_small.jpg)
 |
We
went to Cawaro, Udu, a village that had no road, electricity nor phone.
Cawaro lies 40 miles by water east of Labasa, the major shopping center
for all of Vanua Levu . The village owned a 28-foot plywood Fisheries
boat. The boat's engine was broken and had not run for over three years.
Jim decided to repair the boat and buy and install a new engine, but was
soon commandeered to also repair many outboard motors, build the Chief a
punt and Kyoko was doing first aid with the kids and women. The relaunch
of the village boat was a grand but emotional ceremony and the village
realized what a great asset Jim and Kyoko were – they did not want them
to leave, so the whole village got together and gave Jim and Kyoko an
island (74 acres just off shore from the village), they renamed it Also
Island after their yacht. And it worked, the village had stolen their
hearts and provided them with land to make a new home and a new life of
supporting the local community to make their lives better. |
