Mana Island Children's Science Education

The Biology Department of Pacific Union College is striving to raise $1,000 in tax-deductible donations to purchase snorkeling gear for school children on Mana Island, a small island in the Mamanuca chain of islands in western Fiji. The island is surrounded by a shallow lagoon and a coral reef that are teeming with sea life.

All of the students live within a few hundred feet of the ocean and they frequently go swimming in the shallow water along the beach, but only a few of them have snorkeling gear. Learning how to swim safely and how to go snorkeling and spearfishing are important skills to acquire for many of the island’s residents who supplement their diets with fresh fish from the ocean.

These skills can be taught by teachers at the school, and can be incorporated into field trips for science classes to study the plants and animals inhabiting the lagoon and coral reef surrounding the island. Dr. Floyd Hayes of the Biology Department of Pacific Union College has prepared a photographic field guide of the common plants and animals of the island, which has been donated to the school and can be used by the teachers and students.

We have discussed this project with the school’s principal, Mr. Ben Turner, who has given his approval. Our plan is to purchase 20-25 sets of snorkeling equipment for children, which are currently priced at $37.49 (small/medium) or $44.96 (large/extra large) at Amazon.com.

Thank you for supporting the school children of Mana Island and their science education.