Rooted in Land: How Lakeba is Turning the Tide Against Urban Drift

Social challenges are increasingly testing the resilience of families and communities across Fiji, with human rights violations, gender inequality, and poverty remaining pressing concerns compounded by acute vulnerability to climate change. According to figures published by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, 75% of the 238,000 people living in extreme poverty are iTaukei, a disparity driven largely by rural-urban drift as families migrate in search of better economic and educational opportunities.


Lakeba Island in the Lau group has recorded notably high numbers of such urban drifts, straining local communities and draining the island of its vital youth and human resources. When families feel compelled to leave their ancestral lands due to economic pressures, environmental degradation, and limited local opportunities, the cultural and social fabric of island life is placed under severe strain.

In response to these mounting pressures, Caritas Fiji partnered with Saint Martin de Porres Parish in January 2025 to execute a transformative week-long community consultation across all eight villages of Lakeba Island. Led by the Lakeba Parish Priest and Catechist, more than 250 villagers engaged in deep group discussions utilizing a Social Analysis model to collectively identify the root causes of rural-urban drift, including teenage pregnancy, school dropouts, drug abuse, and climate impacts like coastal flooding.

Working hand-in-hand to map local capacity and resources, the community proposed and initiated practical, self-reliant actions ranging from stronger village rules and mangrove planting to better water storage. Crucially, the eight villages established dedicated Gatekeepers Committees equipped with robust safeguarding practices, while simultaneously embracing ecological innovations such as transitioning from grid electricity to solar power and utilizing weaved coconut leaves to replace disposable plates and other plastic utensils.

The fruits of this intensive grassroots engagement have already begun to manifest in the renewed vitality and self-determination of Lakeba’s people. By fostering cross-faith unity and empowering local voices to address their own systemic challenges, the island has successfully countered the pull of urban migration.

Demonstrating the tangible success of these community-led interventions, Lakeba village experienced a notable influx of new student enrollments at the beginning of 2025 as families chose to remain and build a sustainable future on their home soil. This revival proves that when local capacity is unlocked with proper pastoral and organizational support, rural communities can successfully protect their heritage and thrive. See more updates on our Facebook page.