SUPPORTING EDUCATION & HEALTH IN RURAL VANUATU
Since 2010, the Butterfly Trust has been working with people from several villages in the Maskelyne islands of Vanuatu. These are a remote group lying just off the Southeast corner of Malekula, one of the larger islands in the Vanuatu group.
Our aim, at the request of the islanders, is to assist these villages consisting of approximately 1500 people, gain better access to health and education services.
In July 2011, the Butterfly Trust signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding with both the Ministries of Education and Health in Vanuatu to provide assistance to local schools, clinics and provincial hospitals for an initial term of 5 years.
ENHANCING CHILDREN’S FUTURES THROUGH ACCESS TO BASIC EDUCATION
Supporting small village schools improve facilities are a means to a better education. Namaru Primary School has 6 classrooms. The Trust is working towards supplying solar power for each classroom. Learn more
Jack Kallan is 14 years old and wants to become a doctor one day. He was one of 28 pupils in the Year 8 class of Sangalai Centre School who received a school fee subsidy from the Butterfly Trust. Families in the Maskelynes recognise the value of a good education and struggle to find enough funds to pay the high cost of fees. The Butterfly Trust supports the entire class of primary school leavers each year so they can attend secondary school. Read more
INCOME GENERATION THROUGH VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSES
The Trust promotes the acquisition of trade and vocational skills for adults with little formal qualifications. In 2010, we supplied the Uliveo Workshop in Peskarus village with a range of tools and facilitated a practical workshop in construction skills. Builders who graduated from the Rural Training College in the Maskelynes were able to apply their workshop skills and earn an income from community development projects. Read more
In 2011, the topic was generators and solar power installations. The Trust, with the expertise of volunteer Brian Basura, successfully ran an intensive workshop at the Uliveo Builders’ Workshop in Peskarus. Representatives from each of the villages attended, gaining both theory and practical knowledge which they were able to apply immediately. Learn more
IMPROVING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE DELIVERY WITH MORE TRAINING
A shortage of trained medical personnel, ageing workforce, poor access to health services in remote villages and the high cost of training courses means that Vanuatu still lags behind in its primary health status. The Trust, with the assistance of volunteer GPs from New Zealand and Australia are looking at long term measures to strengthen health services in the Maskelynes. Read more
Our Philosophies
Pikanini blong Maskelyne
“Children from the Maskelynes”
Visit our Media page for more video footage.
ON BOARD RIREANA
Transport around Vanuatu’s 83 islands is very costly for many ni-Vans. Here, Head teacher Mr Benson Tangou and fellow teacher, Mr Ivan hitch a ride on Rireana to Port Vila to purchase supplies for the school.
We use our yacht as a base for the work of the Butterfly Trust.
Browse our Sailing Log for more.
Help with transporting donated items to the Maskelynes.
TRUST FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH AUCKLAND CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
The Trust is proud to announce its partnership with the Auckland City Football Club (ACFC). This follows a successful raffle ticket fundraiser held at ACFC’s premises during an ASB Premiership Super City derby against the Waitakere United team on February 4 2012. The Auckland City team has played against several Vanuatu teams (Tafea, Port Vila Sharks and Amicale) in the annual Oceania League since 2007. ACFC has also agreed to donate training equipment and gear to the Trust on behalf of communities in Vanuatu. Read the full story by Auckland City’s Media Manager, Gordon Glen Watson at ACFC’s official website. Visit our Trust News section for more.
2013 Programme Overview
Medical and Dental
This year the Butterfly Trust will be continuing its programme of providing doctors to south Malekula. In addition, we have two dentists and two dental therapists who are volunteering their time for two weeks in July. As in previous years, the emphasis will be on training local health workers so that a legacy of skills is left behind.
Education
The Butterfly Trust will be continuing its programme of sponsoring children from the Maskelyne Islands to secondary school. The Trust is also intending to build a solar power installation at Namaru Primary School in the Maskelyne Islands to power lights, a computer, printer and photocopier.
Strategy and Sustainability
The Butterfly Trust is very concerned to make sure that its programmes provide a ‘hand-up’ and are not a ‘hand-out’. It is equally concerned that its work is sustainable. Consequently, in 2013 the Trust is carrying out reviews of both its medical programme, and its education programme, to ensure that its work is properly focused and actually achieving what it sets out to do.
The reviews are being undertaken by two of our advisory trustees, Christine Edwards and Michael White, each of whom has a wealth of experience and knowledge in their chosen fields. Christine, who is undertaking the medical review, will be assisted by Professor Luke Larkin of the Auckland Medical School. Luke has a lot of experience working in Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Prior to coming to Auckland he was Professor of Emergency Medicine at Yale University in the United States.
