The Fiji Girl Guides Association wrapped up its first camp in the Eastern Division with a clear focus on sextortion and online safety, aiming to equip young guides with practical skills to navigate the digital world responsibly. The event drew 60 participants from Lau, Lomaiviti, Rotuma and Vanua Levu, highlighting the reach of the program across Fiji’s eastern communities.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran addressed the participants, urging them to act responsibly online in the face of threats such as cyberbullying and sextortion. She underscored that technology can be a powerful tool for good, but can cause serious harm when misused. “Technology is a powerful tool, but can cause a lot of harm if you are careless — especially when you are young and exploring no matter how much love you are in, please don’t share nudes,” she cautioned.
Kiran also spoke about the rising number of sexual abuse cases and the importance for girls to understand the difference between bad touch and good touch. Awareness, she said, is the key to safety both online and offline. The camp, organized by the Fiji Girl Guides Association with support from stakeholders and local businesses, blended modern digital literacy with traditional knowledge, reflecting the organization’s commitment to comprehensive empowerment for women at the grassroots level.
Organisers noted the strong turnout despite short notice and the challenges of hosting Fiji’s first camp in the Eastern Division. They expressed optimism that the event’s success will pave the way for more programs that empower girls and women in rural and coastal communities.
The broader momentum behind such camps is echoed by earlier nationwide Girl Guides initiatives. Earlier this year, the Fiji National Girl Guides Centennial Camp in Labasa brought together hundreds of participants and highlighted online safety concerns, including the use of Telegram for inappropriate activities. The event, under the centenary theme 100 Years of Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future, featured leaders calling for a united effort among parents, teachers, guardians and guide leaders to create safe spaces for open discussion and proactive safeguarding of youth.
What families and communities can do
– Foster open, ongoing conversations about online life and the risks that can accompany social media and messaging apps.
– Monitor online activity in a respectful, age-appropriate way and set clear boundaries for device use.
– Teach young people to say no to harmful content and to seek help from trusted adults when they encounter troubling material or pressure.
– Promote digital literacy and critical thinking so youths can recognize scams, coercion and sextortion attempts.
– Build a supportive home environment where youths feel comfortable discussing online experiences without fear of judgment.
In addition to its empowerment goals, the Eastern Division camp reinforced the broader, ongoing push within Fiji to protect young people online while equipping them with leadership and life skills. By combining local community involvement with national efforts, organizers hope to see more programs that uplift women and strengthen safety nets across all divisions.
Overall, the event represents a hopeful step forward in safeguarding young women online while reinforcing their capacity to lead, speak out, and make informed choices in a digital world.
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