Vanuatu
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Our community school project offers children not only the chance to attend school but become part of a community. The children here are taught an Australian curriculum as while as practical courses. The teachers provide an interactive student directed learning experience. Not only do the children gain the skills to continue their studies but are also provided with the tools to live in their local communities. Our community school project believes no student should be left behind.
The School's:
Motto-Pray and work
Aim-I surrender all
Theme- Being faithful until the end
Vision- Together we make it
The community school project was started in 2009 with Mr. Max and his three children. At that time the children were attending school 7km away which cost the family a lot of money and valuable time. Mr. Max believed that they needed to provide schooling closer to home for his children and the children in the area and that’s just what he did. With the help of family, land was gifted to Mr. Max to build the school. In the beginning the school was funded solely on farming. Every day Mother Jenny would take the harvested crop from the day before to Port Vila to sell in the market. Day in and day out Mother Jenny sat in the market selling fruits and vegetables for the students.
May 2015 Cyclone Pam devastated the project. The building were ripped apart and debris spread through out. The students and their families we saved by hiding in a local bus. Following Cyclone Pam the families banded together rebuilding the classrooms, kitchens, dormitories and homes.
Now in 2019 the school offers Pre K-Grade 6 with plans to expand to grade 7 in the following year. 70 students attend the community school project school with 10 boarding there during the term and 15 living on site year round with their families. The community school project is still mainly funded through market sales and small school fees. Parents who are unable to afford school fees have the opportunity to work with the project either putting in their time in the gardens or to offer items from their own gardens to be sold at the market. Together we work as a community provide a future for all the children.
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Language practice
Help with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Working with our project will give you the chance to see what day to day life is like in Vanuatu. Here you will become part of our community and our family.
We are looking for volunteers with a variety of skills.
Agriculture
-We rely on our gardens and farming to support the project. We are looking for someone with agricultural experience or interest in the field to help us with our crops. Interest in natural fertilisers and composting would be wonderful.
English Education
-We are looking for someone with an educational background, experience teaching English or even just someone who would love to share and teach their language with us. Ideally we would love to have someone stay with us for the a few months and teach classes to our students and the adults. But we are open to having someone even come in for a week and share with us.
Hospitality and Tourism
-Hospitality and tourism is a big part of business in Vanuatu. We teach hospitality in the classes teaching the children how to interact with foreigners as well a run a small restaurant on Sundays. We are also starting to run tours through the community to raise awareness of the project and help to fund the school. We are looking for volunteers who want to help us further our hospitality and tourism side of things.
Computer and multimedia
-We would like to have someone who would come to record and photograph our day to day lives and tasks in the community. These photos and videos can be used for tourism and bring awareness to our project.
Other skills we are looking for
-Child education
-Construction
-Leadership
-Chicken farming
-Spear fishing
-Sewing
-We welcome any volunteers open to share their skills and experiences with us. We believe that everyone has something to share and we would love to see what you have to offer
*️Keep in mind we are a new to running workaway through the school. We would love volunteers with drive and initiative. If you see something you’d like to work with or have something you’d love to offer the school go for it :)*️
Bislama: Fluent
English: Fluent
All meals are provided and eaten together in the community. We are able to work with dietary restrictions we may just need you to teach us what you can and can't eat.
You will be provided with your own room. The project runs off rainwater so the bathroom will be a shared outhouse and the shower is a private room where you will wash yourself with warmed water.
We are
-45min from Port Vila by service bus. It goes to town once in he morning and back in the evening.
-15min walk from the Ocean
-45min walk from beautiful beaches
-close to many local villages you can visit
You are welcome to come to town any day you would like. Port Vila offers many tourist attractions as well as diving and day trips to islands
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
More than two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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