Help schools & hospitals in Vanuatu
Donation protected
One and a half years after Cyclone Pam help is still urgently needed in Vanuatu. The Category Five cyclone was one of the worst storms to ever hit the region. It is estimated that 166,000 people have been affected, and between 50-90% of infrastructure destroyed. International aid left long ago and while the people of Vanuatu are slowly rebuilding their lives the ones living on distant islands still struggle. Especially children are disadvantaged; their school buildings have been destroyed and where a building survived poor light conditions adversely hinder their ability to gain an education. In other cases boarding schools operate generators for a few hours a day, using up to 65L/d with paying over $2 a litre. As a result there is no money left for stocking the library, purchasing books or other school material.
This is where SEIA has stepped in: In February this year SEIA volunteers installed donated solar equipment and lights on 3 schools on the island of Tongoa, a 9 hour boat ride from the main island, and trained locals in understanding and maintaining the system. This now allows children not only to see what's written on the blackboard during day (shutters darken the room to cut out the excessive heat) but they can now also get after dark help from teachers at the school. See our story at http://www.seia.org.au/index.php/vanuatu
What next? Our next project is on the island of Ambae, also a 9 hour boat ride from the nearest bigger island. We have received donations from manufacturers to install a solar system on a school on Ambae, all goods have been exported and transported to Ambae and are now waiting for our arrival, scheduled for early November.
This is the point where we now need help.
A large crew of volunteers is required to not only build a ground mounted frame and install the solar system but also to undertake a large amount of additional electrical work to ensure safety and adhere to Australian standards.
We must raise $10,000 in cash to purchase the small bits of hardware for completing the system and render the premises safe, pay for the transport of volunteers and hardware from the island of Santo to Ambae (volunteers pay their own way to Santo and back), purchase and stock food for 10 people for 7 days, pay a contribution to accommodation at the school, transport picking up volunteers from the airport, getting to the wharf, etc.
The people of Vanuatu are so grateful and have no expectations, there is no envy when one school has been helped, they are just happy for this school that has been lucky to now have power. A truly humbling experience.
This is where SEIA has stepped in: In February this year SEIA volunteers installed donated solar equipment and lights on 3 schools on the island of Tongoa, a 9 hour boat ride from the main island, and trained locals in understanding and maintaining the system. This now allows children not only to see what's written on the blackboard during day (shutters darken the room to cut out the excessive heat) but they can now also get after dark help from teachers at the school. See our story at http://www.seia.org.au/index.php/vanuatu
What next? Our next project is on the island of Ambae, also a 9 hour boat ride from the nearest bigger island. We have received donations from manufacturers to install a solar system on a school on Ambae, all goods have been exported and transported to Ambae and are now waiting for our arrival, scheduled for early November.
This is the point where we now need help.
A large crew of volunteers is required to not only build a ground mounted frame and install the solar system but also to undertake a large amount of additional electrical work to ensure safety and adhere to Australian standards.
We must raise $10,000 in cash to purchase the small bits of hardware for completing the system and render the premises safe, pay for the transport of volunteers and hardware from the island of Santo to Ambae (volunteers pay their own way to Santo and back), purchase and stock food for 10 people for 7 days, pay a contribution to accommodation at the school, transport picking up volunteers from the airport, getting to the wharf, etc.
The people of Vanuatu are so grateful and have no expectations, there is no envy when one school has been helped, they are just happy for this school that has been lucky to now have power. A truly humbling experience.
Organizer
Diana Pook
Organizer
Pokeno, NZ