Diane Thorne-George – VSA Country Programme Manager in Vanuatu

Our strategy in Vanuatu

“VSA assignments are always based on what local people have identified as priorities, with our volunteers working alongside in support to achieve the goals they have set themselves.”

Supporting geographically-isolated communities

Most of the population in Vanuatu is geographically isolated and opportunities for training can be severely limited.  Our priority has been to support organisations committed to reaching those that have low access to opportunity.

This has not always meant travelling or being based in isolated areas. For example, we have volunteers at work with the Vanuatu NGO, Wan Smolbag Theatre, working as graphic designers/desk top publishers to assist local staff in producing resources that are distributed throughout the entire country.

We ‘cluster’ assignments by placing a number of volunteers with one partner organisation but in different provinces. Vanuatu has six provinces, each with its own provincial government. With poor infrastructure, high transport costs and the isolation of the outer islands, placing volunteers in provincial centres helps to provide a more equal geographic spread of support. Volunteers working with VEJA and the Department of Tourism are working in this way.

Diane’s view on long-term successful partnerships in Vanuatu

VEJA (the Vanuatu Early Childhood Association)

“Our work with VEJA is a good example of VSA’s long term engagement with an organisation, where volunteers have been assigned according to the changing requirements of that organisation. VSA’s relationship with VEJA began 11 years ago in 1999 when I was on assignment with them as a Preschool Teacher Trainer.

“Our support has shifted from rural preschool development, to the specific needs of urban-based centres, transitioning to school programmes, policy development and, most recently, the development of Early Learning Development Standards.

“VSA volunteers have been able to act as a scaffold as local staff grow into the positions and responsibilities required of them and stand on their own.”

“Recently the Port Vila Branch has decided they do not need a volunteer as a replacement for the current volunteer who is due to complete her assignment later this year. This is a positive response that demonstrates the increasing competency and confidence of teachers to work unassisted.”

VSA’s future direction in Vanuatu

Re-establishing the VSA office in Santo is part of our strategy to shift geographical focus to the northern provinces and within the reach of the more isolated regions where over half of the population is based. VSA is the only volunteer development agency that has its office based outside of Port Vila.

The Vanuatu Government’s priority is to create an environment for private-sector-led economic growth, including activities in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism. Consequently, our work will be increasingly economic in essence. We have already begun placing volunteers within the Provincial Offices of the Department of Tourism to assist with business development training and the provision of business advisory services for Ni-Vanuatu engaged in the tourism industry.

Education will remain part of the programme with continued support to early childhood education through VEJA.