From Fear To First Pint
From Fear to First Pint: Sainimili’s Journey Toward Saving Lives and Building Resilience
When Sainimili Lagilagi joined the Fiji Red Cross Society as the Climate Action Coordinator, she never imagined that part of her journey would involve rolling up her sleeve and donating blood.
For most of her life, Sainimili held firm to a belief rooted in her upbringing—that blood donation was something forbidden by her faith. It wasn’t a matter of fear, but of faith and tradition. Yet, as with many who find themselves working in humanitarian spaces, exposure to new realities can change your perspective in the most unexpected ways.
In March of this year, nearly a year into her role with the Red Cross, Sainimili did something she never thought she would: she donated blood for the very first time.
“It wasn’t easy,” she later reflected. “But learning that just one pint of my blood could help save up to three lives really changed the way I looked at things. That knowledge—so simple but so powerful—stayed with me.”
Her transformation didn’t happen overnight. It came from conversations with colleagues, from observing the lives Red Cross programs impacted, and from better understanding the science and need behind blood donations. She began to see that giving blood wasn’t just a medical act—it was an act of solidarity, humanity, and resilience.
When asked if she saw a link between her work in climate action and blood donation, Sainimili paused. At first, the two seemed unrelated. But after a moment of thought, she nodded slowly.
“It’s actually connected,” she said. “When climate events—like floods, cyclones, or heatwaves—hit, they bring injury, trauma, and sometimes even displacement. In those moments, access to healthcare becomes difficult. Hospitals can be overwhelmed. Supply chains, including for blood, can be disrupted. That’s why having a stock of donated blood is essential, just like having climate mitigation strategies in place.”
Her answer revealed a deeper truth: climate resilience isn’t just about planting trees or preparing for storms. It’s about communities being equipped to respond to emergencies of all kinds—medical, environmental, or social. And blood, in its quiet way, is part of that equation.
Today, Sainimili is not just an advocate for climate action. She’s also an advocate for giving, in every sense of the word.
Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, personal change is the first step toward broader community resilience. And that resilience, like blood, runs deep.
by Fiji Red Cross Society