Fit and active volunteers who love sport and are keen to help kids learn new games and skills. Sports qualifications or experience are an advantage but not a requirement.

Project details

Excited to join the team of Sports Education volunteers in Fiji? International Volunteer HQ’s Sports project places volunteers in after-school sports programs based in local villages in Sigatoka. Volunteers gain teaching, coaching and mentoring experience while sharing their love of sports with local students who are active, lively and love to play outdoors. Volunteers help deliver sports and lessons that cater to every ability, creating a fun and healthy environment.

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Sport is an integral part of growing up in Fiji, where young people have seemingly boundless energy and love to expend it playing outside.

Volunteers will be helping out at after-school sports programs based in a nearby village.

As a Sports Education volunteer on the after-school program, your role is to:

Play games with children
Introduce and teach new sports
Encourage fair play and teamwork
Help children improve their skills and be active

This project can be unstructured, so you’ll need to be flexible and be willing to teach their choice of sports/activities with limited equipment available. The main sports children play are football, netball, rugby and volleyball, however you’re welcome to introduce a sport from your home.

During the school holidays, all volunteers will participate in the Kids Club which is run by the local team in a nearby village. Monday to Thursday will involve general teaching with a theme assigned to each week such as healthy living. On Fridays volunteers run a sports activity day.

School holiday dates:

9 December 2024 to 24 January 2025
5 May to 17 May 17 2025
25 August to 5 September 2025
8 December 2025 to 23 January 2026

The remaining 2026 school term dates have not yet been confirmed but holidays typically fall around the months of May, August, September, December, and January.

Why do Sports Education volunteering in Sigatoka with IVHQ?

When you volunteer on the Sports Education project in Fiji you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

Improving access to physical education for students
Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
Learning or practicing Fijian
Developing your communication skills
Gaining teaching experience
Immersing yourself fully in the Fijian way of life
Exploring Fiji’s blissful beaches

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
Volunteers aged 17 on their program start date are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional document to the local team.
All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
To respect the local culture and customs in Fiji, volunteers should be aware that they’re unable to have anything obstructing their face while at their volunteer placement.
All volunteers must speak fluent English.

Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Not sure which program to join?

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Who is going?

Group video calls

Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.

Fiji photo gallery

IVHQ Sport education in Fiji

Volunteers doing orientation at the house

Kava Ceremony as part of orientation

Passing around the Kava

Volunteer drinking Kava

Exploring Sigatoka during orienation

Exploring Sigatoka during orientation

IVHQ Volunteer's out on an evening walk

Volunteers checking out Maui Bay - Intro Week

Biausevu waterfall bush walk - Intro Week

Volunteers at Biausevu waterfall - Intro Week

View from on top of Sand Dunes

IVHQ intro week - Sigatoka National Park Dunes

Checking out views at the Hill Fort

Fijian meke dance lesson - Intro Week

IVHQ Fijian language lesson - Intro Week

Popular weekend trip spot - The Beach House

Exploring The Beach House

Seaside view at the Beach House

South Sea Island trip during free time

Diving at South Sea Island

What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

Erik Werner

23 Oct 2024

I learned things about a new culture and the way they live. Moreover I could experience the kindness of the people and want to keep the positive attitude in my life. Apart from that I gained a lot about how to interact with different and new people, from kids to adults. And in total I made a lot of good friends and experiences for my whole life.

...

Talia De Fazio

21 Aug 2024

I think I gained more confidence due to pushing myself out of my comfort zone and going on a trip by myself. It is a really valuable experience meeting new people and learning the ways of a new culture. I would highly encourage anyone to do it and the advice I would give is you definitely won’t regret it!

...

Kyle Colville

15 Jul 2024

I think learning about other cultures/ways of life is invaluable and is a huge benefit to me as I continue to grow as a person. This experience really opened my eyes to the world around me and I hope I left a positive impact on the local community.

...

Olivia Popp

30 Apr 2024

Participating in the Sports Education program in Fiji was the best decision I’ve ever made. I am not joking when I say that was the best two weeks of my entire life so far. Not only the volunteering, cultural and adventure aspect, but also the other volunteers I met will be great friends for life! I miss it already and I can’t wait to do some more volunteering in the future.

...

Madison White

14 Feb 2024

I feel like I gained my sense of self and learned so much about different cultures around the world through fellow volunteers and was able to immerse myself into such a loving and special community! You should be prepared to live differently than you do back at home, although that was one of my favorite part of the experience! I would absolutely recommend joining an IVHQ program and pushing yourself to see what you’re made of. This was my first volunteer experience and I cannot wait to join another! My sister has also just signed up to do childcare in Bali after hearing about my experience!

...

Remington Clarke

03 Jan 2024

I feel I have gained increasing education about the importance of diversity and empathy and how volunteering expands your horizons promoting professional development within yourself. In addition seeing how sport is played in another country gives me an appreciation for how sport can be played in different ways and be open to change. My advice, in relation to joining this program, is put yourself out there!. Sign up to an unforgettable experience immersed with learning and professional development. You will not regret the positives that will come out of the program for yourself.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit

Location

Location

The IVHQ Fiji program is based on the Coral Coast of Fiji, which is on the south-eastern coast of mainland Fiji. Although Fiji is known as an island paradise with a thriving tourist industry, many Fijians face challenges associated with living below the poverty line. Volunteers provide valuable support in helping with the development and improvement of infrastructure in this small island nation, especially as it continues to grow.

Volunteer placements are located in and around Sigatoka which has some of the best beaches on the island. Volunteers travel to their placements from the volunteer accommodation via taxi. The accommodation is a 15-minute taxi ride to Sigatoka town and a mere 2-minute walk to the nearest beach.

Arrival and orientation

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Nadi International Airport (NAN) in Nadi. An airport pick up is provided here on Saturdays and Sundays between 6:00 AM and 4:30 PM only. If you arrive between this time, you will be met at the airport by a member of the local team who will provide assistance with your bus transfer to Sigatoka. You will then be picked up by a member of our local team at the Sigatoka bus station.

If you arrive outside of these times you can arrange a late airport pick up as an add on option. Alternatively you can arrange your own accommodation in Nadi and then make your way to Sigatoka via bus the following morning.

If you arrive prior to 6am, you may wait in the arrivals terminal until the local team can meet and assist you with your bus transfer.

Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Fiji prior to your volunteer program, you will need to make your own way to the volunteer accommodation and the local team will provide guidance on this.

There are two options for orientation for the Fiji Program.

One-day orientation:

This begins on the morning of your chosen start date and runs for a full day. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Fiji, including an introduction to Fiji, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, city tour and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

Introduction Week:

The Introduction Week begins on the morning of your chosen start date and runs for the first five days of your stay. It is an awesome way to kickstart your volunteer abroad experience and it covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Fiji, plus you’ll learn more about the culture and get to tick off must-do Fiji experiences! This includes a Kava welcome ceremony; weaving class, hike to a waterfall, language class, cooking class; and trip to Maui Bay!

Please note, the Introduction week is included in your total duration on the program. If you would like to take part in this week, please let your Program Manager know.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On your first day of volunteering, you will be taken to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays Please note that start times and daily workloads depend on the project that you are participating on. Some placements run in the afternoon and volunteers on these placements will have the morning to create their lesson plans, or can join another project.

A typical volunteer day is as follows:

7:30 - 8:30AM	Breakfast at the volunteer house and then travel to your placement to join local placement staff.
9:00 AM	Lesson planning or join the Teaching or Childcare project.
12:00 PM	Volunteers break for lunch.
3:00 PM	Travel to your placement.
5:30 PM	Head back to the volunteer house.
5:30 PM	Dinner at the volunteer house. After dinner, you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish.

To ensure the safety of our volunteers and respect of others in the volunteer accommodation, a curfew of 11:30 PM has been put in place for every evening, including the weekend. If you wish to stay out longer, you must discuss this first with our local team and arrange alternative accommodation.

Weekends

Volunteers can spend the weekends exploring Sigatoka, visiting the beautiful pristine coastlines, beaches or rainforests. Volunteers can spend the weekends exploring the Coral Coast which is a stretch of beaches and bays between Nadi and Suva. Along this coastline is the Pacific Harbour (approximately 1.5 hours from Sigatoka), which is the self-proclaimed ‘Adventure Capital’ of Fiji. From Pacific Harbour you can organize activities, such as kayaking, white-water rafting, shark feeding, jet ski tours, zip lining and diving. It is recommended you budget for these additional weekend trips.

Accommodation and WiFi

You’ll stay in dormitory-style volunteer houses located in the Sigatoka area near the community where volunteers work. It is approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Sigatoka town and 2 minutes from the beach. The area has a very strong friendly Fijian culture. A curfew of 11:30 PM is in effect every evening, including weekends, to ensure the safety and respect of others in the volunteer accommodation.

The volunteer house is very basic but comfortable, with electricity, fans, and running water. Bathrooms in the volunteer houses are all western style with a shower, toilet and basin. Bedding is provided which includes a pillow, pillowcase and sheets (Washed Weekly). You will need to bring a towel and toiletries.

You can expect to share a room with up to 5 other volunteers of the same gender. Couples or individuals who want more privacy have an option to upgrade to private accommodation. Private rooms are subject to availability and therefore you must arrange this well in advance of your program. The local team will do their best to keep families together.

While basic WiFi is available for communication use at the accommodation internet access, it is not always reliable. Therefore we recommend purchasing a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone. The local team can assist you with purchasing this during your program orientation in Sigatoka and is relatively cheap 30FJD for 60GB a month). WiFi is also available at cafes and restaurants around Sigatoka.

Please note that during busy times, some volunteers maybe accommodated in a nearby hotel. Volunteers who are placed in the hotel will still have all their meals at the volunteer house.

Meals

Fijian food is tasty and diverse, with a strong influence of Indian and Chinese cuisine. Three meals a day are served at the volunteer house on weekdays, but on weekends only breakfast and dinner are served, leaving volunteers responsible for their own lunches. Typical dishes include chow mein (Fiji style stir-fried noodles and vegetables), starches such as cassava, taro, sweet potato, bread, fruit, rice, stews, soups and curries.

Breakfast is typically cereal, tea, coffee, fruit, eggs and toast.

Bottled water is readily available in Fiji and there are water filters available in the volunteer accommodation for volunteers.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can discuss this with you. The local team will do their best to see that you are well taken care of but you should not expect to eat as you do at home. If you wish to supplement some of your meals with home comforts, there are basic kitchen facilities available to use and the local team will show you where to buy food during orientation.

IVHQ Fiji Main Volunteer House

Beach 1min walk away from volunteer house

Typical volunteer shared room

Shared bathroom in volunteer accommodation

IVHQ Fiji Common Area

IVHQ Fiji Dining Area

Lockers provided at IVHQ Fiji Program

Volunteer house private room upgrade

Private room upgrade ensuite bathroom

IVHQ Fiji secondary volunteer house

Typical volunteer shared room

Shared Bathrooms in volunteer house

Typical volunteer lunch served at the house

Self service breakfast at the house

Volunteer dinner of fish curry with beans and roti

Typical lunch - noodles with a side of fresh fruit

Volunteer Breakfast

Fijian style dinner served with fresh fruit and juice

Pancake Fridays at the volunteer house

IVHQ Fiji Accommodation

Pricing

USD
- United States Dollars - $
- Australian Dollars - AU$
- Brazilian Reals - R$
- British Pound Sterling - £
- Canadian Dollars - CA$
- Chinese Yuan - CN¥
- Euros - €
- Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
- Mexican Pesos - MX$
- New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
- Singapore Dollars - SG$
- Swiss Francs - CHF
- UAE Dirhams - AED

Duration	Program Fee Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you. USD United States Dollars - $ Australian Dollars - AU$ Brazilian Reals - R$ British Pound Sterling - £ Canadian Dollars - CA$ Chinese Yuan - CN¥ Euros - € Hong Kong Dollars - HK$ Mexican Pesos - MX$ New Zealand Dollars - NZ$ Singapore Dollars - SG$ Swiss Francs - CHF UAE Dirhams - AED
1 week	$510 Equivalent to $73/day
2 weeks	$730 Equivalent to $52/day
3 weeks	$955 Equivalent to $45/day
4 weeks	$1,175 Equivalent to $42/day
5 weeks	$1,375 Equivalent to $39/day
6 weeks	$1,580 Equivalent to $38/day
8 weeks	$1,990 Equivalent to $36/day
10 weeks	$2,420 Equivalent to $35/day
12 weeks	$2,830 Equivalent to $34/day

All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately AU$483) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Fiji generally find US$100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Airport pick-up
Transport to and from your volunteer placement each day
Accommodation
24/7 in-country support
In-country program orientation
Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

Return to the airport when your program finishes
Flights
Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.

Popular add-ons & experiences in Sigatoka

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Sigatoka program.

Fiji Introduction Week

The Introduction Week is an awesome way to kickstart your volunteer abroad experience and it covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Fiji.

AU$181

Airport Drop-off

Enjoy a stress free ride from the accommodation back to either Nadi International Airport or Nausori International Airport arranged by our local team.

AU$124

Airport pick up (for volunteers arriving outside of the pick up window)

If you’re arriving outside the airport pick-up times, book this add on now!

AU$124

View all add-ons & experiences

Check what's required to visit Fiji

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.

Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital	Suva
Population	909,943
Languages	English, Fijian and Fijian Hindi
Currency	Fijian Dollar (FJD)
Time zone	UTC+12:00

Weather and climate

Fiji has a hot climate all year round with maximum temperatures averaging between 26°C and 31°C (79°F - 88°F). The wet season runs from November to April and the dry season runs from May through October. The wet season is characterised by high humidity with heavy downpours followed by sunshine. The dry season is when temperatures are typically cooler with little rainfall.

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