Think Pacific - Mental Health Project - Fiji
Hello! Thank you for visiting my page.
About Me & the Project….
My name is Skye Wiggins, I am currently studying at the University of Nottingham, and next summer (2022) I will be embarking on a journey to Fiji, on a Think Pacific expedition, in order to educate Fijian youth groups about mental health.
The project aims to address current stigmas on mental health topics: suicide, depression and various mental disorders, within the Fijian culture by using educational workshops.
Throughout my stay in Fiji, I will be living in a Fijian village, be a part of a Fijian family, learn and experience their culture (celebrations, food and religion) and have the opportunity to engage with kids, young adults and adults through sports, classrooms and cultural activities. I aim to make a lasting impact, bringing about both awareness and the importance of mental health.
My Why?....
The awareness, the importance and the research behind mental health has developed exponentially over the past couple of years throughout the world, however, in many places in the world there still remains stigmas surrounding it. As a person who believes full heartedly in the essence of people, in the way people can change people and who believes that we are one connected world, destined to impact each other's lives eternally, this project is very important to me.
There have been, and still are, many people within my life that have been affected by various mental health conditions. To see what they themselves, their families and friends have gone through both mentally and physically is saddening and yet, so Powerful. Powerful in a sense that it shows true and raw human emotions. Powerful in a sense that it highlights pure mental strength; to wake up everyday and have to fight yourself, fight yourself to get up out of bed, fight yourself to eat, to move, to allow yourself to breathe, to wake up everyday and fight yourself, encourage yourself to live, takes immense strength. The fact that people do this, that people fight through the day shows that mental illness sufferers are not weak but so, so strong, not people to be feared but to be helped, not people to be pushed aside but people to be welcomed, loved and encouraged.
Here, in this country, we are lucky to have the awareness and the resources to provide help and break down stigmas but other countries, such as Fiji, don’t necessarily have the same luxury. It is important to me that the aspiring youth within places like Fiji are provided with accurate knowledge surrounding mental health so that not only the country but the people within them, each and every person, the future generation, can grow and develop together to create a better understanding of mental health throughout the world.
How can you help? / Cost….
The Project costs £1300 (excluding flights and visas/insurance) and therefore any donation would be immensely appreciated. Your donation would truly, really and truly, make a difference, not only in people's lives but in the way people view their own and others’ lives.
Below is a breakdown of how the money raised will be spent:
- 30% of it will go directly to the charity to enable it to support schools and communities long term and provide annual resources;
- 15% will go to project planning which includes, amongst other things, community and school outreach, government planning, management and review;
- 37% will be direct volunteer costs for things like food, accommodation, village support etc;
- The last 18% will go to 24/7 support for volunteers, volunteer recruitment, outreach, expedition leadership, equipment and training.
Mental Health is important! Thank you :)
For more information about the project please visit:
https://thinkpacific.com/
About Me & the Project….
My name is Skye Wiggins, I am currently studying at the University of Nottingham, and next summer (2022) I will be embarking on a journey to Fiji, on a Think Pacific expedition, in order to educate Fijian youth groups about mental health.
The project aims to address current stigmas on mental health topics: suicide, depression and various mental disorders, within the Fijian culture by using educational workshops.
Throughout my stay in Fiji, I will be living in a Fijian village, be a part of a Fijian family, learn and experience their culture (celebrations, food and religion) and have the opportunity to engage with kids, young adults and adults through sports, classrooms and cultural activities. I aim to make a lasting impact, bringing about both awareness and the importance of mental health.
My Why?....
The awareness, the importance and the research behind mental health has developed exponentially over the past couple of years throughout the world, however, in many places in the world there still remains stigmas surrounding it. As a person who believes full heartedly in the essence of people, in the way people can change people and who believes that we are one connected world, destined to impact each other's lives eternally, this project is very important to me.
There have been, and still are, many people within my life that have been affected by various mental health conditions. To see what they themselves, their families and friends have gone through both mentally and physically is saddening and yet, so Powerful. Powerful in a sense that it shows true and raw human emotions. Powerful in a sense that it highlights pure mental strength; to wake up everyday and have to fight yourself, fight yourself to get up out of bed, fight yourself to eat, to move, to allow yourself to breathe, to wake up everyday and fight yourself, encourage yourself to live, takes immense strength. The fact that people do this, that people fight through the day shows that mental illness sufferers are not weak but so, so strong, not people to be feared but to be helped, not people to be pushed aside but people to be welcomed, loved and encouraged.
Here, in this country, we are lucky to have the awareness and the resources to provide help and break down stigmas but other countries, such as Fiji, don’t necessarily have the same luxury. It is important to me that the aspiring youth within places like Fiji are provided with accurate knowledge surrounding mental health so that not only the country but the people within them, each and every person, the future generation, can grow and develop together to create a better understanding of mental health throughout the world.
How can you help? / Cost….
The Project costs £1300 (excluding flights and visas/insurance) and therefore any donation would be immensely appreciated. Your donation would truly, really and truly, make a difference, not only in people's lives but in the way people view their own and others’ lives.
Below is a breakdown of how the money raised will be spent:
- 30% of it will go directly to the charity to enable it to support schools and communities long term and provide annual resources;
- 15% will go to project planning which includes, amongst other things, community and school outreach, government planning, management and review;
- 37% will be direct volunteer costs for things like food, accommodation, village support etc;
- The last 18% will go to 24/7 support for volunteers, volunteer recruitment, outreach, expedition leadership, equipment and training.
Mental Health is important! Thank you :)
For more information about the project please visit:
https://thinkpacific.com/
Give £20 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Organizer
Skye Wiggins
Organizer
Think Pacific Foundation
Registered nonprofit
Donations eligible for Gift Aid.