A group of the University of the South Pacific environmental students calling themselves the Econesian Society is embarking on environmental awareness with communities in Fiji.
The voluntary organisation was formed in 2007 to develop skills in enhancing awareness on environmental education in Fiji.
Eco-means; ecology and nesian is Latin for islanders.
The Econesian Society engages in various methods of capacity building like doing environmental training with vocational and tertiary students.
Included in their capacity building methods are learning through reading and access to information and communication.
Networking is also a capacity building method, which the Econesian Society engages in, through partnership and social interactions.
The society did case studies on three projects namely the nesian 350 campaign, the Pacific Youth Festival and the Eco-Parks project.
Fifty students, who went through training were able to enhance their skills in public speaking, publicity, networking with diverse groups, upgrade organisational skills, meet facilitating skills, improve decision making and communication skills, and learn how to obtain good resources.
The Econesian Society had worked voluntarily with various organisation like the French Embassy or Alliance Francaise, Vorovoro Tribe Wanted, WWF, National Trust, SCC, BSP, IUCN, SPREP, Department of Environment and the Department of Youth.
Communities that need the Econesian Society services with regards to environmental projects can contact the USP for further details.