Volunteer photos

Kelle Howson (Programme Intern) visited local business owner Kalmer Vocor in Santo during a recent visit to Vanuatu.

Kalmer Vocor with sandalwood sapplings.

Kalmer  Vocor is the owner of a local tourist accomodation business in Santo, Lonnoc bungalows. It is one of the most succesful Ni-Vanuatu run tourism businesses in the country. Our volunteers have been working with Kalmer and his staff for two years to develop and market their product, and make it more appealing to tourists. Kalmer is also chair of the SANMA bungalow association, is on three different tourism boards, and is on the boards of the Vanuatu Island Bungalow Association, the Santo Forest Plantation, the Scout Association and the AUSaid ‘TVET’ programme. He is also in the process of establishing a hospitality training school for local young people, in his backyard. Kalmer says, “In my view tourism is the best income earner for our people. And it’s working – I’ve proved that it’s working!”

Just when we thought Kalmer couldn’t possibly do anything more with his time and resources, he took us for a walk around his property, and pointed out another of his enterprises – a budding sandalwood nursery. We are sure there is no end to this man’s creativity and innovation.

Kelle Howson (Programme Intern) and Andrew Johnston (Programme Officer for Vanuatu and Solomon Islands) visited Vanuatu in May 2012. 

The research and interviews they did will form the basis of a case study – one of a series undertaken to monitor and evaluate the work of VSA's international development programmes. This year we're focussing on the work of our volunteers in tourism development in Vanuatu. The goal of this programme is to help the local people to gain ownership of the fast-growing industry and benefit from its development. The full study will be available to view later in the year.