Have you heard of Vanuatu? It’s a smattering of more than 80 islands found in the South Pacific Ocean, inside an imaginary triangle formed by the Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Caledonia. Ninety percent of Ni-Van children complete primary education, but few will continue beyond this: there is meager funding, few supplies, and teachers are scarce.
In January I will be crossing the globe to work with Lattitude Global Volunteering to teach in a school in Vanuatu. I will abandon the luxuries of life here in Canada, such as hot water, showers, toilets and internet access. I will eat a basic diet of rice, root vegetables, cabbage, fruit and tinned meat. Most importantly I will take this opportunity to use my knowledge to teach, improve and expand the lives of Ni-Van children. The hope is that with a higher level of education, the children will have more opportunities as they mature.
In order to accomplish this goal, I must bring the majority of my teaching supplies with me as they simply do not have them there. I need everything from pens and pencils to Math and English exercise books. The little things are equally as important- stickers, chalk, rulers and coloured markers. Ni-Van children also enjoy volleyball and soccer, but don’t have good equipment or pumps.
I am asking the generous community here on Bowen to help me collect these items to take with me to Vanuatu. Anything- big or small- goes a long way. I will also be selling greeting cards made from my photography at the Collins Hall Craft Fair on December 13 to purchase any remaining supplies.
For more information, contact me at [email protected]
