Nauru is divided into fourteen districts, and Yaren is in the south-west of the island. It has the country's parliament building, its main government offices, and the Nauru International Airport — where planes land on a short runway right next to the ocean. The airport is so close to the water that arriving passengers can sometimes spot fish in the lagoon from the plane window.
The parliament of Nauru has eighteen seats and meets in a modest, modern building. Nauruan democracy means that every citizen's voice counts, and community meetings and local discussions are an important part of island life.
Yaren is home to the Civic Centre and some of Nauru's schools. Life in the district moves at a gentle pace — children walk to school, families share meals outdoors, and neighbours stop to chat. In a country this size, community is everything.