Namulomulo Village, located 30 minutes from Nadi in Fiji’s Western Division, has long been committed to nurturing the potential of its young people. Since 2019, a dedicated group of retired teachers have been running an after-school program for children and young adults. What began as a simple community initiative has now become a vital part of village life contributing to a zero-school dropout rate among participating students. 
Ananaiasa, a former teacher who now volunteers his evenings to support the program, shared that 58 students currently use the space. Yet behind this success was an urgent challenge often overlooked in discussions about education: safe and accessible sanitation. The learning center had no dedicated toilet facility, causing children to use nearby household toilets. This posed safety risks particularly for young girls and disrupted families who lived closest to the centre.
“Primary school students stayed inside the learning center, while older students used a sheltered area outside,” he explained. “But we didn’t have enough sanitation facilities. If the children needed the washroom, they had to go elsewhere usually to nearby homes creating constant disruptions because of the number of children coming in and out.”
For Namulomulo, education is deeply rooted in their values. “The village prioritizes children’s education because we believe in two core things: being faithful to God and getting a good education,” Ananaiasa added. “That is why the idea of a learning centre was strongly supported by our community and church leaders.”
To address the sanitation gap and ensure a safer learning environment, Habitat for Humanity Fiji with the support of KOICA Fiji constructed two new sanitation facilities with a handwashing station, giving children safe and reliable access to toilets. This improvement not only reduces health and safety risks but also strengthens the learning environment by reducing unnecessary disruptions.
This build was also supported by Global Village volunteers from the United States of America who worked alongside the community to complete the facilities. Jackie, the team lead
er, reflected on the experience: “Each build is similar in nature and yet so different. I really appreciated the interaction with the village. Working side by side with the locals and spending time with the families truly helped overcome any barriers and created a sense of family.”
Habitat for Humanity Fiji remains committed to bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. By supporting safe sanitation, stronger learning environments, and resilient community infrastructure, we continue to stand alongside families and villages across Fiji to ensure everyone has a decent place to live.
