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.

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 travel, can have a mutually beneficial experience with the peo

ple 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.

20/08/2025

We just can’t get over how FUN this past season was! 🎉 No two days were ever the same, and that’s what made it so special. As you head into a new semester, don’t forget that learning can be an adventure. 🌺🌊✨

16/08/2025

🐚 Vorovoro Species Spotlight: Mottled Lightfoot Crab 🦀

Meet the Mottled Lightfoot Crab: a quick-footed crustacean native to the Indo-Pacific region and often spotted along the shallow, rocky coral reefs that surround Vorovoro.

These little reef dwellers are mostly herbivores, munching on algae and plant material. You can often tell the males apart from the females by their noticeably larger claws, a feature that plays a role in both defense and courtship.

Keep an eye out during low tide or among the coral crevices because you might just catch one scuttling by!

14/08/2025

There’s a song tradition on Vorovoro, and all around Fiji, that when it’s time to say goodbye, we gather, wrap our arms around new friends, and sing Isa Lei — the “saddest song in the whole world,” as Dr. Kate Thornton calls it, bidding farewell to the folks who have called Vorovoro home- no matter how short a time. 🌺🌊❤️

You come for the stunning location and education, and you leave with a softened heart, hardened feet, and a community you’ll carry with you always.

Do you remember your isa lei? 🎶

10/08/2025

Throwback to just another village evening, ending the way it always does-
with community, calm, and connection.

Wherever you are, we hope you find a moment of this kind of peace tonight, too. 💛

08/08/2025

Happy International Cat Day to the queen of the grog mat 🐾👑
Tui Mali’s cat was the unofficial mascot of our 2025 season,
popping in for surprise visits, stealing the spotlight (and belly rubs), while making herself right at home during kava nights. She may be small, but her presence is mighty. 🐱🌴

05/08/2025

If you’ve been wondering where we’ve been… just blending study abroad education with a little extra fun and sunshine✨ 🌎

03/08/2025

If you close your eyes and imagine you're back on the island, you can almost hear the coconut palms swaying gently in the breeze.🍃

Let the rhythm of the wind remind you to slow down, breathe deep, and carry a little bit of island calm into your day. 🏝️ 🧘

28/07/2025

Dressed to the nines for the lovo ( a traditional Fijian feast), commemorated by a beach photo shoot 📸🌴

We simply can't get over these stunning snapshots and smiling faces💛

25/07/2025

🌿 Vorovoro Species Spotlight: Elephant Trunkfish Sea Cucumber 🌿

One of the incredible species that calls Vorovoro home is the elephant trunkfish sea cucumber (Holothuria fuscopunctata).

Students snorkeling Vorovoro discovered one up close, where they have been placed closer to the island to support the recently reintroduced giant clam species.

By placing the sea cucumber nearby, it will play a crucial role in helping the giant clams repopulate, contributing to a healthier, more vibrant reef around Vorovoro.

As part of our study abroad program, students get hands-on experience connecting science with culture and conservation by observing these creatures' role in the ecosystem.
Stay tuned for more from our series!

23/07/2025

From waka (the dried kava root bundles) to bilo (the coconut shell cup), every step of the kava process on Vorovoro is done with intention and tradition. The roots are pounded, sifted, and mixed with water to create a drink that’s more than just a drink but a symbol of community, respect, and connection.

Sharing kava isn’t about the drink itself, but about the stories, laughter, and bonds made around the tanoa (kava bowl). 🥥

What is your favorite kava time memory?

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Vorovoro Island

Website

http://btgvorovoro.com/

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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.