About SCF
In the mid-1980s, Ken and Donna Barasch visited Fiji for the first time. They fell in love with this country of over 300 islands in the South Pacific, is one of the most unspoiled places on earth. It has an abundance of pristine reefs, white sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, magnificent rain forests and over 800,000 incredibly friendly, giving, and fun loving Fijians.
But they soon learned that everything is not perfect in this paradise.
Modern world medical, dental care and education are virtually non-existent, and where they are available, they are prohibitively expensive. Cyclones, which batter the country for several months each year, cause millions of dollars in damage. Fijian people, historically have no outside support beyond their subsistence standard of living. And with hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting, it’s imperative that programs be implemented to preserve the environment and culture.
From the early 1990s through early 2000s, Ken and Donna, and a few other dedicated individuals tried to remedy these problems in various areas of Fiji, and in early 2003, they formed Savusavu Community Foundation to provide healthcare, education, community, environmental, disaster relief and cultural preservation support to the people around Savusavu, the main town on Fiji’s second largest island of Vanua Levu, as well as throughout the entire country of Fiji.
Board of Directors
The Savusavu Community Foundation Board of Directors consists of Ken Barasch, Donna Barasch, Alan Barasch and Greg Taylor.
Order of Fiji
Ken received the order of Fiji in October 2015 from His Excellency Sir Ratu Epeli Nailatijau, the President of Fiji for his 25 years of meritorious charitable work on behalf of the country of Fiji. Ken established Savusavu Community Foundation, one of Fiji’s largest non-profit organizations to provide healthcare, education, environmnetal, cultural preservation and community support for thousands of people in Savusavu and hundreds of thousands throughout Fiji. He also assisted in the establishment and operation of Yasawa Community Foundation, and various other healthcare foundations helping Fiji.Jean Michel Cousteau Resort
The award-wining Jean Michel Cousteau Resort, in Savusavu on the island of Vanua Levu, has assisted SCF since 2001, even before we formally incorporated in 2003. The resort provides five-star quality, while maintaining the highest standards of environmental preservation and sustainability. A big vinaka vakalevu to JMC and their staff for providing much of our boots on the ground for SCF’s local projects. Our thanks also go out to JMC guests who routinely contribute cash donations to SCF projects.
Direct Relief
We are most grateful to our partners from around the world who contribute to our programs, especially Direct Relief. Nongovernmental, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit, Direct Relief provides assistance to people and communities throughout the United States and in 80 countries throughout the world, without regard to politics, religious beliefs, or ethnic identities.
Direct Relief’s assistance programs focus on maternal and child health, the prevention and treatment of disease, and emergency preparedness and response, and are tailored to the particular circumstances and needs of the world’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations. Since SCF’s inception in 2003, Direct Relief has been our largest and most reliable provider of meds and hospital equipment and supplies on a regular basis as well as meeting emergency needs.