MES have now two years in a row engaged its corporate sponsors in giving back to the environment. MES corporate sponsors include ANZ, Fiji Airways, KPMG, and Vonu Beer.
On the 26th of January, 33 volunteers from ANZ and Fiji Airways travelled to Likuliku and Castaway to be part of the volunteer program, by planting trees, planting corals and beach and underwater clean-up. The 33 volunteers boarded the first South Sea Cruises boat out of Denarau, where 16 volunteers disembarked at Castaway Island Resort and 17 at Likuliku Lagoon Resort. The volunteer group spent the whole day at their designated resorts conducting either tree planting or coral planting.
At Castaway Island Resort volunteers were engaged with coral planting with the team planting 40 coral cookies with corals of the Acropora species. The volunteers then loaded the coral table onto a kayak and the table was taken to an assigned area on the Castaway house reef where the table was placed at about 3 meters depth. According to Naomi Ratudina (Fiji Airways Team member), it was her first time to engage in coral planting activity and she finds the programme very interesting and educational as well. Members of the volunteer group who were first time snorkelers also got a chance to get a full briefing on how to snorkel. After lunch the volunteers planted Vesi trees within the resort area. Regrouping later at the ‘mokimokiti’ the volunteers were treated to cool refreshment and were also awarded a certificate of participation. According to Kaysha Stratton (ANZ Team member) they had a wonderful experience and memories of a lifetime. “It is a great experience for my family to share our experiences with MES and to Castaway Island Resort! Could not have been any more perfect!” she stated.
MES would like to thank the staff of ANZ and Fiji Airways who volunteered their time to give back to the environment. A big Vinaka vakalevu to Castaway Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort for facilitating the program and for hosting the volunteers, and South Sea cruises for providing the transfers to the islands
