Melanesia

Former journalist from Timaru, Murray Benbow spent two years working as a VSA Country Programme Manager in Bougainville between 2001-2002 following the end of a bitter civil war that divided communities and destroyed all but the most basic of infrastructure. He returned to take up the role again in 2010. Read More

One of the most ingenious “home signs” that volunteer Jacqui Iseli has encountered since she began working as a Sign Language Adviser in Vanuatu is the one for “month” devised by a deaf man on the island of Malekula. Read More

The village of Kia, a 24-hour boat ride from Honiara, is an idyllic base for helping to save the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle. Read More

VSA’s programme in the Solomon Islands is one of its most diverse, both in terms of the types of assignments available and their geographic spread. As Adele Broadbent discovers, the experiences you can have there are just as diverse. Read More

Lindsay Riddick is accompanying his VSA volunteer wife Norah Riddick while she is on assignment in Bougainville. In the 12 months since arriving, he’s been an extra on a movie set, a general handyman, amateur photographer and judged a local culture competition. Read More

Returning VSA volunteer Sara McBride offers her 10 personal reasons to volunteer in the Solomon Islands.  Read More

Self-confessed fashionista Sara McBride never particularly considered herself ‘volunteer material’. But, like many other ‘non-volunteers’ before her, the flat white drinking, communication girl from Christchurch had the time of her life volunteering for VSA in the Solomon Islands.  And somewhere along the way, she fell in love with this 992... Read More

What happens when you mix a Kiwi, an Aussie, a tropical island and a distinct lack of netball? Kokopo’s first Netball Gala and mini-tournament that’s what. Read More

Auckland-based Victoria Degerman has spent the past 21 months living in Bougainville and working as a School Counsellor on VSA assignment at Hutjena Secondary School. With just a few months of her assignment remaining, she reflects back on her achievements and life on this lush and generous island. Read More

Former UniVol Alice Keeling, who spent 10 months last year working as a Special Needs Programme Assistant with Callan Services for Persons with Disabilities in Papua New Guinea, celebrates some of the new words she’s added to her vocabulary. Read More