Day 1: A Welcome, a Worksite, and the First Beam

Today was the day we had been waiting for: our first day on the build site.

We started the morning in a way that made it immediately clear this week would be about much more than construction. Before picking up a single tool, we gathered with members of the community for a traditional welcome led by the village headman. He blessed our team and welcomed us into the community with a kava ceremony. Each of us was also given a sulu to wear — a meaningful gesture of welcome and respect as we began our time here.

From there, it was finally time to see the project we had traveled so far to work on.

Our build is centered around the community’s Educational Learning Center, a space used by local children and students. A previous Habitat team helped expand the space by working on a ramp, and this week our team is continuing that progress by building a new outdoor veranda alongside the center. The goal is to create more usable space for the students who gather here to learn.

Before we could start building outward, there was plenty of work to do both inside and outside.

We split into two groups. Inside the learning center, one team began preparing the structure for ceiling tiles. We started by carrying the large ceiling panels inside, then volunteers measured and cut pieces of timber and installed beams overhead that will eventually support the finished ceiling.

Outside, the rest of us began laying out the footprint of the new veranda. We measured and built the perimeter before tackling the most physically demanding job of the day: digging six holes, each approximately three feet deep, for the posts that will support the structure.

The ground required plenty of shoveling, scraping, measuring, readjusting, and climbing directly into the holes as they got deeper. By midday, there were six very noticeable piles of dirt — and a group of volunteers who had definitely earned lunch.

We paused for a meal together at the site before getting back to work, determined to see at least one piece of the veranda begin to rise before the day ended. And we did.

Just after lunch, the first large support post was lifted into place and secured into one of the holes we had spent the morning digging. It was only one beam, but after a day spent measuring lines, hauling materials, cutting wood, hammering overhead, and moving a whole lot of dirt, seeing that first post standing upright felt like a pretty satisfying way to end our first day.

Of course, I would be leaving out one very important detail if I didn’t mention our other worksite companions. Several tiny puppies spent part of the day wandering around the site, which meant productivity occasionally suffered for extremely understandable reasons. There are some distractions even the most dedicated Habitat volunteer cannot resist.

By the time we packed up, we were tired, dusty, and already able to see the beginnings of what this space will become.

Today gave us our first glimpse of what the week ahead will hold — hard work, a lot of teamwork, plenty of problem-solving, and the chance to build alongside a community that welcomed us so warmly from the moment we arrived.

One post is in the ground, five holes are waiting, and we’re just getting started.

The Calm Before the Build

Today was mostly a free day before the work officially begins tomorrow, which gave everyone a chance to spend it however they needed.

A few of us headed over to Port Denarau for lunch at Cantina and did a little shopping afterward, while others stayed back at the hotel to relax and recharge ahead of our first day on the build site.

Later in the afternoon, we all came together for orientation with Habitat Fiji. We learned more about the organization’s work here, the community we’ll be serving, and what to expect when we head to the site tomorrow. After months of talking about this trip from afar, it felt good to finally be sitting together, learning about the work we’re about to begin.

Then came dinner — and somehow, we ended up right back at Port Denarau.

A few people from our group had eaten at Sails the night before and loved it so much that we decided to bring the whole team back. Their waiter even recognized them and got a kick out of the fact that they had returned the very next night with five more friends. 

The food was incredible, but what I’ll remember most was sitting around the table laughing, talking, and getting to know one another even better. There was something incredibly fulfilling about looking around and realizing how quickly this group has started to feel close.

We haven’t even picked up a tool yet, and already it feels like the foundation of this team is taking shape.

Tomorrow, the real work begins. I can’t wait to see how much we accomplish together — and how much these friendships continue to grow along the way.

Our 2026 Fiji Global Village Team: Daryl, Dave, Erika, Stephanie, Cheryl, Katie, Keri, Elke, Andre, Sue, and Gary. 

Finally Together in Fiji

After months of planning, messages, flight itineraries, fundraising, packing lists, and countless little details, our Fiji Global Village team is finally together.

Today was our first day as a group, and for some of us, it felt like a reunion. A handful of us gathered in the afternoon for appetizers and drinks, catching up after time apart — while others were meeting for the first time. Later that evening, we came together for dinner and officially began what will be a very full week ahead.

We heard stories from those who had already spent part of the day exploring Fiji by boat, revisited memories from past Habitat builds, and somehow even uncovered a few stories from Kenya that I had never heard before as team leader!

Our team this year brings together people who have built together before, friends who have known each other for years, and people who arrived in Fiji as strangers. There’s something special about watching all of those different connections begin to overlap as we step into this experience together.

Tomorrow, we’ll meet with Habitat Fiji for orientation and learn more about the work ahead. Then on Monday morning, we’ll head into the community for our cultural welcome and begin the work we came here to do.

Tonight, though, was simply about being together.

And after months of preparing for this moment, it feels very good to say: we’re finally here.

Day 5: Cemented Together

After dinner last night, the owner of our hotel surprised us with a cake his wife had made that read “CEMENTED TOGETHER.” It was the team name we had decided on earlier that day — a fitting tribute to both the cement we’ve mixed and poured, and the bond we’ve built throughout the week. The gesture was incredibly thoughtful and another reminder of how welcoming and kind everyone here has been.

This morning, we gathered for breakfast and then set out for the build site one final time. The ride was filled with quiet reflection and a mix of emotions — pride, gratitude, and the bittersweet awareness that our week of building was coming to an end.

Once we arrived, we began working on the foundation of the latrine. A few team members carefully lowered three large culverts into a hole about fifteen feet deep — the space that will serve as the toilet pit. The shower will be located inside the same structure, giving the family a private and sanitary space with running water for the first time in their lives.

Next came a familiar task: mixing cement. We filled thirteen wheelbarrows of sand and eighteen wheelbarrows of rocks before adding the cement mixture and blending it all together. Then came the water — bucket after bucket — until we had the perfect consistency for concrete. Once mixed, we hauled and lifted countless buckets up to the construction crew on the scaffolding, who poured the concrete into the roof supports we assembled yesterday. It was demanding work, but everyone stayed focused and steady, moving together as a team.

And then came one of the most emotional moments of the entire week: our goodbye ceremony. The celebration began with music and dancing from the women, their voices carrying across the site. One by one, they came to each of us and wrapped us in lesos — beautifully patterned fabrics that hold deep cultural meaning in Kenya. Often used in weddings or gifted to new mothers, lesos are symbols of love, respect, and connection. They can be worn as wraps, aprons, or even used to decorate a home — but above all, they represent care and belonging. After we received them, the women danced with us, their joy and warmth surrounding every member of our team.

We then listened to heartfelt speeches from the Habitat staff, from Regina, and finally, from me. By the time I stood to speak, few had dry eyes, which made it especially difficult to find my words. But, I expressed our team’s heartfelt appreciation for how warmly we had been welcomed — through songs, laughter, and shared work. I thanked them for allowing us to be part of something larger than ourselves. Their strength, resilience, and joy will stay with us always.

We closed the day with one last lunch together and lingering goodbyes. It’s hard to describe the emotions that come with leaving — pride in what we accomplished, sorrow that our time together has ended, and deep gratitude for the connections we’ve made.

This week has changed us. We came to build a home, but we’re leaving with so much more — a shared experience, lasting friendships, and a bond that will always keep us cemented together.