In the latest development ahead of a charity event in Nadi, organisers have named the fundraiser the Eagles for Ears Charity Golf tournament and confirmed it will be held next Saturday at the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club on Port Denarau. Competition representative Howard Politini used the announcement to release fresh figures from the recent National Dialogue on Supporting Children with Disabilities in Fiji, warning that many children with disabilities are being denied early education and school access.
Politini said the new data made the case for urgent community support. “They are still the neglected ones, they are still wandering around in villages and so on, not getting the same opportunities that our able-bodied children are getting,” he said, highlighting the gap the tournament aims to help close. The National Dialogue figures presented by Politini showed only 3.8 per cent of children aged two to four with disabilities are attending early childhood education, while 5.9 per cent were not attending. Among children aged five to 17, just 8.9 per cent were attending school and 19.2 per cent were missing out.
The Eagles for Ears tournament will raise funds for the Gospel School of the Deaf, which Politini described as a vital local institution that educates deaf students up to secondary level and helps them transition into the workforce. “They’re actually getting paid to do jobs, building, working, interpreting – so they’re out there,” he said, noting the school’s role in training students and providing employment pathways.
Organisers say the stark attendance figures are driving a last-minute push for participation and sponsorship. Politini urged businesses, clubs and individuals to register teams or offer sponsorship packages. “We will take care of players manning the teams, the main thing is just some sponsorship,” he said, adding that those unable to field a team could still support the cause with direct donations. “And if you can’t do that or have a team, then just give us a cheque towards the Gospel School of the Deaf and we’ll be happy with that.”
Event organisers are opening the field to more teams and sponsors as they finalise logistics at Denarau, a popular venue for fundraising and community events. The tournament presents itself as both a competitive golf day and a community mobilisation effort to draw attention to the educational exclusion faced by disabled children in Fiji.
The release of these National Dialogue statistics at the tournament launch marks the latest public airing of gaps in services for children with disabilities. By tying the figures to a high-profile local fundraiser, organisers hope to translate awareness into immediate financial support for the Gospel School of the Deaf and to encourage longer-term engagement from schools, government agencies and private-sector sponsors.
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