Back to page

Nelson and Heidi’s Panita (Tongoa Island Vanuatu) Community Post Cyclone JUDY & KEVIN Appeal

  • Update on Cyclone relief after our trip home over the summer

      3 February 2024
    Main image

    Happy New Year! We wanted to update you all post our 6 week trip home to our Village! We had an amazing time spending quality time with all of our family. We are pleased to report the Village and Island has recovered well after 4 cyclones in 2023. Collectively we decided the priority is to save the village and the petrol station from further damage & destruction caused by flash flooding. For us to achieve this we have used all funds donated to purchase as much as the funds would allow, Gabion Baskets. We purchased these when we arrived back on the mainland and have shipped to the island. A gabion is a type of wired basket filled with various rocks or soil that helps prevent erosion, retain a slope, or provide a landscape element. We intend to use these to construct a defense wall that will prevent further flooding and erosion to the village road and ultimately save the petrol station. Prior to us leaving, the village council organised a small ceremony to thank us and to thank all of you who kindly donated. And so on behalf of all of the Panita Village people....Thank you very much.

    We have included some photos from our trip and where the Gabion Baskets will be constructed.

    We will update you again at a later stage with the progress.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Thank you

      16 December 2023

    Thank you so very much for your kind and generous donations. We head to Vanuatu tomorrow and look forward to seeing the village first hand. We will update you over the next few weeks.

    Merry Christmas!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Village Update

      25 March 2023
    Main image

    Thank you again for your kind donations.

    We have now received a few images of the damage caused by the cyclones around our village - Panita Village on Tongoa Island, Vanuatu.

    This is one of the many bush kitchens destroyed by both cyclones.

    We have just sent some funds over this weekend to be used for the repair of our mum's fence, this will protect what little is left of her garden from roaming animals.

    Help from the government is slowly trickling in to help with the immediate aid of food, and we are waiting to see what further need is required. We want to have a clear understanding of where the funds we raise will make the greatest impact in their recovery.

    We will keep you posted and as we can only upload one image at a time I will try and add the other images to some sort of gallery.

    Please feel free to pass on to your friends and family.

    Thank you again, we are very grateful.

    Kind regards Heidi and Nelson xx

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Finally got through

      12 March 2023

    Nelson was able to get through to his brother located in our village on Tongoa Island - woohoo!

    It appears that most of the houses that were rebuilt after Cyclone Pam in 2015 were able to withstand the two recent cyclones.

    A special thank you to those that donated during our Cyclone Pam Appeal in 2015. That vastly improved the resilience of our village buildings.

    However, the food gardens have almost all been destroyed. There seems to be a drought on at the moment, which has turned all the vegetation brown and root crops rotting!

    We are looking at what additional support is required other than food support for the village community which at this time is the greatest need.

    Thank you again for your heartfelt support. Please share where you can.

    Much appreciated xx

    PS we are still waiting images

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment