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January 12, 2021

About Us

We are the world’s first travel company to be a member of the World Fairtrade Organisation. Offering authentic island based trip to Fiji, Sri Lanka, UK, Barbados and Vanuatu.

 

We are a British registered Community Interest Company.

 

From volunteering on coral reefs to remote, island camping and yoga,…

July 26, 2019

Volunteer Teaching, Fiji 2019

A Day in the life

We go local and fairtrade. Volunteer teaching done with integrity and local support. We were invited into the village and have been asked back in 2020. Here is a ‘Day in the Life’ during our volunteering trip on the outer islands…

June 11, 2019

Giving Sight in Fiji, it’s a Real Spectacle! 

Giggles, jokes, nudges and eternal thanks are shared as the adults sit around the spectacled table. They each shake my hand on arrival and make their way slowly and thoughtfully to a spare space on the bench.

The women are the ones who start the joking and cheeky banter as…

May 20, 2019

‘Pioneers of Good’ hosts Founder, Kirsty on their Podcast

Passion for Travel

‘Pioneers of Good’ hosts Founder, Kirsty.

Says Kate Strong, Founder of POG and Podcast host: “Kirsty from Island Spirit has a lot of spirit in her. She’s bubbly. Her passion for travel is infectious and she is a living example that it is possible to have a great…

March 12, 2018

Coconut Wireless – Newsletter – February 2017 to 2018

Written by Laura Griffith and Kirsty Barnby

We hosted our first ever Fairtrade, Wildcrafted Volunteer Coral Gardening trips for four different UK and US Universities. It’s been an incredibly rewarding year so we’d love to share our best bits with you…

2017 ACHIEVEMENTS ON OUR VOLUNTEERING TRIPS

We had an eye-opening,…

February 26, 2018

Reef Encounters 2017, Coral Gardening, Fiji

Written by Kirsty Barnby

This blog is about the reefs of the South coast of Fiji and the practice known as coral gardening which helps…

January 23, 2018

Fijian Art For Climate Change

Written by Kylie Barton

 

There are so many innovative initiatives happening around the globe to promote a greener way of living to help combat climate change. Recently we looked at how real-life mermaids…

December 1, 2017

Fiji Presides Over International Climate Change Conference

The UN Climate Change Conference held in Bonn, Germany this November was held to look at next steps for the international community following on from the Paris Agreement. And our very own beloved Fiji was the presiding nation with Fijian Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama assuming the presidency of COP23.

Timoci Naulusala opens COP23 High Level Segment

He held the attention of more than 1000 people at the opening of the high level segment of #COP23. View a speech by #TimociNaulusala of Naivicula, Wainibuka in the province of Tailevu.

Posted by Fiji Times Online on Wednesday, 15 November 2017

The…

September 29, 2017

The Ocean as our Lungs

Written by Kylie Barton

‘The Ocean as our lungs’ was the main theme of the Pacific Blue Economy Conference that was held at the end of August in Suva. The United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Pacific, Osnat Lubrani, said that the ocean is compromised, and as a result so…

September 27, 2017

Our Planet, Our Struggles, Our Future – Fiji to host International Meeting

Written by Kylie Barton

We are extremely excited here at Island Spirit that the International Civil Society meeting will be held here in Fiji, Suva to be exact, at the end of this year. This is the 14th occurrence of the event, which provides a platform for key civil society…

September 3, 2017

Chinese Vessels Continue to use Fijian Waters as a Dumping Ground

Written by Kylie Barton

Here at IS when we read a headline about people dumping things in our beautiful oceans here in Fiji we can’t help but get a little emotional. Earlier this month, it was found that a Chinese tuna vessel has been caught in that very act. The…

August 1, 2017

Plastic bag free Fiji

Written by Laura Griffith

A plastic bag tax has been announced in a Fiji, in a bid to safeguard the environment.

Ten cents will be charged per bag used in order to reduce plastic waste and usage in Fiji. As an alternative, the ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism will introduce…

July 24, 2017

The vanishing act of the world’s coral reefs

Written by Laura Griffith

Coral reefs are on track to be the first of the world’s ecosystems to be entirely wiped out by humans. Some scientists estimate that reefs will have disappeared as soon as 2050 – many calculate atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is already above…

June 8, 2017

Fiji’s Underwater World

Written by Laura Griffith

What attracts visitors to Fiji is not only its beauty and beaches on land, but also what can be seen below Fiji’s warm South Pacific Ocean, as I was yet to discover!

There is a wide variety of life in Fiji’s waters, including dolphins, sea…

May 13, 2017

Island Spirit’s Wildcrafted Fijian Headbands

Written by Laura Griffith

Dishing up a fresh perspective for IS, our team member Laura talks about Island Spirit’s Wildcrafted Fijian headbands –  our latest product to launch in celebration of World Fair Trade Day on May the 13th.

“As a former Textile Designer, with background in designing contemporary garments & products for a Global Design…

May 5, 2017

A New Island Princess is Born in Fiji!

Written by Laura Griffith, Marketing and Sales Co-Ordinator

Laura talks about her first month on the Fijian Islands…

“For my first official Island Spirit meeting in beautiful Fiji, Kirsty and I embarked on a 24-hour journey together to head to Fiji’s Garden Island, Taveuni with two friends. With a hire…

March 28, 2017

Fiji Sets New Protected Area Target

Written By Kylie Barton

In December 2016, Fiji declared an impressive target to protect 16 per cent of all land area by 2020, and local communities will play a huge part in helping this goal become reality.

Here at Island Spirit we have been working with the community in Fiji for…

March 20, 2017

Continuing the Legacy of Sharkwater

Written By Kylie Barton

Sharkwater is an important documentary created by Rob Stewart, which aims to dismantle the harmful stereotype of the shark which is ultimately leading to its demise. It is with great sadness that the world learned at the beginning of February, the man who devoted his…

March 6, 2017

Love Trumps Hate

How to Remain Environmentally Optimistic During This Presidency

Written By Kylie Barton

With the election of a climate change denier to the White House, it would be easy for those of us who consider ourselves conservationists and environmentalists to throw up our hands in dismay and give up hope. This however,…