07.05.2025 - Building resilience and connection in Suva through cybersecurity and compassion
Fresh from completing his Harvard degree and concluding four years at Health New Zealand’s cybersecurity programme, Daniel Jang arrived in Suva with more than technical expertise – he brought a passion for creating meaningful impact. When Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) advertised an Information Security Advisor role with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the timing couldn’t have been better. Daniel felt it was the perfect opportunity to use his skills in a meaningful way.
The sense of purpose was accompanied by a few nerves. As the first VSA volunteer in Fiji since VSA’s in-country office establishment, Daniel knew he was stepping into something new – not just for himself, but for the organisation as well. “I felt a real sense of responsibility,” he says. “I was excited, but also wondering – will I be able to make a difference here?”
His new home at the Pacific Theological College offered both comfort and challenge. His accommodation was comfortable but tucked away from the heart of campus and located next to a construction site. With limited options for transportation and no shops nearby, rainy evenings in particular could feel quite isolating. But, like many volunteers, Daniel found that resilience often grows in unexpected ways.
One of those ways came in the form of a small, gentle stray dog who began showing up near his door. She had a scarred leg and flinched at sudden movements, showing signs of a difficult past. Daniel offered her food and kindness – and in return, she stayed. Daniel named her Coco.
“She became a constant presence,” he recalls. “Waiting for me at the door, following me to the gate when I left for work. It was a simple relationship, but incredibly grounding.” Coco didn’t just ease the loneliness; she opened the door to new connections. Children living nearby would stop to play with her, creating moments of laughter and community connection that became part of Daniel’s everyday life.
Daniel pictured with Coco and some people from the local community
At PIFS, Daniel tackled the critical task of strengthening information security across the Secretariat. He methodically laid the foundations for lasting change by conducting a comprehensive security assessment, developing a five-year strategic roadmap, and creating tailored policy frameworks that aligned with PIFS’s long-term goals. But his approach went far beyond the technical. “I wanted to work alongside the team, not just hand over documents,” he explains. He created tailored training resources – including AI-powered awareness videos – and supported the team in building their own capability. The goal wasn’t just to deliver solutions, but to leave behind something sustainable.
Outside of work, Daniel made a point of getting involved in the community. Weekly futsal games at the University of the South Pacific offered both exercise and connection. Sunday services at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church became a source of reflection and grounding. He explored local destinations like Leleuvia Island and the village of Navala, and joined the PIFS staff retreat – memorable not just for the stunning Coral Coast views, but for the deeper relationships that it helped to build.
Daniel (bottom, second from right) with colleagues at PIFS after the staff retreat
Looking back, Daniel says many of his most memorable moments came not from planned outcomes, but from everyday interactions – feeding Coco, chatting with neighbours, and sharing meals. “The relationships, the sense of trust and community – those are the things that really stayed with me.”
As his time in Fiji came to an end, Daniel felt confident in the systems he’d helped put in place and the people who would carry them forward. Saying goodbye to Coco was harder – but knowing that two incoming VSA volunteers would continue to care for her brought some peace of mind. “I joked that Coco’s VSA assignment had been extended, even if mine was ending.”
Reflecting on his experience, Daniel observes that the most profound impact often happens beyond formal assignments. “When you work without expectation of reward, you find yourself empowered to give more deeply,” he says. “True impact emerges from the connections you build, not just the work you deliver. And sometimes, it’s the unexpected relationships – even with a stray dog – that leave the deepest mark.”
Daniel and Coco