Vanuatu has a society that stuns the senses of the Western world. The first time traveler here, walking in with eyes wide open, will find a society that is the anti-thesis of everything that we know as modern, as only the tropical islands can be.
The rhythm of the beat of South Pacific island life greets you on arrival. At the airport, during the day or on the midnight flight, a string band bursts into life. Warm welcoming smiles and brightly colored shirts welcome young and old. As the cruise ships dock the throngs of locals playing their unique music and plying their wares, adds vibrancy to the tropical air.
These people are special - quietly spoken and friendly. Your arrival is processed by a custom official in a voice barely above a whisper. The taxi drivers, with years of contact with travelers, are a little more gregarious. The streets abound with warm greetings, smiles and handshakes, but only a few loud voices are heard.
Things however, are beginning to change. Young teenagers, influenced by DVDs and TV, begin to dance to a different tune. Teenagers are seen walking the streets, clutching their newly acquired, special introductory priced, mobile phone.
Most of the village Ni-Vanuatu people go everywhere by foot. Bare feet take these people deep on the forest footpaths, across the coral beaches and along the paved roadways. These are silent feet. Every day for generations their feet have propelled these people over long distances.
Travel is mostly undertaken by foot. Far from the villages, deep in the rural areas, family groups walk each day to source their food supply at the remote hilltop gardens. Weekend visits to family and church involve treks over long distances.
Their lives are not bound by the ticking of a clock. Very few Ni-Vanuatu people are seen to wear a wrist watch. "When you get there" is their sense of time. Life is not bound by the stress of time. Their way of life has much to teach us.
Attracting someone's attention across a considerable distance requires a short, sharp "psst" to break the silence. Young males gather under the banyan tree to share news, discuss music and occasionally burst into peels of raucous laughter. The young girls giggle, like young girls all over the world, while nurturing their siblings or standing over the cooking pots. Peace and quiet returns to village life.
Family and relationships are more important to these communities, far above the need for possessions. Children are brought up by the extended family. The elderly live within the family group. The village chief is paramount.
Chiefly law settles family differences, takes care of misdemeanors, and more serious crimes are adjudicated outside the criminal system. Time like the tide, relentlessly pushes in on these communities as the teenagers try to imitate the ways of the Western world.
Whether continuing to live on their isolated island homes, or having moved to the capital, Port Vila, the songs of community's live on for the young. Identification of island cultural heritage can be seen as men proudly tell visitors that they are "Man Tanna" or "Man Ambryn". Respect for elders is critical. Island communities gather in distinct parts of town and are very supportive of their own people. The community takes care of the youth that drift to town for education or employment. The Ni-Vanuatu community responds to their home islanders needs after a natural hazard wrecks havoc. They provide assistance of food and basic necessities.
In 2008, Vanuatu will hold its 8 th election since independence in 1980. As Vanuatu moves into the 21 st century, the custom ways and economy of generations is being threatened. Western ways, approaches to law and order, business and civil society, are taking over.
To progress in the 21 st century, this Lesser Developed Country, has acknowledged that education is needed by the next generation. Mothers, like mothers all over the world, are aware of the need for the next generation to be well-educated. Children have dreams to be fulfilled they want to become a doctor, a nurse, a teacher.
Education is not free in Vanuatu . The government in 2007 admitted that it was unable to adequately resource education. Living in a no-cash economy' the islanders are unable to pay the school fees.
The appalling consequences of this are:
only 55.8% of Vanuatu kids will get to grade 6;
of those only 18.2% will go to high school ;
26% will never go to school at all.
YouMe Support Foundation, a Child Trust Fund, is dedicated to give these children a high school education - helping to bridge the gap between custom ways and economic, western developments.
The children from these isolated island communities need urgent assistance to come to come to terms with modern living. You can be part of this exciting project and help make a difference in their lives.
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