Bula (hi) everyone! We're Sam and Lily Kaiyanuyanu. We, like so many other Fijians far from home, sat glued to our smartphones and newsfeeds this past weekend as we saw our beloved motherland get torn to shreds during Tropical Cyclone Winston. Just in case this is your first time hearing about TC Winston, in American terms, it was a category 5 hurricane...the worst ever recorded storm in the Southern hemisphere.

As first generation immigrants to America, we know all too well the struggle of being away from family and loved ones during this time. And as a young couple, just starting out, we don't have much to give but will do everything we can. We've been racking our brains trying to figure out the best way to get much needed supplies to our families who were directly impacted by the destruction. Both of our families need immediate help.  Sam's father's village Togovere was in the direct path of the cyclone and many homes were completely leveled. Sam's mother's side has also been badly affected in Nakabuta. Lily's mother's family was also hit very badly in Koro, Yacata and Dakuivuna. Word from our relatives and friends is still trickling in as communication has been adversly affected in the badly hit areas. The most needed supplies right now are clean drinking water, food, tarpaulins, personal hygiene kits and clothes. 

Basically, we both have large families and everyone has suffered immensely. Our families are doing all that they can under the circumstances, but we know that together, with a little help from our friends, we can do a whole lot more! 

We humbly ask for your prayers and whatever funds you can provide...no amount is too small as the American dollar is over double the Fijian dollar and will go a long way to bring direct aid to our families in need. We know that you have many choices when it comes to donating to Fiji, but we want to take comfort in knowing that the monies raised here will go DIRECTLY toward our families...and by extension their communities. 

Our goal is to raise $5000usd. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us get direct relief to our families and loved ones. The road to recovery will be long and difficult. Please continue to keep Fiji in your prayers. Vinaka (thank you).
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The following information has been requested by GoFundMe admin:

Who we are and where we're from:
Sam was born and raised in Fiji, hailing from the village of Togovere, Rakiraki, Ra. His mother's side of the family is from Nakabuta, Wainunu, Bua. His parents live in Suva, the capital of Fiji. Sam attended college in the United States, and after marrying Lily in 2014, made America his home. Lily's immediate family migrated to the US from Fiji when she was a child, but most of her extended family continues to live in Fiji. Her mother's family resides in Suva also, but has close relations in Koro, Yacata and Dakuivuna. Lily currently works in real estate for Southern California Edison Company, with her husband Sam, a high school teacher. Together they live in Orange, CA. 

Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for:
Though all of our families and friends in Fiji were impacted by TC Winston, our immediate relatives, specifically Sam's parents and Lily's maternal aunts and uncles, requested aid for our relatives whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed in Togovere, Koro, Yacata and Dakuivuna. In Fiji if you are from a particular village, you are most likely related by blood. The victims we are trying to reach are related to us either by blood or through marriage: aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Our intention here is that by helping our own relatives, we will also be helping their neighbors. Our culture dictates that we help everyone in need, family or otherwise. It is our hope that the monies raised through GoFundMe will not only benefit our relatives, but their small communities as well. 

How the funds will be spent:
100% of the monies raised here and through our other fundraising efforts, will be wired directly to Sam's mother, Annie Whippy and Lily's aunt, Taina Colawai.

Annie Whippy
45 Vesi Street
Flagstaff
Suva, Fiji

Taina Colawai
147 Ragg Avenue
Namadi Heights
Suva, Fiji 

Our 2 project coordinators, if you will, will collect the funds, make the necessary purchases and oversee its distribution to the affected families described above. We  will divide the funds by village and by need. Mrs. Whippy and Mrs. Colawai will purchase drinking water, essential foods (flour, rice, oil, canned goods, etc.), hygiene kits (bathing soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine napkins, etc.), tarp and other materials needed for temporary shelter. 

How you intend to get the funds to those in need:
As mentioned above, we will wire 100% of the donations via Western Union to our project coordinators in Fiji. This will give us peace of mind that the monies donated will go directly for its intended purpose. We will keep our donors (mostly friends, family and coworkers who know us personally) fully informed of our project through updates both here and social media. 





(Photo credits: Fijian Government)