Pacific Pathways helping with the recovery and rebuild
after tropical cyclone Harold, causes major devastation !
On Monday 6th April 2022 , TC Harold made landfall in Vanuatu causing major devastation in its path.
In the Sanma province, houses were flattened, gardens destroyed, bridges collapsed and communications were down.
Many schools lost their roofs, commuity kindy's were totally flattened.
Harold strengthened even further during the day, with winds increasing up to 270 kph and gusts peaking over 300 kph, as the weather moved southeast over the island of Pentecost hours later.
The Vanuatu Government were forced to suspend CoVid social distancing measures for evacuees.
after tropical cyclone Harold, causes major devastation !
On Monday 6th April 2022 , TC Harold made landfall in Vanuatu causing major devastation in its path.
In the Sanma province, houses were flattened, gardens destroyed, bridges collapsed and communications were down.
Many schools lost their roofs, commuity kindy's were totally flattened.
Harold strengthened even further during the day, with winds increasing up to 270 kph and gusts peaking over 300 kph, as the weather moved southeast over the island of Pentecost hours later.
The Vanuatu Government were forced to suspend CoVid social distancing measures for evacuees.
Pacific Pathways helping with the recovery and rebuild after TC Harold !
The founders of Pacific Pathways, Sue & David Mitchell, have been living in Vanuatu since cyclone Pam in 2015. When our cyclone recovery and rebuilding projects began.
We work closely with the Ministry of Education and Training and have developed strong relationships with many schools and kindy's (preschools).
TC Harold caused major damage across the island of Santo, Aore and Malo, where we are based.
When it was possible to travel, we witnessed major damage to many schools and kindy's.
In 2021 we took on two community kindy rebuild projects at:
Boshae Hareturu Kindy, Malo Island
Talvenbis Kindy, Ban Ban, Santo Island
In Vanuatu kindy's are the responsiblity of the communities, this is very difficult especially after a major event when their houses and gardens have been devastated and they are struggling to put food on the table.
With the support of our donors we were able to help rebuild these two kindy so the pikinini could return to class.
We thank our sponsors for their ongoing support.
The Ratua Foundation - Bosahe Hareturu Kindy
YachtAid Global - Talvenbis Kindy
Pacific Pathways rebuilding kindy's flattened by Cyclone Harold, April 2020
Since our involvement with the recovery and rebuild after cyclone Pam, we have learnt that kindy's do not get any government funding they are the responsibility of the community. This is often very difficult, especially for communities on the outer islands where they live a subsistence lifestyle. But in this situation, both Santo and Malo suffered major damage as the eye of cyclone Harold tracked across the islands for several hours. Our purpose is help the communities to recover and rebuild their kindy so the pikinini can rerurn to class
Talvenibis Kindy, SantoPacific Pathways, have a long association with this kindy and the couple who have set it up. We first met Betty & Peter in 2014. Pacific Pathways have helped the kindy with educational resources, tables & chairs, so the pikinini could sit at tables to learn how to write and draw. We were devastate to see Talvenbis Kindy flattened by the damage caused by TC Harold, April 2020.
But not only that, Betty's husband was in NZ for seasonal work so was not in Vanuatu to help with the damage and recovery. Then CoVid came and the Vanuatu Government shut the borders. Peter returned after the new kindy building was completed in Jan 2022. Pacific Pathways and the community are very thankful to YachtAid Global for their generous donation which enabled Pacific Pathways to rebuild this kindy. It was a pleasure to be at the school opening February 2022. |
Bosahe Hareturu Kindy, MaloPacific Pathways have a long association with Bosahe Hareturu Kindy, the kindy teacher & the community. We have helped them with resources and tables & chairs so the pikinini can sit at tables to learn how to write and draw. The oringial kindy was built by the community with local materials. the half wall of cement, sand beach & coral has no steel or reinforcement, the top of the walls are open. The roof was Natangora, held up with local timber, it was not a strong structure and did not survive with the strength of cyclone Harold.
Pacific Pathways, the famililes and the communityIt are extremely appreciative of the generous donation from the Ratua Foundation which enable us to rebuild the kindy in 2021, ready for opening for the kindy school year February 2022. |
Pacific Pathways - Kits for Kindy's
Pacific Pathways have been helping schools & kindy's (Bislama for preschool)
We continue to help community kindy's with our
'Kits for Kindy' initiative
Plastic containers filled with educational resources, toys and games donated by kindy's and supporters around New Zealand
|
2) BUILD community kindy's
We continue to help build community kindy's in Vanuatu. Kindergarten ( kindy in Bislama), preschool for years 4 & 5 are the responsibility of the community. This is often difficult financially, so most kindy's in the smaller remote communities and outer islands are made with local timbers and materials. They have a short lifespan and they do not stand up to cyclone's. Our kindy project in 2017 was on Aore Island (just off Santo) The community had actively managed to raise half the amount needed to build a kindy accordingly to the specifications of the Ministry of Education in Vanuatu. Pacific Pathways helped to raise the balance for this project. The most fun part of the build was the painting the outside of the kindy. This was done by the community and it looks great. So we could help with the rebuild and recover of Vanuatu, we returned to Vanuatu in May 2015 with 3 containers of donated educational resources as well as tools and building materials.
After meeting with the Ministry of Education of Vanuatu, Pacific Pathways decided to focus our help on Paama Island in the Malampa Province, recognising that the smaller remote islands needed help and support. It is was a very successful and rewarding two years, especially to see the pikinini (children) returning to class and enjoying their new classrooms & resources, donated by schools and kindy's in Christchurch. |
How to follow our project work in Vanuatu :
Our Newsletters
Register your interest at: sue@pacificpathways.org.nz |
Facebook
I will be keeping our Facebook page up to date as our projects evolve www.facebook.com/PacificPathwaysNZ |