Pacific Program Officer Li Fung explains how rural Fijian communities are taking control of their lives like never before.

In Fiji, there is a 'culture of silence' created in part by traditional chiefly structures and compounded by the imposition of western governance systems. People are expected to accept what they are told by leaders, and do not feel free to openly question leaders, government or the church.

For the past three years, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad has supported the Ecumenical Centre for Research Education and Advocacy to pilot a community empowerment process with rural communities. Called the Social Empowerment and Education Program (SEEP), the process challenges the 'culture of silence' in Fiji, and aims to enable people to influence or make decisions which directly affect their lives, whether at a local, provincial or national level.

To do this, SEEP has trained a team of community facilitators to act as catalysts for change, working with communities to identify, analyse and seek solutions to issues affecting them, such as restricted access to basic services and opportunities in rural areas. The program's approach is not to provide communities with answers, but rather to empower communities to identify their own solutions to issues, and take action to address them.

Over three years, SEEP has witnessed many changes in the communities. People, particularly women and youth, have developed an increased confidence to speak out and express their views about issues, including in front of their leaders. In one clan, the chiefs granted the government permission to build a rubbish dump on clan land without consulting community members. A village in the clan raised this issue with SEEP, and through discussions the community members identified the detrimental impacts the dump would have on their water sources, land use and marine resources. They then took these concerns to the clan chiefs, helping them to recognise the consequences of their decision.

As a result of the increased engagement of community members, traditional leaders have started to reflect on their leadership style. In one village, the chief had always made decisions without consulting anyone in the community, but after engaging in the SEEP process he started to adopt a more cooperative approach, realising that he had to consult with community members in relation to decisions that affect them.

SEEP has also led to significant personal change for its community facilitators. Through their involvement with the program, they have developed improved analytical skills and an increased interest in community and national issues, and this has had a positive effect on their personal, family and community relationships, and on how they interact with different ethnic groups in Fiji.

Following the successful completion of the pilot phase, the SEEP process will be developed and expanded, with the continued support of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad.