role was to study the Vunuku Village Disaster Risk Reduction Master Plan 2021-2031. At Provincial Council meetings, he noticed how highly it was regarded by officials. Inspired, he returned home determined to bring the plan to life.
With this knowledge, he positioned himself as a champion of the Masterplan and led three essential tasks to motivate the community to take ownership and action the activities.
He works together with the Village Development Committee to identify key action items in the Masterplan. Once they agree on the next course of action, he calls for a community meeting where the activities are shared for consultation and support. This inclusive and transparent process fostered a strong sense of ownership over the DRR Masterplan among community members. Once the community embraced the plan, they actively contributed by offering their time and labour, and by organizing fundraising efforts to secure the financial resources needed to implement their priorities – and through it all, Vilikesa never stood on the sidelines. Whether it was lifting materials, helping with construction, or quietly adding his own financial contributions to the pot, he led by example.
Working with the Village Development Committee and the community, Vilikesa led three major projects:
- Construction of a sea wall at the village entrance
- Repairs to the footpath and improvements to the community hall
- Building of a new kitchen and temporary ablution block to ease the burden on women during community events
In the past, women carried heavy pots from their homes to the hall for gatherings—a physically demanding and time-consuming task. The new kitchen has made cooking and cleanup much more efficient and convenient. The existing ablution block was relocated by villagers who gained skills through Habitat’s training—a clear example of knowledge in action.
Despite financial constraints, the village raised over $10,000 in three years, showing what’s possible when communities are united.
After witnessing the success of these projects, Vilikesa recognized the need for skilled labor in the village. With the community’s support, they formed Vunicakau Development Contractor, led by Mosese Virivirilau, a skilled villager trained through the BBS program.
This initiative has strengthened the village’s ability to maintain and build infrastructure but also offer services to nearby communities—transforming Vunuku from a place in need to a hub of support.
However, leadership and development work come with its fair share of challenges. For Vilikesa, these challenges mostly came in the form of different opinions and social issues within the community. To counter this, Vilikesa continues to actively inform, engage and motivate his community through active participation and meaningful conversation. One of the driving forces behind the community support was Vilikesa’s visible presence at the forefront of village activities. Village meetings typically held on Mondays, which immensely boosted community morale.
The village has successfully maintained and expanded various projects, including crab fattening, mushroom farming, handicrafts, and food sales for fundraising. These initiatives have diversified the village’s livelihood options and created income-generating opportunities. Vilikesa has been instrumental in engaging and supporting the participation of project representatives on the committee to keep the community updated on the progress of each project. This support has enabled women like Karalaini Qalita to serve on the Village Development Committee with confidence despite her status as a woman who married into the village.
Thanks to his efforts, the community has seen improvements in infrastructure, livelihood opportunities, and unity, all helping move the village towards a more sustainable future.
With advice from the provincial council, Vilikesa continues to maximize available funding opportunities enabling the community to sustain ongoing projects and explore new initiatives.
His commitment to understanding and championing the DRR Masterplan has not only elevated Vunuku Village’s relationship with the provincial council but also catalysed tangible improvements within the community.
Looking ahead, Vilikesa continues to engage with external stakeholders and urban-based community members to pursue further funding and development opportunities. His has recently submitted a proposal for riverbank strengthening reflecting his ongoing efforts to address the challenges facing the village. Vilikesa’s story is a testament to the impact that dedicated leadership, collaboration can have on rural communities.
