kids in Deadly Conflict with Custom Living and the 21st Century

Vanuatu as a Lesser Developed Country is struggling to comply to the ways of the 21st century. But this has created a death struggle between the old and the new . Vanuatu has been based on the the old chieflysystem where the direction of the villagers ' ways. Behaviour and growth was controlled by the community chief. Independence in 1980 saw in a parliamentary representative democratic republic that brought western ways to government and the organisational structures, such as the law system, education and health.

The consequence has been a way of life that is caught in no-man's land. The power of the chiefs is changed by the democratic processes. Meanwhile the democratic processes struggles to acquire acceptance and to be implemented. The vacuum is as much about education as these processes, for the mass of people to understand the change. The new generation is trapped in the middle.

Schooling is not free. Education is poorly funded with a mere 1% of GDP. There are so few resources that the schools outside of the two main population areas lack trained teachers, books and paper, pens and pencils. Schooling, limited though it is, is available across the archipelago to grade 6.

To continueto high school requires the payment of fees. Money is hard to find in the cashless society of the outer, remote islands, of Vanuatu. A place where the children never eat ice-cream; watch TV; or ride in a car. Or have the freedom of turning a light off at night. Beds are a luxury, as they sleep on mats on the groung. The evening meal is cooked over an open fire. It is a society where the basic needs are met by the local village garden. Providing a cyclone has not been through and swept everything away.

Grade1 to 6 fees can be paid in custom money such as: woven mats, shells, firewood, kava, pig's tusks. High school requires vatu notes - real money. Money needed to pay the schooling, uniforms, accommodation, travel across the seas.

The charity YouMe Support Foundation based in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, has used its connections with Seachange Lodge to provide support to these remote islands. Since 2004 guests at the small resort havecontributed to the boxes of educational supplies sent north. The owners, Rick and Wendy Tendys, set aside 10% of earnings to purchase items asked for by the Mota Lava villagers. In 2008 the charitable fund along with winaresort.com is offeringSeachange Lodge. You could own your own private holiday home plus six holiday units, in a world first, as well as helping these kids gain a high school education. Fundsare placed in Trust for the ongoing distribution of non-repayable educational grants, for the kids from the northern islands to go to high school.

Throughout the 21st century the educational level of Vanuatu can be raised. Aid donors, charities and NGOs are getting behind the friendly, smiling people, to do what the government is unable to do.The hope of the nation lies in the education of the next generation of would-be leaders. Only education can lead this nation out of the war zone created between custom living and the 21st century.

You can help thesekids. You can become a Friend Educating Kids. Take 10 minutes out to look to see how you can make a difference. And it might even change your own life.

Dr Wendy and her husband Richard are the Founder of YouMe Support Foundation, charity . Over the past four years they and their guests have provided desperately needed teacher's resources and school supplies to remote island communities in the far north of Vanuatu through Seachange Lodge,Seachange Lodge
YouMe Support Foundation in partner ship with Win a Resort is giving away Seachange Lodge on the Internet. All funds are placed into a Trust Fund to provide education for children who will never go to high school without outside assistance.
You can assist by making a donation to the children by going to YouMe Support Foundation or Win a Resort.