Vulnerability of children in Fiji : the impact of COVID-19

This chapter focuses on vulnerability of children specifically related to the impact of COVID-19 in Fiji. The chapter addresses two key questions. First, what makes children so vulnerable in the Fiji context? And the second key question asks; what are the social protection issues for children in Fiji? Both questions are explored in the context of COVID-19. Elements of child protection and social protection are identified and explored in the context of how children are socialized as Fijians and within the Vanua. Discussion focuses on elements that further aggravates vulnerabilities for children during the pandemic. These include the family web of relationships and networks within the Vanua can have both positive and negative impact for vulnerable children. The chapter further explores the contributions, the re-emergence and the reinforcement of the informal economy which are the basis of the forms of social protection with the Vanua. The chapter explores these informal networks that have united many communities as well as provided everyday citizens the opportunity to be of assistance to the most vulnerable in the community.