Ancient Culture And Modern Living Clash In A Death Defying Battle. - By: lyn thomas

Twenty-eight years after Vanuatu gained independence, the leaders are gearing up for the eighth national elections in September 2008. Political parties are forming, jostling for positions, distributing favors to the villages. Changing alliances and | looking for new representatives from among the communities. Ancient culture and modern living clash in death defying battle.

In this Lesser Developed Country, politics are complex. Vanuatu struggles to break away from the traditional custom links. Away from the wantok system. To fight its way through 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.

Vanuatu is the only stable nation in the South Pacific and as such a vital key to the area. 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 has more to do with the future than with the present. He urged families to send kids to school. If they don'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 giving out the education materials to the outer islands. In late 2007 the government admitted that its focus was on the two significantly populated islands, Efate and Espirito Santo. This left hundreds of other school without any help of any kind.The brilliant minds of the youth go untapped, untrained and under-utilized.

Schooling for most of these kids 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. Less than 60% of kids will finish grade 6. Less than 19% will finish high school. 26% will never see the inside of a classroom. Families in these traditional pay the fees with local produce – custom giving. Woven mats, chopped firewood, shells and pig tusks – the most valuable of all – are presented. Without help these children will never fulfill their role in the 21st century.

Their village will meander its way through the war between tradition and modern.The charity YouMe Support Foundation, based in the capital Port Vila, Vanuatu, has used its connections with Seachange Lodge to provide assistance these isolated islands. Since 2004 guests at this boutique resort have contributed boxes of educational resources to be sent north. From the start of their business the owners, Rick and Wendy, have set aside 10% of all profit 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 apartments, Seachange Lodge, in a world first.

All funds are placed in Trust for the ongoing contribution of non-repayable educational grants for the kids of the northern islands. You can help these children 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 when given the chance to read and write, to consider and debate, to think and reason, will provide a way for the country to move forward. More and more kids across Vanuatu need the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. Vanuatu has much to look forward to in the future with an educated society.

But YOU need to give Vanuatu a helping hand. Become a ‘Friend Educating Kids’, http://winaresort.com.

About the Author

Dr Wendy and her husband Richard are the {{{CEO s| Founder}}} of YouMe Support Foundation, {{{charity|supplier of non-repayable education grants}}} . Over the past four years they and their guests have provided desperately needed teacher's resources and school supplies to remote island communities in the far north of Vanuatu through Seachange Lodge,Seachange LodgeYou can assist by making a donation to children.

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