Objective Components of Horizontal Community Interactions This Section represents the findings from a review of results for Questions 1.17-

1.18, (refer to Appendix 3).

Objective components of horizontal interactions are the actions people take to support others within the community. Communities that have strong feelings of togetherness and solidarity (subjective aspect) are more likely to volunteer some of their time as a contribution toward achieving community objectives or to give money (donations) for group activities (objective aspect of horizontal connectivity). These contributions are also indicators of social cohesion (Lev- Weisel, 2003, p. 336). This section will first consider and compare the levels of volunteerism between the settlements and later assess the levels of social giving relative to household income levels in order to determine the significance of these indicators to social cohesion within these settlements.

(a) Volunteerism

People were asked to estimate the number of days of voluntary work their household donated to each of the three prioritised groups. These results are presented in Adult Equivalent Units (AEU) to account for children and adults in a standardised way for comparative analysis between households.69 This measure will be used throughout this paper where a standardised approach is required to highlight differences between household unit sizes and settlements and is determined as follows:

AEU = (0.5 x c) + ((0.75 x a) + 0.25)

Where a = adults and c = children where children are regarded as <16 years of age. Thus an average household of 5 adults = 4 adult equivalent units (AEU) or A family of two adults with one child = 2.25 adult equivalent units (AEU) (Abbot, 2006, p. 8)

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Refer to Chapter 5, Section 5.3.2.4 the Methodological Framework for an explanation of this term.

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The following Table 7.1 below summarises the comparative results between settlements and by ethnicity in total time (AEU days/year). The percentage voluntary time spent supporting religious/faith-based groups (to total time) is provided separately to highlight what demand this group presented on peoples time in contrast to others. To determine the ethnic split the responses from both Indo-Fijians and Fijians in Nanuku were added to the relevant cohort at Caubati Topline (Indo-Fijian) or Fiji Muslim League (Fijian).

Table 7.1 Community Volunteering: Participation Levels by Settlement

Time in AEU (days/yr) Faith Related (%) Time in AEU (days/yr) Faith Related (%) Time in AEU (days/yr) Faith Related (%) Time in AEU (days/yr) Faith Related (%) 6.1 32% 9.5 22%

Volunteering within Community Groups [Measured in time (AEU days/year) and with Faith Related Contributions as (%) of that time]

54% 9.1 41% 7.4 60%

29% na na

na

60% 32%

Indo-Fijian Groups

Indigenous Fijian Groups 7.0

7.3 9.3 7.4

7.5

6.1

Overall Averages

By Ethnicity & Settlement

(listed below) (to the right)

Average for ALL Nan CCT FML

41% 32%

na

Converted to Total Average Daysper

Household per Year 20.6 24.2 22.6 14.9

Approximately 21 days per household or 7.3 AEU days work per year were contributed voluntarily per household. Of that time just under half (41%) was dedicated to religious groups. On average Indo-Fijians (with 7.5 AEU)

contributed more than Fijians (7.0 AEU) in terms of time but interestingly more of their time was apportioned to religious groups (54% compared to 29%). For Nanuku, however, there was a reverse trend in that Fijians at 9.5

AEU/household contributed more than the Indo-Fijians at 9.1 AEU/household but the latter still contributed more time toward religious groups at 41% compared to 22% for Fijians.

Other differences between settlements, Caubati Topline and Nanuku were that the highest contributors spent annually 23 days and 24 days per household respectively compared to only 15 days for Fiji Muslim League. Caubati Topline were also the highest contributors to religious groups accounting for 60% of

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total voluntary time compared to the integrated Nanuku community and Fiji Muslim League who both contributed less at 32%.

Other Groups that were well supported with voluntary time were community or neighbourhood groups at both Nanuku and Caubati Topline (23% and 25% respectively) compared to only 5% at Fiji Muslim League. Indo-Fijians overall were the largest contributors of time to community or neighbourhood groups at Nanuku making up 21% of that community total. Youth Groups were the next most supported particularly for Fiji Muslim League at 49% and Caubati Topline at 21% whereas for Nanuku the third largest recipient of voluntary time was the microfinance group at 43%.

(b) Social Giving

People were also asked to estimate the amount of money or goods in dollar terms their household donated to each of the three groups they nominated as the most important to them. Extended family social obligations such as

weddings or funerals were not included as part of this analysis. While these are important occasions and where significant monetary and material contributions are made for both ethnic groups, these events were not considered as part of this research as they occur outside the bounds of community- lead structures. The results are summarised in Table 7.2 below, alongside the actual household income per week for relativity.

Table 7.2 Social Donations: Household Levels by Settlement

Donations ($/week) Faith Related (%) Donations ($/week) Faith Related (%) Donations ($/week) Faith Related (%) Donations ($/week) Faith Related (%)

By Ethnicity & Settlement

(listed below) (to the right)

Average for ALL Nan CCT FML

73%

Indigenous Fijian Groups $ 8.73 46% $ 11.38 35% na

7.40 $

na $ 7.40 52%

Indo-Fijian Groups $ 9.36 68% $ 6.52 58% $ 10.79 na na

Overall Averages $ 9.05 58% $ 8.95 49% $ 10.79 73%

Social Obligations per Household to Community Groups [Measured as weekly donations ($/week) and with Faith Related Contributions as (%) of that donation amount]

52%

Compared to Actual Household Income

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This table shows that approximately $9 per household or 6% of the weekly income was donated, with 58% of that going to religious groups. Interestingly, Indo-Fijians contributed the most on average, but this figure was influenced by those living at Caubati Topline who donated significantly more than the average (about $11/week/household), directing 73% to religious groups and 18% to community groups. Nanuku donated on par with the average at 7% of their income, directing 49% to religious groups and 53% to community groups.

Fijians donated almost double amounts per household compared to the Indo- Fijian neighbourhood but with less money in percentage terms going to religious groups. This result was surprising. Fiji Muslim League contributed least at 5% of their income with 52% to religious groups and 41% to youth groups.

(d) Summary

It is a commonly held impression that Fijians contribute more to the wider family unit and church through social obligations than do Indo-Fijians as argued by a range of scholars such as Abbott (2006, p. 32); Devi, (2006, p. 3); Kingi, (2006, p. 14) and Narcey (2006, p. 80).70 Thus, it was expected at the start of this research that results would confirm this impression as well as quantify its relative significance. However, the opposite was found to be apparent - Indo- Fijians contributed more in time and money - in this survey of eighteen

households across three settlements. Despite this unexpected result showing Indo-Fijians contributing a greater share of time and money to social and church, it is also surprising that the level of social giving from people who are arguably of the poorer sections of society was relatively high at an average of 6% of the total weekly income. The effect of these social donations on

household incomes will be discussed further in Section 7.3.3., but for now these two aspects of horizontal interactions are highlighted as the ninth and tenth examples of potentially positive or negative impacts on community dynamics.

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Refer also to Section 4.5 for an explanation of the significance of social obligations within the context of Fijian social structures.

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