In this Lesser Developed Country, politics are complex. Vanuatu struggles to break away from the traditional links between villagers, away from the wantok system, corruption and bribery. Vanuatu is reliant on the next generation – a generation of educated youth – if it is to emerge as a nation with impact in the South Pacific.
On opening a new classroom in the far northern islands of the archipelago, the French Ambassador and head of the EU aid organization, Nicholas Berlanga said that a new classroom building or a new school has more to do with the future than with the present. He urged families to send children to school, for if they didn't they would be blocking the future of their children, their communities, their country.
This call to the families of the northern islands is about the leadership of their country. The current government is reliant on aid donors, charities and NGOs for the distribution of teaching materials and resources to the outer islands. In late 2007 the government admitted that its focus was on the two significantly populated islands, Efate and Espiritu Santo.
The brilliant minds of the youth go untapped, untrained and under-utilized. Schooling for most of these children is to a grade 6 level, with exercise books torn apart for shared writing paper, pencils snapped into three for writing, and reading books shared. Education is not free. Families in these traditional, cashless economies pay the fees with local produce – custom giving. Woven mats, chopped firewood, shells and pig tusks – the most valuable of all – are presented. Without support these kids will never fulfill their role in the 21st century. Their nation will blunder its way through the war between tradition and modern.
The charity YouMe Support Foundation based in the capital Port Vila has utilized its connections with Seachange Lodge to provide support to these isolated islands. Since 2004 guests at the small resort have contributed to the boxes of educational resources sent north. The owners, Rick and Wendy Tendys, set aside 10% of earnings to purchase items requested by the Mota Lava villagers. Now the Foundation along with winaresort.com is offering the private holiday home plus six holiday units, Seachange Lodge, in a world first. Funds will be placed in trust for the ongoing distribution of non-repayable educational grants for the kids of the northern islands. You can help these kids with the possibility of becoming the proud owner of the property in the South Pacific.
These kids are the leaders that Vanuatu needs into the 21st century. These children were given the opportunity to read and write, to consider and debate, to think and reason will provide a way for the country to go forward. More and more kids across Vanuatu need the opportunity to fulfill these goals. Vanuatu has much to look forward to in the future with an educated society.
Become a ‘Friend Educating Kids’.
Article Source: http://ArticleCrux.com -- Free Articles, Free Web Content
Dr Wendy and her husband Richard are the Founder of YouMe Support Foundation, charity, supplier of non-repayable education grants through the Child Trust Foundation. Over the past four years they and their guests have provided desperately needed school supplies and teacher's resources to remote island communities in the far north of Vanuatu through Seachange Lodge,Seachange. href="http://www.winaresort.com">.
