While news media reports have focussed on Fiji's coup and the ensuing struggle for political power, one group of Fijians has been actively engaged in strengthening democracy at the community level. The Social Education and Empowerment Programme (SEEP) was designed before last year's coup to empower local people to work together within their communities. SEEP was set up by the then Fiji Council of Churches Research Group to address some of the underlying tensions and injustices in Fijian society.

Chantelle Khan, former coordinator of SEEP, visited Aotearoa New Zealand in February to meet with Christian World Service, and the Association of Presbyterian Women and the Methodist Women's Fellowship who are helping to fund this project. According to Chantelle, the issues that were raised from the first coup in 1987 had not yet been resolved. The Rabuka government had undertaken an extensive programme of privatisation and structural adjustment that meant that ordinary people lost their jobs and livelihoods. The Labour-led coalition that came to power in May 1999 had begun to reverse some of these decisions. This support for the social sector was one of the factors that contributed to the May 19 coup.

"The need is more urgent than ever," Chantelle said. "SEEP can contribute to a genuine offer forward. It will build grassroots participation and give communities a sense of themselves."

SEEP has begun working in three distinct communities, setting up community development teams. Each team will identify key people who SEEP will train in aspects of community development in various areas, among them conflict resolution and gender analysis. Having completed this programme, the trainers will bring the communities together to discuss their common concerns and develop action plans.

Christian World Service has a long-term partnership with the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy, formerly the Fiji Council of Churches Research Group. The video, Fiji: Finding the path Forward, produced by the Research Group, and study series Make Peace are available from Christian World Service, P O Box 22 652, Christchurch or cws(at)cws.org.nz