Tevita

Description:

Tribewanted Vorovoro is a home from home. A beautiful, remote desert island where a global community have built and eco village fusing traditional Fijian life with sustainable living.

When you become a member of this tribe. you become part on an on-line community where you can vote on how the island develops or who will be the next monthly chief.

People visit for a minimum of a week but often feel that three weeks gives you a much deeper experience. It takes one week to become familiar with the place, the second week you feel established and the third week you fall in love if you haven't done already. Many people shed a tear when it's time to leave their new Fijian family.

There are daily classes where you can immerse yourself in Fijian culture and learn the traditional dance called the meke, weave mats, husk coconuts, jewelery workshops, spear-fishing or take part and learn about sustainable living. You can present sevusevu to Tui Mali - the local chief of Vorovoro and Mali. The tribe are often invited to local ceremonies and events as well as participating in community-based projects - for example, erecting a wind turbine.

Accommodation ranges from traditional Fijian huts called bures to outdoor hammocks. People often bring a tent and camp on the beach. There's a tree house for the adventurous, volleyball and football pitches surrounded by coconut trees and during the wet season there's a waterfall shower - it's a place where dreams are manifested... turtles hatch on the beach, you can snorkel amongst tropical fish until your heart is content.

Tevita is the Community Manager and the bridge between the Fijian Community and the rest of the world. When he's not landscaping and planting he is leading the nightly singing as the tribe gathers around the drinking bowl underneath a canopy of stars. He is full of energy passion and humility.

In Tevita's wise words "Vorovoro is a special place... original, not a photocopy. A place where the visitor and the worker are one family. There are no lines that divide us. Here we live together, work together, drink kava and laugh together."

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Other images from this local:

Leap Local Competition Winner May 2009

Leap Local Competition Winner May 2009
uploaded by Leap Winners on 19/05/09 15:49


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Leavi
in Republic of the Fiji Islands (0.0 km away)

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in Vorovoro Island (230 km away)

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Overall
10.0 / 10
3 reviews

Customer Reviews

Jim kerridge (recommender) (10 / 10)

reviewed 20/01/09 22:29

Jim kerridge spent longer than 3 months with Tevita.

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Description

Tevita feels like an older brother and mentor. He taught me the traditional Fijian dance called the meke and the project's success has alot to do with this man. His energy is infectious and his eye for detail is incredible - a natural tropical designer... he is an expert landscaper and breeds his own orchids. He is proud to be Fijian and proud to share his culture and knowledge. He has enhanced many lives and touched many hearts.
Best bits: Performing the meke to a big chief at a provincial meeting.
Worst bits: Even the bad is good, it's just laughed away 'maka na laka' (no worries)

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10
Value for money: 10 / 10
Eco impact: 10 / 10
Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Paul Sloggett (10 / 10)

reviewed 26/01/09 15:02

Paul Sloggett spent longer than 3 months with Tevita.

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Description

I joined the Vorovoro community and became very close to Tevita over the six months I was there. I learned so much about the traditional Fijian culture from this man, from Language to Meke and even spent time with his family on the mainland after my stay. He teaches everybody so much about the land and traditions of Fiji.
Best bits: Sitting around the Tanoa and singing Fijian songs with Tevita. Working in the gardens with him.
Worst bits: There are no worse bits when you're in this mans company!

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10
Value for money: 10 / 10
Eco impact: 10 / 10
Does the local understand eco issues? Yes

Profile

Profile accuracy: 10 / 10
Comments:

Leap Winners (10 / 10)

reviewed 19/05/09 15:49

Leap Winners spent 2 hours or less with Tevita.

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Description

This is not a typical review – it is an opportunity to identify Tevita as a winner of Leap Local’s competition to reward good local guides and services. The best bits and worse bits are a snippet from our judges’ comments. More details about the competition are on our site.
Best bits: Enthusiastic, passionate, interactive. This community manager deserves recognition for his work, he teaches about his culture and there is a mention of his family. The ideals of this community are beyond profit and are about experience, sharing their culture and much more.
Worst bits: Some confusion about how to hire Tevita, and tourist dances might be a little formulaic .

Ratings

Overall experience: 10 / 10
Value for money: 9 / 10
Eco impact: 8 / 10
Does the local understand eco issues? Not sure

Profile

Profile accuracy: 8 / 10
Comments: