Ecotrax helping Fijian people affected by COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold

$14,723 donated

Given by 142 generous donors in 12 weeks

Please help our local Fijian community during COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold. We have the plans but not the funds to feed and rebuild.

Otago

Our tourism business, Ecotrax, on the Coral Coast in Fiji was closed mid March due to COVID-19.

There is massive unemployment here due to the sudden stop of all tourism and people are getting desperate. We have now been hit hard by Cyclone Harold so there is much rebuild of village houses to do fast as residents huddle together in community halls. Physical distancing for the virus went way down the list overnight.

Ecotrax leases 28kms of disused tram line on the Coral Coast of Fiji. We built modified electric bicycle carriages attached to the tram line and in normal times take tourists on a 3 hour tour.

We've had to lay off all staff and are currently using personal funds and our 'velocipedes' to take out vital supplies to remote villages to encourage them to stay home and stay safe. Our amazing Ecotrax team are voluntarily helping us with this good work.

Along with this we're 3D printing face masks at our base which are in short supply here, while feeding our 16 staff who are still waiting to access their FNPF entitlements.

Our tram line passes through more than 10 villages, goes right past Sigatoka Hospital and into Sigatoka Town. There is so much more we could be doing while our business is closed but with no govt packages to support tourism operators its going to be tough to survive and help those in need.

Any spare change to help our local Fijian community get through the coming months would be so gratefully received and used in the best ways possible.

Fiji now has 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases with Suva and parts of Lautoka in full lockdown.

We predict this number is about to grow very quickly as the numbers currently tested are low (approx 400-500 tests to date).

Please see following article about us featured in NZ media 02.04.20.

Also another article I wrote for Newsroom.co.nz early last week. Links below

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/04/02/1110892/holding-pattern-the-pacific-locks-down

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/03/29/1105380/fiji-piece

Ecotrax Fiji's involvement (page creator)

Due to COVID-19 our Fijian Ecotrax business has been closed since 19th March. We can help locals, see our involvement to date in todays Newsroom Pacific Roundup story. https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/04/02/1110892/holding-pattern-the-pacific-locks-down