Violence among gangs in the streets of Fiji is increasing and school dropouts are part of the problem. The number of early school dropouts between ages 13–21 continues to rise. Much of this increase is due to parents no longer being able to afford school fees and as a result, a growing number of young people are leaving their families and moving to the city to live on the streets where they end up joining gangs to survive.
For the past two years Youth for Christ workers in Fiji have focused on connecting and building relationships with these young people and encouraging and supporting them to get back to school. Through the Street Guidance Program, staff are seeing a growing number of boys leaving the streets and returning to the classroom. Currently seven young people are attending Secondary Schools and three are pursuing trade courses at Fiji National University.
Another group of teenage boys from the Raiwai settlements around Suva, the capital of Fiji, are meeting with Youth for Christ staff every Tuesday and Friday. During these twice-weekly meetings they engage these young boys in Bible studies and teach them life-skills.
For just $25 a month, World Changers, through their collective investment, empower and train courageous staff like those in Fiji, to reach millions of unreached, unchurched young people. Your support makes a huge difference.