Transcend Oceania

02/04/2026

Youth and Drugs in Fiji - Youth perspectives on root courses

02/04/2026

What is human rights? An awareness tool for communities

01/04/2026

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01/12/2025

This is a stark reminder that GBV remains a real problem across the Pacific!

Stat of the week: In Samoa, 32% of women aged 15–49 who have ever been partnered reported experiencing physical, sexual or psychological violence from an intimate partner in the past 12 months.

This figure is a stark reminder that gender-based violence remains a major challenge across the Pacific, affecting the safety, dignity and wellbeing of women and girls. 💜

Marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women this week, let’s stand together to end violence against women and promote respect, equality and empowerment for all.

🔗 Learn more about gender statistics on the Pacific Data Hub’s Gender Dashboard (see first comment).

14/11/2025

Empowering Voices, Strengthening Democracy ✨
Day 2 – Community Education on Democracy, Good Governance & Human Rights

Our second workshop in Vunicuicui brought together 25 passionate participants from the Vanualevu Arya Mahila Samaj across five communities — Vunimoli, Waikisi, Korotari, Vunicuicui, and Wailevu.

Participants explored the foundations of Human Rights, the Fijian Constitution, citizens’ responsibilities, and the importance of democratic governance. The sessions, led by Viniana Leba and supported by FCOSS, sparked deep learning and meaningful reflection.

President Nirmala Sharma shared in her closing remarks:
“Many of us only had a little idea before, but today we truly understood our rights, our Constitution, and how much this knowledge empowers our community.”

The day ended with a powerful reminder from Justine on civic engagement, accountability, and the vital role of community members—especially women—in shaping a healthy democracy.

This program is proudly supported by the European Union, with contributions from FWRM, FCOSS, and a former CCF Education Officer.

14/11/2025

Building Voices, Power & Participation: Democracy, Good Governance & Human Rights Workshop – Northern Division

Our first Community Education workshop took place today at Naodamu Housing with 21 participants, bringing together both youth and adults. Key issues raised included PRB evictions, youth disengagement, and frequent flooding.

FWRM opened with an impactful session on Human Rights, prompting meaningful reflection on why rights matter in everyday life. Vini followed with an engaging session on Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Good Governance—translated into Indigenous Fijian for clarity. Participants expressed concerns about limited public consultation and the weak separation of powers.

FCOSS closed the day by sharing grassroots feedback mechanisms that help strengthen community accountability.

The village headman thanked the team and requested more sessions to empower Naodamu residents. Five community leaders have also been selected to join next week’s Policy Dialogue to share their lived experiences.

This initiative is supported by the European Union in partnership with Dialogue Fiji, with contributions from FWRM, FCOSS, and a former CCF Education Officer.

More workshops continue this week—vinaka vakalevu to all involved! 🌱

22/10/2025

From Pain to Peace: A Journey of Healing and Learning at St Vincent College

Building on the success of last year’s pilot Trauma Awareness and Healing Program at Suva Grammar School, Transcend Oceania initiated the second phase of this school-based trauma intervention program with St Vincent College. This marks another historic breakthrough — the first structured trauma awareness and healing initiative integrated within a secondary school system in Fiji.

The program responds to growing evidence that students experience multiple forms of trauma — including exposure to domestic violence, loss, peer pressure, bullying, family instability, and community violence — all of which directly impact their academic performance, emotional wellbeing, and relationships.

Through the generous support of Women’s Fund Fiji, this initiative continues Transcend Oceania’s commitment to nurturing trauma-informed communities and building pathways to resilience and peace among young people in Fiji.

The two-day workshop was designed to:
1. Increase students’ awareness and understanding of trauma and its effects.
2. Equip them with practical tools for self-regulation, peer support, and emotional healing.
3. Foster a supportive school culture grounded in empathy, safety, and care.
4. Strengthen collaboration between teachers, counsellors, and students in identifying and addressing trauma experiences.

A total of 20 students participated in the program, alongside selected teachers, counsellors, and student leaders. The diversity of participants reflected the school’s inclusive approach to addressing psychosocial wellbeing as part of holistic education.
The sessions combined experiential learning, storytelling, reflection, and creative expression rooted in Pacific relational and cultural frameworks.
Key sessions included:
• Understanding Trauma: Introducing the concept of trauma, its causes, and its impact on the brain, emotions, and relationships.
• The Ripple Effect of Unhealed Pain: Exploring how trauma can lead to acting-in (withdrawal, depression) and acting-out (anger, violence) behaviours.
• Healing Pathways: Identifying coping mechanisms and collective healing practices, including mindfulness, journaling, storytelling, and peer circles.
• Community of Care: Building safe spaces within schools, emphasizing empathy, listening, and non-violent communication.

Students expressed deep gratitude for the safe space provided to share their stories and emotions, many acknowledging it was their first time to reflect openly on painful experiences.
Key outcomes observed:
• Improved emotional expression and peer empathy.
• Increased understanding among teachers of the psychosocial realities affecting learning.
• Strengthened student leadership around emotional wellbeing and peer support.
• Renewed commitment by the school administration to integrate trauma awareness into school activities and counselling systems.

Teachers also requested follow-up sessions and capacity-building to sustain trauma-informed practices in classrooms.

Challenges and Learnings
• Limited time for deeper group processes indicated the need for extended or follow-up sessions.
• The high demand for one-on-one support highlights the urgency of embedding school-based counselling and psychosocial resources.
• Ongoing collaboration between Transcend Oceania, Women’s Fund Fiji, and the Ministry of Education will be essential to scale and sustain the initiative.
Next Steps
1. Conduct a follow-up session for teacher mentors and peer leaders.
2. Develop a Student Trauma Awareness Toolkit for classroom use.
3. Document testimonies and stories of change for future advocacy and donor reporting.
4. Explore expansion to additional schools in 2026 in partnership with Women’s Fund Fiji and education stakeholders.

The St Vincent College program affirms that trauma awareness and healing are essential components of holistic education. By addressing the unseen emotional wounds carried by students, we pave the way for better learning outcomes, healthier relationships, and safer communities.

Transcend Oceania remains grateful to Women’s Fund Fiji for their continued support in advancing trauma-informed education and empowering young people to heal, grow, and lead with peace.

15/10/2025

Official Message: Celebrating 11 Years of Transcend Oceania

Suva, Fiji | 16 October 2025

Transcend Oceania marks its 11th anniversary today, celebrating over a decade of dedicated peacebuilding and transformative community work across the Blue Pacific.

Since its establishment in 2014, Transcend Oceania has remained steadfast in its mission to empower communities for healing, justice, and peace, grounded in the values of relationality, responsibility, and faith.

Over these 11 years, TO has journeyed alongside individuals, families, and communities to promote trauma healing, gender justice, ecological peacebuilding, and climate security. Guided by Pacific wisdom and spirituality, TO continues to integrate local indigenous knowledge with global peacebuilding practices — ensuring that the pace and rhythm of transformation follow the heartbeat of the vanua.

As we look ahead, we renew our commitment to build a peaceful Oceania rooted in dignity, compassion, and right relationships.

Vinaka vakalevu to all who have journeyed with us — founders, staff, partners, donors, and the many communities who continue to shape our story of peace.

Together, we envision an Oceania where communities heal, creation thrives, and peace flows like the ocean itself. 🌊

Transcend Oceania
Empowering communities for healing, justice, and peace since 2014.

03/10/2025

“Breaking the Cycle: Choosing Non-Violence in Child Discipli ‘

Transcend Oceania stands firmly in support of Mr. Nilesh Lal, Executive Director of Dialogue Fiji, in his opposition to the re-introduction of corporal punishment for children in Fiji.

We are deeply alarmed by recent calls to bring back violence as a tool of discipline. As an organization founded on the philosophy of non-violence, peacebuilding, and trauma healing, we strongly believe that corporal punishment undermines children’s dignity, erodes trust, and perpetuates cycles of violence across families, schools, and communities.

Violence teaches children fear, not responsibility. It breaks relationships instead of building character. In a time when Fiji is already grappling with rising cases of violence in homes, schools, and communities, reinforcing violence as “discipline” will only worsen the problem.

Positive Alternatives to Violence in Child Discipline

Instead of reviving harmful practices, we urge parents, teachers, community leaders, and policymakers to invest in non-violent, constructive, and culturally grounded approaches to child discipline and guidance. Some proven alternatives include:
1. Positive Discipline and Restorative Approaches
• Encourage children to reflect on their behavior, understand consequences, and make amends.
• Use restorative circles or dialogues in schools and homes to resolve conflicts and rebuild trust.
2. Clear and Consistent Boundaries
• Establish age-appropriate rules and expectations, explained with patience and respect.
• Apply fair, consistent, and non-violent consequences when rules are broken.
3. Parental and Teacher Training
• Equip parents and educators with practical skills in conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and positive reinforcement.
• Provide support networks for caregivers so discipline is rooted in love, not frustration.
4. Strengthening Community Support Systems
• Engage churches, faith leaders, elders, and community mentors to guide children with wisdom and compassion.
• Create safe spaces for children to share struggles and receive guidance, rather than punishment.
5. Promoting Trauma Awareness
• Recognize that many misbehaviors stem from deeper trauma, stress, or unaddressed needs.
• Provide counseling, peer support, and culturally grounded healing practices as alternatives to punishment.

Call to Action

We join Dialogue Fiji in calling on the Government of Fiji, educators, and parents to reject any proposal that legitimizes corporal punishment. Fiji has ratified international conventions that protect children’s rights, and our cultural values of vanua emphasize relationships of care, dignity, and respect.

As a nation, let us model for our children the values we want them to live by: compassion, responsibility, resilience, and peace. A violent society cannot build peaceful children; but a peaceful society, grounded in non-violence, can nurture a generation that breaks cycles of harm and embraces justice and love.

Transcend Oceania reaffirms its commitment to work with communities, schools, churches, and state institutions to strengthen positive, non-violent approaches to child discipline that honor our children’s dignity and uphold peace in our vanua.

02/10/2025

Transcend Oceania Statement on the International Day of Non-Violence
October 2, 2025

Today, on the International Day of Non-Violence, Transcend Oceania joins people across the world in honoring the power of peace, dialogue, and compassion as the most enduring pathways to justice and human dignity.

Non-Violence is not only a principle we commemorate—it is one of the core philosophies that guides our work across Oceania. We believe that true peace cannot be built through force or fear, but through relationships rooted in respect, trust, and responsibility. In our communities, this means creating spaces where stories are heard, wounds are acknowledged, and healing becomes possible.

In a time when our region faces the realities of conflict, inequality, climate insecurity, and social harm, the call to non-violence is both urgent and transformative. Non-violence empowers us to resist cycles of trauma, to protect the most vulnerable, and to build societies where justice is practiced not by domination, but by solidarity.

At Transcend Oceania, we reaffirm our commitment to walk alongside Pacific communities—women, men, youth, elders, and faith leaders—in nurturing cultures of peace grounded in our indigenous wisdom and spiritual traditions. We are reminded today that every act of peace, however small, is a ripple in the ocean of non-violence that we envision for our region and our world.

Let this day inspire us to be peacemakers: to challenge violence in all its forms, to heal what has been broken, and to embody the truth that non-violence is not weakness, but the strongest force for transformation and hope.

Transcend Oceania
Pacific Wisdom, Global Peace

30/09/2025

When Trauma Finds Voice: Reflections, Healing, and Truth in Suva’s Informal Settlements”

Trauma leaves deep imprints on the brain, altering the way people think, feel, and respond to everyday life. It can trap individuals in cycles of fear, pain, and reactive behaviors that affect both their own wellbeing and their relationships with others. Healing, however, has the power to rework this pattern—restoring hope, building resilience, and creating space for compassion. When communities become trauma informed, they begin to recognize these hidden wounds and find healthier, more life-giving ways to respond. Healing becomes not only personal but also collective, spreading from individuals to families, and from families to communities.

The second day of training ended with powerful reflections, role plays, poems, and action plans developed by the 22 women participants from Jittu and Veiquwawa.
• Eta S shared:
“Through the reflections we shared, we are now trauma informed. This means we carry with us a deeper understanding of why people act the way they do, why certain reactions come out of pain, and why compassion must always be at the center of our responses.”
• Role plays highlighted how trauma is deeply connected to violence.
Mrs. Bechu shared sobering real-life examples: a mother Acting In by turning her pain inward through su***de, and Acting Out by abusing her child. Both reflected the devastating ways trauma manifests, reminding us of why awareness is vital—too many women and children continue to suffer from cycles of violence.

We were honored to welcome representatives from the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC). They drew connections between personal and political trauma, inviting participants to see how the unhealed pain of Fiji’s past coups continues to shape lives today.
• Elizabeth Krishna, TRC representative, reminded participants:
“Only by identifying it, recognizing it, and accepting that this has happened for me, that allows us to be able to move forward and be able to heal from Trauma.”

The TRC encouraged participants to share their own stories, affirming that healing at a community level is possible when truth is acknowledged and embraced.

The day concluded with words of hope from Eta:
“The session has planted seeds of healing. Healing that begins in each of us, spreads to our families and radiates out into our communities. This is our hope in moving forward.”

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Women’s Fund Fiji for making this transformative program possible.

“Healing is not just about mending brokenness—it is about restoring dignity, reclaiming hope, and building communities where peace can grow.