Early Childhood Education

Etas Village, Vanuatu

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Program Overview

Etas, in urban Port Vila is currently home to 600 people.  It is also the site for dumping of all garbage from the Port Vila municipality and surrounding villages.

This government-owned land is occupied by a diverse range of tenants from islands across Vanuatu who are seeking employment in the urban capital, Port Vila.  Homes have been built and subsistence vegetable gardens planted, however, with the increasing cost of living and the shortage of land for gardening, finding a means for survival is becoming increasingly difficult.

There are no government schools and no water available for the residents. Residents regularly search the garbage dump for food and other resources because they have no other means.

Melam Preschool is located in the village of Etas on the island of Efate in Vanuatu. A community woman recognized the need for a preschool and has started one. The preschool is completely underfunded and has very little resources. MWT recognizes this as an opportunity to step in and be a help to boost this program and impact the lives of the children. The school needs material resources and also technical expertise and could benefit from a lasting partnership with another preschool. This model will ensure dual benefits for both the children of Melam and also children from the partner school. The school year begins in February for them. This project is a community effort that involves not only Melanesian Women Today, but also several youth groups and local churches based in Vanuatu.

MWT is in the midst of working with a preschool in the United States to partner with Melam Preschool to help raise funds and obtain resources for Melam. This page will be updated when the partnership is finalized and we have a plan moving forward.

Special Thanks for this project goes to:

Legacy church members Douglas Bovu, Janet Bovu and family, Danstan Lockvaro, Kathrina Bule and Family, Judith Rau and son (Joren Bovu), Will Avlons and Family, Nancy and Family, Torika Kalman, Tasha Kalman, Kalman Norman, Champlin Tari, Aspinal Tari, Ben Bule, Jocelyn Bule, Selwyn George, Harriet Bule, Nitza George, Arnold Bani, and Kiara Bani. In Port Vila we have to thank members of the Centerville Church, Florence Bule, Kinda Kalman, Serean George, Junior Remy, James Karu, and Jewelle Maximo.