Bridge the Gap: Vorovoro Island

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Bridge the Gap: Vorovoro Island Authentic, educational cultural immersion in Fiji for university students, small groups and families.

Donate at the link below!👇
Givebutter.com/engineforvorovoro Bridge the Gap: Vorovoro (BTG) is a small, U.S.-based company that works with the Mali tribe in northern Fiji to identify sustainable and culturally sensitive ways to diversify its livelihood. BTG then seeks to pair those goals with colleges, universities and individual travelers who, through study-abroad programs and responsible group tr

avel, can have a mutually beneficial experience with the people of Vorovoro and Mali. Bridge the Gap: Vorovoro is the result of a unique longstanding friendship and partnership between our Director, Jenny Cahill and Chief Tui Mali, his family and other members of Mali district. Over the years as the Fijians shared their dreams and goals, Jenny realized these were achievable if a few progress-stalling gaps were bridged. “I came to understand clearly that with the proper investment of time, education, and training, there was no reason why this dynamic and motivated community couldn’t reach its goals,” she says of how Bridge the Gap: Vorovoro began. It was through the development of a close personal relationship, built on mutual trust and respect, that Bridge the Gap’s mission and business model were solidified, and a unique partnership was born. Bridge the Gap leverages the community’s skills, ingenuity and work ethic in strategic partnerships that support community goals. It also develops culturally rich and hugely enjoyable educational and tourism experiences focused on preserving and promoting local traditions, culture and the environment.

We're incredibly grateful for our longstanding partnership with Dr. Kate Thornton, the Director of the Office of Global ...
28/02/2025

We're incredibly grateful for our longstanding partnership with Dr. Kate Thornton, the Director of the Office of Global Education at Auburn University.

Since 2013, Kate has been bringing students to Vorovoro, creating meaningful opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and learning. Her investments in our programs and the Vorovoro Cultural Center—through financial support, dedicated time, and her invaluable skills—have helped us grow and thrive.

Beyond all her contributions, Kate’s friendship and commitment to our community have made a lasting impact. Thank you, Kate, for believing in the power of global education and for sharing this journey with us! 🌍🤝

26/02/2025

Meke is a traditional Fijian dance that brings stories to life through music, movement and rhythm 🎶

When students live and learn on Vorovoro, they learn 6 verses of a local meke from the Vorovoro community. After days of hard work, daily practice, and a lot of laughter, they proudly present it to Chief Tui Mali in a traditional ceremony.

This is just one way the Vorovoro Cultural Centre celebrates and preserves Itaukei culture, while building bridges of community and learning across cultures. 🌏❤️

In December 2024, members of the Vorovoro Mataqali (clan) gathered for a weeklong workshop to develop a strategic plan f...
24/02/2025

In December 2024, members of the Vorovoro Mataqali (clan) gathered for a weeklong workshop to develop a strategic plan for the Vorovoro Cultural Centre, facilitated by Dr. Heather Lerner of Earlham College and co-faciliated by BTG Director Jenny Cahill.

Rooted in tradition and driven by a shared vision for the future, the island came alive with discussion, collaboration, and cultural pride. From elders to youth, everyone played a role in shaping this important step forward. It was truly an incredible thing to witness.

Vinaka vakalevu to all who contributed their time, knowledge, and dedication to this transformative process. 💪🏾🌿

22/02/2025

Some places change you. Vorovoro is one of them. 🌿🌊✨

Abby F. reflects on what it feels like to live on this island—where time slows down, and life becomes about connection.

On Vorovoro, we wake with the sun, live by the tides, work together, play together, and build something bigger than ourselves. In a world that often feels too fast and disconnected, Vorovoro reminds us what life is really about.🧡 🌅

Remembering Maciu 💔Earlier this month, we lost a cherished member of our community far too soon. 💔 Maciu was an integral...
20/02/2025

Remembering Maciu 💔

Earlier this month, we lost a cherished member of our community far too soon. 💔

Maciu was an integral part of the island team during the 2019 season, a time when Vorovoro and BTG welcomed both university groups and families. He was known for his kindness, gentle spirit, and cheeky sense of humor—qualities that made him unforgettable to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Our hearts are heavy as the Vorovoro and BTG communities mourn this loss. Maciu was from Matailabasa Village on the mainland, and his family ties ran deep—he was the nephew of Skipper (wife of Bogi), the brother of Wati.

Though he is gone too soon, his warmth and laughter will always be remembered and cherished. ❤️

If you would like to make a donation directly to Maciu's family toward his funeral expenses, please send a direct message and we can help arrange that. Vinaka!

Nothing compares to taking in a Vorovoro sunset, with dear friends by our side. 🌅🌊 Every moment is a reminder that toget...
16/02/2025

Nothing compares to taking in a Vorovoro sunset, with dear friends by our side. 🌅🌊

Every moment is a reminder that together, we create something greater than ourselves. Let the sun set on today and inspire a brighter tomorrow. ✨

"Loloma"—the Fijian word for love—perfectly captures the warmth and connection we feel on the island.😍 Whether we’re wor...
14/02/2025

"Loloma"—the Fijian word for love—perfectly captures the warmth and connection we feel on the island.😍

Whether we’re working, living, or learning together, the love and friendship we share makes every moment here unforgettable. 🌺

Wishing you all a day full of ‘loloma’ and gratitude. 🙏🏽

We have BIG news! 🤩 We are SO excited to welcome LSU as our newest university partner to the BTG/Vorovoro family! 🎉Thi...
13/02/2025

We have BIG news! 🤩 We are SO excited to welcome LSU as our newest university partner to the BTG/Vorovoro family! 🎉

This summer, Professor Oliver “Ozzie” Crocco and Professor Cassie Glaspie will be co-leading an immersive study abroad experience for their students with a focus on Indigenous Leadership and Marine Invertebrates. Read more about it here! ⬇️

https://buff.ly/3Q9hARH

On Vorovoro, everyone should feel at home and comfortable 🌿🍽️ Whether you have an allergy, are gluten-free, or have othe...
11/02/2025

On Vorovoro, everyone should feel at home and comfortable 🌿🍽️

Whether you have an allergy, are gluten-free, or have other preferences, we've got you covered with delicious and locally sourced meals 🥗💚

Just let your trip advisor know beforehand, and we will happily accommodate!


09/02/2025

There's no greater privilege than slowing down and simply listening to the waves each day. 🌊

Life on the island reminds us that the best moments aren’t rushed—they’re felt. ✨

07/02/2025

"Fijians speak quietly but they laugh really loud"— Riley P. reflects on the spirit of friendship humility, and playfulness that makes life on Vorovoro so special 🇫🇯✨

On Vorovoro, studying abroad isn’t just about cultural immersion, it’s about real, meaningful relationships. Here, you don’t just learn about Fijian life—you become part of it. 💙

Night fishing like a local! Have soda bottle, line and hook - SET! 🌙🎣
03/02/2025

Night fishing like a local! Have soda bottle, line and hook - SET! 🌙🎣

Vinaka vakalevu to everyone who contributed to our fundraiser. 💙 Every donation helped The Vorovoro Cultural Centre achi...
02/02/2025

Vinaka vakalevu to everyone who contributed to our fundraiser. 💙

Every donation helped The Vorovoro Cultural Centre achieve their goals in a way that will leave a lasting impact for years to come. ✨

Your generosity is making dreams happen, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 🙏🏽

LAST CHANCE to help us set sail! ⛵️⛵️We're raising funds for a new boat engine for the Vorovoro Cultural Center—fueling ...
01/02/2025

LAST CHANCE to help us set sail! ⛵️⛵️

We're raising funds for a new boat engine for the Vorovoro Cultural Center—fueling Summer 2025 study abroad programs and give students a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience Fijian culture firsthand.

This engine isn’t just for travel; it’s for continuing the beautiful traditions, connections, and learning that make Vorovoro so special. Let’s make it happen! 🌊🇫🇯

Click ⬇️ to donate today!
https://buff.ly/3ZHQbff

Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, we have raised over 60% toward our goal of $6000 - THANK YOU! 🫶 😀 Vorovoro...
31/01/2025

Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, we have raised over 60% toward our goal of $6000 - THANK YOU! 🫶 😀

Vorovoro has long been a place where tradition and progress come together, where community thrives, and where cultural exchange is rooted in deep respect.

Now, the Vorovoro Cultural Centre is taking that vision even further, ensuring that this Fijian-led initiative continues to grow in a way that honors both heritage and future generations.

We’re in the final stretch of our fundraiser, and every contribution—big or small—makes a real impact. If you feel inspired to give, we’d be incredibly grateful. And if you’d like to share the fundraiser with others who might connect with this mission, that support means the world. ❤️

Empowering the Future While Preserving the Past

30/01/2025

1 day left folks! If you've been waiting to give, now is your time!

💙 Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Your generosity is making waves. Let’s keep paddling on!
Donate at the link: https://buff.ly/3BpNTrY

30/01/2025

‼️ The countdown is on! Only TWO days left of the fundraiser- let's give it one last push 💪

💫So many of you have already shown generous support! If you have been waiting to give NOW is your chance.

Let's make the last few days count! Every little bit helps—thank you all for being part of this journey. 🙌

Donate at Givebutter.com/engineforvorovoro

Quick Fijian lesson 🙋"Vuvale" in Fijian means "family" – a word that carries the warmth, unity, and love that binds us t...
29/01/2025

Quick Fijian lesson 🙋

"Vuvale" in Fijian means "family" – a word that carries the warmth, unity, and love that binds us together. ❤️

It’s not just about blood, but the deep connections we share in being there for one another. 🌿💫

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Videos

Meke is a traditional Fijian dance that brings stories to life through music, movement and rhythm 🎶 When students live and learn on Vorovoro, they learn 6 verses of a local meke from the Vorovoro community. After days of hard work, daily practice, and a lot of laughter, they proudly present it to Chief Tui Mali in a traditional ceremony. This is just one way the Vorovoro Cultural Centre celebrates and preserves Itaukei culture, while building bridges of community and learning across cultures. 🌏❤️ #FijianCulture #Meke #CulturalPreservation #ItaukeiTradition #CulturalExchange #VorovoroCulturalCentre

Some places change you. Vorovoro is one of them. 🌿🌊✨ Abby F. reflects on what it feels like to live on this island—where time slows down, and life becomes about connection. On Vorovoro, we wake with the sun, live by the tides, work together, play together, and build something bigger than ourselves. In a world that often feels too fast and disconnected, Vorovoro reminds us what life is really about.🧡 🌅 #VorovoroCulturalCentre #IslandLife #Community #Testimonial #ForTheBold #Vorovoro #AuburnAbroad #StudyAbroad

There's no greater privilege than slowing down and simply listening to the waves each day. 🌊 Life on the island reminds us that the best moments aren’t rushed—they’re felt. ✨ #IslandTime #SimpleJoys #Mindfulness #Vorovoro

"Fijians speak quietly but they laugh really loud"— Riley P. reflects on the spirit of friendship humility, and playfulness that makes life on Vorovoro so special 🇫🇯✨ On Vorovoro, studying abroad isn’t just about cultural immersion, it’s about real, meaningful relationships. Here, you don’t just learn about Fijian life—you become part of it. 💙 #VorovoroCulturalCentre #StudyAbroad #Fiji2025 #LaughLoudlyLiveFully

Something about Vorovoro is that almost everyone is game for a late afternoon volleyball match 🏐 It’s a great time for us to let loose, laugh, and let our competitive side come through 😉 #VorovoroCultural Centre #Volleyball #FriendlyCompetition #IslandLife

🚤🌊 Watch our story and help us power the future of Vorovoro Island! 🌊🚤 Check out the video to see how a new boat engine will make all the difference for Vorovoro! 🏝️✨ Every donation helps us strengthen community-based tourism. The fundraiser runs until the end of January, so let’s make this dream a reality together! 💙 Use the link below to donate and spread the love: https://buff.ly/3BpNTrY Every bit helps! 🌟 #SupportVorovoro #BridgeTheGap #SustainableTourism #FijiFundraiser #CulturalConnection #IslandCommunity #GiveBack

👩‍🌾 A day in the life as a Cegu Valley Farm Intern! 🌳 🐑 "My time at Cegu Valley Farm was truly unforgettable. It was filled with so much joy, laughter, and fun with people who I genuinely see as my second family. It was especially amazing to actually work with my hands instead of typing away at a computer. I learned how to live with the land and from the land as opposed to working against it" - Sarah, a former farm intern We are so excited that our proud partners at Cegu Valley Farms are continuing to host Auburn student interns this summer! 💫

🌊🚤Sending all of you Vorovoro waves 🙌🌺 The boat you're helping to make a reality is essential for bringing visitors to the island. Your donation will directly contribute to empowering the vorovoro community and preserving indigenous Fijian culture 🌴💙 Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference! Join us in making this dream a reality. 🌟Click the link in bio to donate and share the love! ❤️ #BridgeTheGap #Vorovoro #SustainableTourism #FijiFundraiser #IslandCommunity #FijiCulture #GiveBack

You'll want to watch this one with the sound on! 🎶 🤩 There's something magical about gathering on the grog mat, strumming a guitar, and singing with friends as the kava is passed. In our little village, one of the most beloved traditions is this time on the grog mat where we share stories, strengthen bonds, and laugh together. 🌅 🤝 Do you have a favorite grog mat song? #Kava #FijianTraditions #IslandVibes #VillageLife #Connection #Vorovoro #FijiCulture #GrogMat

🙌🎉As we say our “Isa Lei” to 2024 we are reminded of how blessed and special this year was. This year, Vorovoro opened back up for the first time since covid closed the island 5 years ago. The Vorovoro cultural center welcomed students, family, faculty, and some old friends made Vorovoro their temporary home.🏝️🩵 Thank you 2024 for new friends and made many lasting connections that we will treasure forever- and we are excited to do it again in 2025! #Vorovoro #2024 #IsaLei #ThankYou2024 #HappyNewYear #Memories

✨Take a deep breath, let go of the stress, and unwind. Take this moment of peace. 🌊 🌅 #Relax #FindYourCalm #Mindfulness #Vorovoro

🌍✈️ Ever wondered where Vorovoro Island is? Let us take you there! Nestled in the Macuata Province on the northern tip of Vanua Levu in Fiji, Vorovoro Island is a hidden paradise, incredibly remote and accessible only by motorized fishing boat. This summer, students have the chance to embark on an unforgettable journey to Vorovoro, immersing themselves in its natural beauty, vibrant culture, and unique experiences. Join us in Summer 2025 and discover everything Vorovoro has to offer! 🌺 #StudyAbroad2025 #VorovoroIsland #Fiji #WhereIsVorovoro #FijiIslands #ExploreFiji #GlobalLearning #TravelAndLearn #IslandAdventures #StudyInParadise

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Our Story

On a pristine 200 acre island in remote Fiji, Bridge the Gap and the chiefly family of Vorovoro Island partner to facilitate life-changing community immersion experiences that celebrate and embody the Fijian cultural cornerstones of humility, respect, kindness, and joy. The product of a friendship and working relationship that spans the last decade, BTG director Jenny Cahill and the Vorovoro chiefly family share a partnership that allows small groups to live and learn alongside the local tribe in ways that benefit visitors and Fijians alike. Our customized programs are designed to support local community development goals, while preserving and celebrating native Fijian identity, culture and environment.

Vorovoro and BTG invite you to join our inclusive community where we live and learn from one another through cultural immersion, cultural exchange, skill sharing and living island life on "island time" - where each day unveils limitless opportunities for growth and learning through connections, exploration, adventure and shared experiences. Visitors are considered an extension of the local tribal community and are welcomed to participate in truly authentic and beneficial ways. As such, we are invited to take part in aspects of Fijian life that are not typically made available to visitors to Fiji.

Bring your open mind, open heart, and a desire to understand more deeply than you ever have before how connected we all really are. Tui Mali, the tribal chief of Vorovoro, says it best: "On Vorovoro, there is no line in the sand that separates visitors and natives. We are one. On Vorovoro, 1 + 1 = 1."

Through daily island life, come to to understand more thoroughly the challenges that remote indigenous island communities face daily as a result of the world's rapidly changing climate. See and experience these challenges first hand, and participate in discussions about how each of us can live lives that support communities living in the most vulnerable regions of the world. Dive pristine and endangered Cakaulevu Reef, the 3rd longest reef in the world. Cakaulevu Reef is sacred to the indigenous people of this region and the primary source of most income and food. Custom dives, dive courses, and reef education are available, lead by an certified dive instructor from the local Fijian community.