The Drua Foundation and the Reddy Foundation are set to launch a pioneering rugby initiative in Vanua Levu this December, aiming to connect remote communities through the sport while enhancing educational and health efforts in the region.
From December 2 to 4, the Drua Foundation will conduct a three-day training camp in Labasa, marking its inaugural major activity in the area. Backed by the Reddy Foundation, the event will provide local players, coaches, and officials with the chance to learn from elite trainers. The program will also offer critical training in safeguarding and financial literacy, with ANZ leading the finance component. Damodar Event Cinemas is adding their support to this cause.
Participants will have the opportunity to obtain three World Rugby Level 1 qualifications: First Aid, Introduction to Coaching, and Strength and Conditioning for Children. These certifications are designed to empower individuals who can lead rugby programs within their communities.
Rohit Reddy, Managing Director of the Reddy Foundation, highlighted that the partnership’s benefits extend beyond sports: “This collaboration brings opportunities to communities historically deprived of them, using rugby as a platform to foster education, resilience, and positive values.”
Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans reinforced the importance of the partnership, calling it “an important and impactful project” that emphasizes rugby’s role in strengthening community ties.
Building on the Drua Foundation’s previous collaborations with organizations like the New Zealand Government, this initiative is part of a wider strategic plan to use rugby as a tool for social development in Fiji. Previous projects have included extensive training workshops and tournaments aimed at increasing involvement from underrepresented groups, such as women and youth in remote regions.
This latest effort by the Drua Foundation and the Reddy Foundation underscores a sustained commitment to enhancing rugby’s role in fostering both athletic talent and community education on health and sustainability. By focusing on inclusivity and outreach, these programs are set to engage future generations with rugby and promote wider social cohesion across various Fijian communities.
Such endeavors are a hopeful move towards realizing the potential of sports as a unifying force, inspiring both athletic excellence and personal growth throughout Fiji. Through these collective efforts, Fijian youth and their communities can anticipate a more united and prosperous future.