Polynesian Va'a alo Outrigger Canoe Club is supporting a group of 15 underprivileged young Fijians including 5 support persons to come to Australia for a two week Paddle Camp between 18 and 31 January 2024. Funds are to provide airfares, travel insurance, food and accommodation, and internal travel We are seeking personal and corporate support. This will provide an experience that will most probably never be available to this young people and give a memory to last a lifetime.

Poly Va’a coaches will be integral to the training of the Fijian paddlers throughout their stay. The club’s coaching group currently has 3 senior coaches, 2 newly accredited coaches and 1 currently undertaking coaching training. We have several senior paddlers who will be mentors to each of the Fijian paddlers.

This participation will provide opportunities to hone their skills in coaching and cross-cultural matters for accredited coaches and for the trainee coach to develop paddling programs to improve these new Fijian paddlers. Senior club members will greatly value their cross-cultural contact.