Class Dignity Elegance

UNA Fiji exists to enhance the relationship between Fijians and the UN, turning Active Fijian Citizens into Global Citizens.

The Objectives of UNA Fiji are:

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  1. Be a Transformational Leadership oriented NGO based in Fiji, promoting and upholding principles and values of Global Citizenship Education at all times.

  2. Be dedicated to promoting constructive participation in the United Nations and elevating the principles of the UN Charter.

  3. Be the leading policy voice on multilateralism as an NGO in Fiji.

  4. Organize programs and activities that celebrate diversity, compassion-based learning, and solution-seeking opportunities on shared challenges with human rights-based approaches as the backbone.

  5. Hold educational simulation and/or academic activity in which members and non-members can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations which shall involve and teach participants: speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills, the ultimate goal of which is to equip participants with the most Relevant Knowledge helping create Active Citizens.

  6. The official motto of UNA Fiji shall be Class, Dignity, Elegance, which shall mean the following;

    • Class: Our Word is Our Bond;

    • Dignity: No matter how low the other person stoops, I shall always be Honourable;

    • Elegance: It is not what I wear but the Commitment I have in upholding the motto of UNA Fiji with Discipline and maintaining Tradition.

What is the United Nations Association of Fiji?

United Nations Association of Fiji is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that exists to enhance the relationship between Fijians and the United Nations, raise public awareness of the UN and its work, and promote the UN's general goals.

UNA Fiji is mandated by its membership to educate and engage citizens on the work of the United Nations and global issues that affect everyone. In summary, Through Global Classrooms we grow Active Fijian Citizens who go on to becoming Global Citizens. We are currently trying to reach the status of the leading policy voice on multilateralism in Fiji. Our current work is framed by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN to guide the international community until 2030.

Our programs and activities celebrate diversity, empathy-based learning, and solution-seeking opportunities on shared challenges with human rights-based approaches as the backbone. We are dedicated to promoting constructive participation in the United Nations and elevating the principles of the UN Charter. Our area of work involves the issues affecting Fijians and the Pacific Islanders, such as climate change, nuclear testing, and its effects, decolonization, and self-determination, and diaspora rights.

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History of UNA Fiji

UNA Fiji was founded in October 2014 at USP Laucala Campus, Suva, City, Republic of Fiji. It was revived on 14 May 2015 at USP Laucala Campus, Suva, City, Republic of Fiji,

UNA Fiji on its founding date until 27 July 2019 was known as Fiji Model United Nations Society (FMUNS), thereafter, it was known as the United Nations Association of Fiji (UNAF) until 17 July 2021.

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We recognize that;

UNA Fiji was solely founded by Mr. Akmal Ellyas Ali of Suva City, Republic of Fiji;

Mr. Shivnesh Kumar Ram, Mr. Arnold Akshay Krishna, Mr. Mohammed Al-Dousary, Mr. Shivneet Shahil Kumar, Mr. Sachinandan Das Sen, Mr. Yash Maharaj, Mr. Valraj Singh, Ms. Sweta Shivanti Kumar, Ms. Arci Singh along with the Founder have contributed enormously to the success of UNA Fiji so far;

The UNA Fiji Constitution dated 17 July 2021 is the official Constitution of UNA Fiji.

Community Impact Projects

UNA Fiji works in partnership with local communities and organizations to help promote and build awareness of the importance of Active Fijian Citizenship. The various Community Impact Projects and initiatives undertaken are designed to give UNA Fiji members and Trainees of the Diplomacy Programme an opportunity to apply their learnings to social realities specific to targeted Projects and overcome challenges at grass root level through volunteerism. The Projects advocate social responsibility and allow those involved to work in a real societal context while acquiring the practical social skills necessary to succeed in the area of Active Citizenship. To learn more about this year’s Community Impact Project, Feel free to contact.

Some initiatives participated in over the years include:

Building Local Leadership for Sustaining Shores: Empowering Coastal Communities for a Resilient Future (2023)

The Community Impact Project had two key components:

  1. Mangrove Seedling Planting and Coral Planting: UNA Fiji planted 6676 mangrove seedlings along the vulnerable Korotogo Coastline, mitigating coastal erosion and supporting biodiversity.

    Fish Nursery Building: Along with the Mangrove Planting, the team also in partnership with the Outrigger Fiji Resort, built Fish Nurseries in the resort shoreline area. This initiative also provided sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. Additionally, it raised awareness about environmental conservation.

  2. Youth Leadership Training: UNA Fiji empowered 23 Fijian youths through leadership training, emphasizing skills like diplomacy, effective pitching, and protocol. The project encouraged collaboration among participants, allowing them to propose innovative solutions to community issues.

Wainidova settlement in Navua celebrates the Official Opening of New Waterway Access (2022)
More than 500 residents of Wainidova settlement, Vuibau Village, and Deuba Village in Navua can now travel safely to their respective destinations since having their waterway access point rebuilt in Wainidova under the United Nations Associations (UNA) Fiji Community Impact Project. The project was undertaken by UNA Fiji's Basic Diplomacy Training Programme (BDTP) 2021 Trainees, Members, and sponsors to help the people of these settlements who for many years did not have proper facilities and only a few canoes to aid their transportation.

Tonga Volcanic Relief Effort (2022)
UNA Fiji was invited by the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO), the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), and the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT) to help pack a 40-foot shipping container’s worth of relief items for the people of Tonga after they were affected by the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption on 14 January 2022.

Community Clean-up & Mangrove Planting (2021)
10,000 mangrove seedlings were planted and over 40 bags of waste were collected and disposed of from the beach beside Tikaram Park, Lami, Republic of Fiji. This was a part of UNA Fiji’s bi-annual community impact project through BDTP 2021 in partnership with the Ministry of Forests, Fiji. and the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF).

Sai Prema Foundation Clean Up (2020)
As part of Fiji's 50th anniversary of Independence, UNA Fiji volunteered to assist in cleaning and setting up the Sai Prema Foundation Fiji, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Heart Hospital, before its grand opening to the public the following year.

These are some of the Many Committee Impact Projects that UNA Fiji has done. Explore our Basic Diplomacy Training Programme Page for more.

We were founded in October 2014.