Hurricane Pam Relief for Vanuatu
Donation protected
On Thursday night March 12 the Republic of Vanuatu was directly hit by a category 5 hurricane. The strength of this storm was greater than Hurricane Katrina with winds topping 165 mph. The scene on the ground is bleak and the people there are struggling. The damage is devastating and it will take an international effort for Vanuatu to achieve any sort of recovery. They need help in many ways and we would like to provide it.
In 1995 to 1998 Jason was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu serving at Malapoa college in Port Vila which was directly hit by Cyclone Pam. Jason would like to go back and spend a week helping the school to rebuild. They need help repairing, teaching, administrative help, and help with student's well being. It is a boarding school with over 400 students living on campus which means these young people are away from their families and the staff is small.
Mere is from Vanuatu and grew up there. Her entire family is there and she is anxious not only for her family but also for the community there. Since 2013 Mere has started a non profit organization named Melanesian Women Today which is aimed at helping women and children in Vanuatu. There is a women's market in the middle of town that provided income for roughly 20 families and it has been completely destroyed. There is also a literacy project aimed at teaching mothers to read which she and a Peace Corps volunteer started in the village of Eratap. She would like to go help them recover as well.
Our only chance to go and help would be during our local school's spring break which is March 27 to April 5. This is very short notice but this was also not something anyone planned for. We feel strongly that we have a lot to give and could help best by being there.
We are asking for financial support to pay for airfare and lodging to be able to physically travel to Vanuatu and give of ourselves. Any funds raised above and beyond will be used to purchase supplies for children like diapers, baby supplies, and clothing along with help for widows and elderly citizens who also need assistance in the Beverly Hills area of Port Vila where roughly two thousand families live.
The first photo below is Mere with a group of women she took to visit the Parliment house in June 2014. This was part of a women's leadership conference she helped run. The bottom photo is Jason with his Malapoa College students in 1997.
In 1995 to 1998 Jason was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu serving at Malapoa college in Port Vila which was directly hit by Cyclone Pam. Jason would like to go back and spend a week helping the school to rebuild. They need help repairing, teaching, administrative help, and help with student's well being. It is a boarding school with over 400 students living on campus which means these young people are away from their families and the staff is small.
Mere is from Vanuatu and grew up there. Her entire family is there and she is anxious not only for her family but also for the community there. Since 2013 Mere has started a non profit organization named Melanesian Women Today which is aimed at helping women and children in Vanuatu. There is a women's market in the middle of town that provided income for roughly 20 families and it has been completely destroyed. There is also a literacy project aimed at teaching mothers to read which she and a Peace Corps volunteer started in the village of Eratap. She would like to go help them recover as well.
Our only chance to go and help would be during our local school's spring break which is March 27 to April 5. This is very short notice but this was also not something anyone planned for. We feel strongly that we have a lot to give and could help best by being there.
We are asking for financial support to pay for airfare and lodging to be able to physically travel to Vanuatu and give of ourselves. Any funds raised above and beyond will be used to purchase supplies for children like diapers, baby supplies, and clothing along with help for widows and elderly citizens who also need assistance in the Beverly Hills area of Port Vila where roughly two thousand families live.
The first photo below is Mere with a group of women she took to visit the Parliment house in June 2014. This was part of a women's leadership conference she helped run. The bottom photo is Jason with his Malapoa College students in 1997.
Organizer
Mere Sovick
Organizer
Bainbridge Island, WA