INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD FOR MELE VANUATU

$535 donated

Given by 6 generous donors in around 4 months

Cyclone PAM, the biggest Cat 5 storm ever, caused severe damage in Devils Point, Mele Village and Mele Maat. They now need help to rebuild.

Otago

This request is to help the people of Mele, Mele Maat Villages and Devils Point Community who were hit by Super Cyclone Pam on Friday 13 March.

OUR REBUILDS ARE NOW ALL UNDERWAY OR SOME IN PLANNING

CHECK OUT OUR UPDATE PAGES.

THE KINDERGARTEN (Project 1) IS NOW COMPLETED AND HANDED BACK TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION VANUATU AND THE MELEMAAT COMMUNITY - See our updates.

SUANGO MELE PRIMARY SCHOOL REBUILD OF THE HEADMASTERS HOUSE HAS COMMENCED 29 JUNE 2015 - Project 2 is now underway and will be painted next week.

SUANGO MELE PRIMARY SCHOOL re-roofing and rebuilding of damaged buildings commence 14 August 2015 with a team of Kiwi Builders.

100 % of donations are going directly into funding here in Vanuatu.

By directly funding specific infrastructure activities through New Zealand and Australian ex-pats who work back home yet have houses in Vanuatu there is no ‘middle-man’ or overhead expense. This donation goes directly to the actual projects we have identified.

To date individuals in this community have raised over AUD/NZ12,000 which has gone to purchase 250 family sized mozzie nets, water tanks, school roofs, food and water, building supplies and fuel.

Our infrastructure rebuilding is taking shape and despite now 4 months from Cyclone PAM some communities are still under canvas or struggling to gain assistance.

Here is our story and our request to you….

Waking up after a terrifying night of jet-like wind and torrential rain to find that your neighbours no longer have a house, none of you have water or electricity and your vegetable and fruit gardens have been totally destroyed is just what happened recently throughout the Vanuatu islands.

On Friday 13 March Super Cyclone Pam hit villages across a number of islands leaving the infrastructure and the people of this small island nation devastated.

With roofing gone, water pipes broken, roads blocked, bridges down and fallen trees everywhere people need assistance to get back to their daily life where children go to school, parents go to work and there is a dry place for them all to eat and sleep.

The challenge is the local families – the ni-Vanuatu citizens don’t have the money to rebuild their nation. Insurance? Forget it. They are forced to fend for themselves.

Steph Neilson's involvement (page creator)

Being part of the Devils Point Road community - three expats (now four) have joined forces to head awareness and fundraising for this beautiful area situated in Mele Bay some 15 km from Port Vila. Steph, Helen and Robin and Marg - now continuing under SHaRM.

CHECK OUT OUR PROGRESS ON OUR UPDATE PAGES. OUR PROJECTS ARE NOW TAKING SHAPE THANKS TO ALL OUR DONORS OUR GROUP ARE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!!

This area is a very popular destination with Kiwis - diving, water sports, fishing and beautiful holiday homes. Our community group now needs your assistance to assist the 7000 residents in this area re-establish their village life quickly, kickstart the tourism along this route which needs a roading access.

Our SHaRM team all share the same passion and love for the Vanuatu people) we have joined forces to see what we could do to help given our expertise and backgrounds. While we all helped out by giving people mozzie nets, food and water we want to focus on the next step - rebuilding infrastructure so the Mums and Dads can get back to work and take care of their children.

To us this will have greater impact because it will have a long term positive effect in rebuilding the economy and society and their community.

Some of the projects we’re all now involved to complete:

- Rebuilding the Mele: Suango Mele Primary School rooms (five school rooms were totally destroyed - class for children are now rostered and in temporary tents) - Estimated cost NZD$27,000 Commenced 29th June 2015

- Suango Mele - Headmasters Rebuild - underway and due for completion in two weeks

- Suango Mele - five classrooms - due to commence on 14 August 2015

- Suango Mele Media and Library commenced now with funding from the Lodge of Discovery Port Vila

- Resourcing and provisions from North Otago Schools donated and being collated to be shipped to Port Vila shortly

- Assisting with planning and funding reconstruction for Devils Point Road given 1 km was washed away and no longer exists. A temporary fix has been undertaken by the community until funding is available to full repair the seawalls

- Rebuilding the local Mele Maat kindergarten, Commenced April 2015 - completed and now in use from 12 July 2015

- MANUA CENTRE SCHOOL - coordinating and assisting Kiwi Builders and joint funders Ratua Foundation, Sunny Coastincluding SHaRM to undertake this work in August 2015

We’re doing everything we can on the ground in Vanuatu to help these brave people rebuild but we need your financial assistance to do what needs to be done.

We also want you to travel to Vanuatu for a holiday and encourage others. This is critical as tourism is keeps the economy buoyant and so many people are employed in the industry especially within the Devils Point Community.

PLEASE DONATE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF VANUATU REBUILD - Please donate money now to help us rebuild this infrastructure of Vanuatu - your donation is very much appreciated