Pacific Pathways
Our Mission
Empowering education in Pacific nations through the provision of education resources and support from New Zealand schools, businesses and organizations
Purpose
Pacific Pathways believes that all children, regardless of their circumstances deserve access to a quality education so they can realise their full potential.
Empowering education in Pacific nations through the provision of education resources and support from New Zealand schools, businesses and organizations
Purpose
Pacific Pathways believes that all children, regardless of their circumstances deserve access to a quality education so they can realise their full potential.
Our Story
Sue and David Mitchell are seasoned volunteers, who fell in love with Vanuatu when they visited for the first time in 1997. The Mitchell's have returned to Vanuatu several times since, including a stint building a school for six months (David is a builder and Sue became an unofficial apprentice).
The school on Aore was being relocated to the northern side of the island so it was closer to the communities and to Luganville. It would also mean the head teacher Madeline would have only 1 hour to walk to and from the school, where as in the original location it was a 2 ½ hour walk to and from school, this would be unheard of here in NZ.
This experience made us realise some of the issues the children in Vanuatu are faced with - access to schools in the remote areas and also the lack of school resources in the schools and kindergartens.
The seed was planted and Pacific Pathways was born -
While planning a return trip to Vanuatu for a Christmas break, a teacher friend offered me some books that were being discarded from the school library to give to the school on Aore island. I later learnt that schools and libraries regularly weed out books making room for new stock. I knew how valuable these resources were for schools in Vanuatu and other pacific nations as they cannot afford to buy books. I had to do something, so I started collecting books and while I was doing this I was offered desks and chairs, resources no longer required as the schools upgrade to the modern learning environment and as result of school mergers here in Christchurch.
What started as a small gesture of some books for a school has developed into a major initiative of containers of school resources. Relocating these resources with a renewed purpose helping the schools in the Pacific, which also means less goes into the land fill.
By developing partnerships with schools, kindergartens, businesses and organisatons in Christchurch, New Zealand we have facilitated the relocation of 10 shipping containers of donated school furniture and resources relocating them to Vanuatu giving them a renewed purpose helping schools and kindy's in Vanuatu.
We work closely with the Ministry of Education for the Sanma Province and the communities, the resources are distributed to schools and preschools in Sanma Province with a strong focus on the more remote and isolated communities on West Coast Santo and Big Bay Bush.
We have also shipped resources to Paama Island, Torba Province and Malampa Province.
The Outcome
Recently we met with the Provincial Education Officer and the Zone Curriculum Advisers for the Sanma Province and they all talked about the difference the resources were making –
- More desks and chairs means more children can attend school
- Table and chairs means the children at preschool will have a smooth surface to write and draw on, as most are built from traditional
materials with only a dirt floor
- Educational resources help the teachers and make their job easier & more interesting
- Schools that did not have libraries or reading rooms are now making plans to build a library or create a reading room for the books that are now available
It is humbling to be able to make a difference by relocating resources with a renewed purpose, helping those on the path less travelled.
Other Achievements
Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu March 2015
We were devastated by the destruction and damaged caused by cyclone Pam. We returned to Paama in May 2015 with 3 containers of resources, building materials and tools. After discussions with the Ministry of Education in Port Vila we decided to focus on the island of Paama realising the smaller islands needed assistance. We were based on Paama for 2 years, while we rebuilt Luvil Primary School, Luvil Kindy, Liro Kindy, Vauleli Kindy, Tavie Kindy, Luli Kindy which were all destroyed by cyclone Pam. Early Childhood does not get any funding from the government it is the responsibility of the communities to build and set up the preschools. This is difficult for remote communities financially so they tend to be built using local materials, they are not strong. It was a pleasure to be able to help these communities and to enable the pikinini to return to class within a year of cyclone Pam.
We were devastated by the destruction and damaged caused by cyclone Pam. We returned to Paama in May 2015 with 3 containers of resources, building materials and tools. After discussions with the Ministry of Education in Port Vila we decided to focus on the island of Paama realising the smaller islands needed assistance. We were based on Paama for 2 years, while we rebuilt Luvil Primary School, Luvil Kindy, Liro Kindy, Vauleli Kindy, Tavie Kindy, Luli Kindy which were all destroyed by cyclone Pam. Early Childhood does not get any funding from the government it is the responsibility of the communities to build and set up the preschools. This is difficult for remote communities financially so they tend to be built using local materials, they are not strong. It was a pleasure to be able to help these communities and to enable the pikinini to return to class within a year of cyclone Pam.
Joint Partnership Agreement
Pacific Pathways was invited to sign - the joint Partnership Arrangement between The Vanuatu Government represented by The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and Development Partners.
In 2017, David & I met with the Director General for the MOET Mr Jessie Dick to sign the MOU
In brief: The Partnership Principles and Aid Effectiveness
The participants to this arrangement are committed to applying the partnership commitments in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and Vanuatu’s National Sustainable Development Plan
The following Principles will guide the Participants relationship under this agreement:
MoET plan is that all resources are jointly coordinated and that all levels of the system are supported.
Pacific Pathways was invited to sign - the joint Partnership Arrangement between The Vanuatu Government represented by The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and Development Partners.
In 2017, David & I met with the Director General for the MOET Mr Jessie Dick to sign the MOU
In brief: The Partnership Principles and Aid Effectiveness
The participants to this arrangement are committed to applying the partnership commitments in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and Vanuatu’s National Sustainable Development Plan
The following Principles will guide the Participants relationship under this agreement:
- Vanuatu leadership and ownership
- Alignment to Vanuatu’s national goals, need, priorities, processes and systems
- Fairness, transparency, openness, accountability and mutual trust in all dealings
- Effective and efficient use of funding and resources
- Commitment to results and strengthening GoV capacity, processes and systems
- Harmonisation where possible of the Participants’ commitments and collaboration on implementation to ensure efficient and effective use and leveraging of resources to minimise the burden on MoET.
MoET plan is that all resources are jointly coordinated and that all levels of the system are supported.
Our Team
Who believed in us and have offered us support with the start up of our charitable trust. The are all Professionals who are also actively involved in their communities -
Tony Marriott- General Manager NZ, Sirva Group (NZ) LImited/Allied Pickfords
Tony Scollard - Consultant and approved preferred provider for the Ministry of Education and New Zealand School Trustees Association.
Who believed in us and have offered us support with the start up of our charitable trust. The are all Professionals who are also actively involved in their communities -
Tony Marriott- General Manager NZ, Sirva Group (NZ) LImited/Allied Pickfords
Tony Scollard - Consultant and approved preferred provider for the Ministry of Education and New Zealand School Trustees Association.