Koroipita, Model For Climate Change In COP23
The Model Town Charitable Trust aims to construct model towns across Fiji and Pacific Island Countries similar to their project “Koroipita” at Naikabula outside Lautoka. Community Development Manager, Susan Naidu made the confirmation during the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation’s 10th Corporate Philanthropy Seminar on Thursday at Hilton Resort on Denarau.
She said the project was established by Peter Drysdale and will soon be presented at the COP23 as model for Climate Change. “Koroipita is a life giving community and an outstanding model of how a good quality of life can be provided for such large numbers of under-privileged people,” Ms Naidu said.
“Now 32 years later it is the cleanest and greenest community in Fiji and the Pacific and we take pride in that,” she said.
Ms Nair said community development was the engine for the project. While carrying out the work they avoided publicity and kept a low key.
“Koroipita is the most holistic community development programme from education, health, sports and awareness programmes,” she said.
“We actually go and look at what skills people have and build their businesses based on their skills.” Ms Naidu confirmed that they had started with nine houses as part of the new extension of 20 houses. “The 20 houses we are working on now include an international standard sports field, proper sewage system, allocated space for agriculture and a firewood plantation, a botanical area for education purposes,” she said.
“While building we will also be having advanced training modules and fire safety training.”
The project includes the proposed Light Industrial Park. It also includes the upgrading of the sewerage, water and electricity supply to cater for the expected influx of population into Naikabula.
“We are still waiting for the engineers to approve the Light Industrial Park, where business people can come and establish themselves.”