The FIJI Water Foundation today announced that it will award Classroom Grants totaling FJD $1.2 million to support nearly 250 local teachers this year.

The flagship grants program allows any teacher from across the country the opportunity to apply for funding to help ensure students have access to educational experiences and the knowledge they need to reach their full potential.

Designed to support holistic well-being and literacy and numeracy initiatives, the funding also directly supports technology tools, learning excursions, career readiness equipment, and more.
FIJI Water Foundation manager Marie Smith said the aim of the program was to empower dedicated educators by supporting them with critical resources and cutting-edge technology for their schools.

“At the FIJI Water Foundation, we continually invest in our communities and are honored to work with schools across the islands of Fiji to help students learn and grow now, and for generations to come,” she said.

In 2023, Saint Mary’s Primary School in Labasa and Ba Methodist High School were grant recipients. Mataiasi Maiciri from Saint Mary’s Primary was delighted when his school was selected to receive a grant to equip students with innovative IT equipment.

“Our heartfelt appreciation to the FIJI Water Foundation for placing their trust in our project,” he said. Manoj Kumar from Ba Methodist High shared that installing an interactive board has made a positive impact with regards to boosting attendance.

“We are enjoying every feature of our interactive board, especially the improved contact and engagement with students. As a result, we anticipate good results in our upcoming exams,” he said.
The FIJI Water Foundation says applications will be accepted until March 31, 2024, and grant recipients will be announced in April 2024.

To be considered for a Classroom Grant, applicants must be Ministry of Education-certified educators in Fiji. Of note, applications are not limited to one per school and will be evaluated on a teacher-by-teacher basis across the following four categories:
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Literacy and Numeracy: Provide essential learning materials to improve student competencies in core subjects (i.e., new books for classroom reading corner).
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Support Mental Well-Being: Offer experiences beyond the classroom that promote holistic well-being (i.e., transport and entry fee to visit Kula Eco Park).

Empower Teachers: Supply resources for teachers to foster innovation and enhance student engagement (i.e., science lab biogas system).
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Elevate Education Quality: Introduce technology and innovative tools to advance the quality of education (i.e., mini weather station for Physics class).

Since 2008, the FIJI Water Foundation has invested over FJD $19.5 million in community development, access to safe water, education, health & wellness, and environmental sustainability. In 2022, one of its most notable projects included purchasing, packing, and distributing over 67,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to children in several Fiji school districts upon the return of in-person learning.
For more information or to apply for a Classroom Grant, please visit www.fijiwaterfoundation.org.