1st Quarter Report January - March
Activities
(a) Finalizing administration, funds, partner reports/Finalizing CF training and schedule
(b) Scouting
(c) 3-week training (CF and inaugural group of Volunteer CF)
(d) Visits: entry and Visit 1
(e) Forum 1
(f) Brief
(g) Other information
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(a) Administration / Coordination
Objective: To finalize systems, processes, funds for the year 2007
To finalize training, schedule and process for first half of the year (Jan-Jun)
Dates: Jan 8-19
Summary of activity
SEEP PC and PA went through financial systems: tracking, payments, receipts, finance summary and roles for the year.
SEEP CT (PC and LRP) went through the years schedule for visits, teams, CF review, and finally the year’s first training for refresher and beginner VCF

(b) Scouting
Objective: To begin identifying and selecting appropriate villages (that meet SEEP criteria) for possible partnership.
Dates: 15-25
Summary
SEEP CL finally scouted the Province of Ra for 3 possible new communities to begin partnership with. The preference for SEEP was to begin 2007 with 3 new villages. However, 2 ‘old’ villages specifically requested SEEP to remain with them for Jan-Jun as they were now ready for the work. As a result the CL was to scout several potential villages in Ra with the intent of engaging 1 for the first half of the year. This was done successfully and a new village was identified and initially engaged from Ra (Naivoco or Nasiunidra) that sits on the border between the Provinces of Tailevu and Ra but that is really Ra.

(c) Training (in-house)
Objective: To take the CF/VCF through the theory of development: economic and people-centered
To being facilitation training with CF/VCF particularly on self
To start training on CAP delivery with CF/VCF

Dates: Feb 5-23
Summary
A larger group of CF made up of 5 Community Facilitator (2 men and 3 women) and 7 Volunteer CF (1 women and 6 men) were initiated through a 3-week intense training on the concept of ‘development’. It is recognized within SEEP that structural analysis needs to be done by the field workers themselves in order to deliver the work more effectively. It was an intense 3-week with theory, personal development and practical skills in facilitation being explored. Comments from the CF/VCF were that it was ‘challenging’, ‘hard’ and ‘very good’ for their own understanding of their current context. It is planned that this is the main training for all SEEP field workers and volunteers and to be repeated at least twice a year.

(d) Visits: Entry and Visit 1
Objective: Entry Visit – To provide the opportunity at 2 levels (a) for the CF/VCF to adapt to each other as team mates out in the field (b) to re-introduce/introduce the SEEP teams to the partnering villages/mataqali
Visit 1 – To begin the process of relationship building and information gathering
Dates: Entry visit – Feb 26 to Mar 2
Visit 1 – Mar 19 to Mar 28 (x9 days incl. weekend)
Summary
Entry visit: Reports from the teams concerning their entry visit was that it was fruitful for all parties. In some cases the team went ahead and began their work i.e. discussing with the groups (leaders, men, women and youth), identifying particular causes of fragmentation within the mataqali and in one case even providing support to leaders wanting to try to ways of conducting mataqali meetings amidst cultural norms. VCF’s returned to report their commitment to SEEP and its objective, a clearer understanding of the difficulty of this work and the advantage that traditional relationships play in this work. CF’s returned reporting general satisfaction and even gratitude at not only the expansion in number of the CF but also in the age, standing, and traditional relations that the VCF add to their teams.
Visit 1: on-going

(d) Forum 1
Objective: To deliver CAP 1-2 (Analysis of Fiji’s history in Development) to the new and partnering communities
To engage the 3 communities on working agreement and schedules
Dates 11-15 March
Summary
Forum 1 was held in Ucuinamono Village (10 mins away from Suva city) over 4-days where the Acting Chair Executive Forum opened with relevant comments. There were 15 participants from the 3 villages as requested by SEEP. Other traditional leaders from the surrounding villages attended as well as a retired school teacher interested in this particular form of community education. The group was taken by facilitators Cema and Paula with assistance from the rest of the CF and VCF through the history of Fiji with emphasis on the concept of change and the introduction to the Fijian culture of new concepts and thinking. Evaluation from the group stated that the Forum was successful at all levels: logistics in particular the village, content and the delivery of revelations like the Lapita people in a way that was not offensive, solidifying of traditional relations where SEEP provided the space and a learning for the host village. We thank Ucuinamono for hosting far more than expected.

(e) Debrief and Brief
Objective: To assess the CF and VCF in terms of the work schedule, family and health
To debrief about the entry visit and their team work
To prepare for the Forum 1: roles and content
Dates March 5-9
Summary
Starting on Sunday evening the CT interviewed individual CF and VCF to assess their mental and physical capacity for the work this year. It is to ensure that the field workers and their families are doing all right with the partner/parent being away from home for long consistent periods. Also of concern is the health of the field workers: traveling, walking and grog drinking in communities all as part of the work. Feedback from the 11 field workers (CF and VCF) was that the schedule is all right with them and their families, their partners understand the importance of this work with at least two spouses willing to give up their employment if that meant our CF could continue to work with communities. The VCF all reported a high level of gratitude, a ‘returning of life’ at a time of their life when they thought there would not be any, great learning and enjoyment of this type of work. SEEP continues to monitor the impact this work will have on their health.

(f) Other information regarding SEEP
• SEEP funds have finally arrived at FJ61, 400.00 from Oxfam. We thank Admin for providing initial funds to start our activities
• SEEP rental at Nasese has been confirmed at FJ2, 300/month for the next 6 years. There is a clause stipulating that either party may terminate before the end of the tenure with a written 6-month notice
• SEEP’s inaugural group of Volunteer CF has started. This group are originally the Community Representative from each partnering village that volunteered to assist SEEP and learn at the same time. They join the programme as VCF for 6-months before graduating and returning to their respective communities. Depending on assessment at the end of the 6 months, this may be on-going for SEEP
• Coup impact: we note that as far as ‘impacts’ go all the communities that are partnered with SEEP have not given any indication of being adversely affected by the coup one person going so far as saying that ‘it does not matter to us’. However there is a sense of concern at the abuse or threats of abuse and &