Youme Support - Student Programme
YouMe Support Foundation's goal, in partnership with winaresort.com, is to raise sufficient funds each year, to put as many students as funds permit, through high school and further education, in a self-sustaining programme, in the tiny tropical island nation of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific.
Particularly in developing nations, educating the next generation is vital, as many world leaders have recognized. YouMe Support Foundation and Win A Resort are not able to heal the world, but they can do their part in their corner of the world.
This is not about money, it's about fulfilling dreams.
So why help these kids?
It is estimated that 72 million children throughout the world do not have access to education. There is no free education in Vanuatu.
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First Lady Michelle Obama was moved to tears as she urged a group of schoolgirls, in London, to be confident about their future success. Michelle Obama is living proof of what she believes: "Heedless of colour or background, everyone has the right to fulfill their dreams." |
Nelson Mandela said "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". You may not want to change the whole world, but you can make a real difference in the lives of some high achieving students in Vanuatu.
The United Nations agreed that every child has the right to have access to education. Only two nations did not ratify this recommendation. We can't heal the world, but we can make a difference in our small corner of it.
Our First Student
The first student entered the YouMe Suppport Foundation programme in January 2009, as was promised as far back as May 2008. It was good to have only one student to work with in the beginning, to find out all the things needed to support a child in high school, in a country where there is no government support.
It was not just a matter of paying school fees. YouMe Support Foundation found it was important to take care of the student in a holistic manner, from the pair of shoes they wear to if they have sufficient light to do their homework at night. (Firelight only is not sufficient to be able to do homework in).
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Maimona, our first student entered the program in January 2009, as reported in the Independent Newspaper in Vanuatu. She is doing well at school and was really anxious that we would continue our support. |  |
Maimona is the second daughter of a four child family. Her brother goes to high school, simply because he is the only male in the family.
Maimona's 17 year old sister sits at home, with no qualifications, no prospect of a job and no future. There was no money to send her to high school and peer pressure stops her from returning to school. With not having completed her schooling, it is difficult for her to get into any of the post high school courses.
When we were introduced to Maimona, through her headmaster, she had been top of her class throughout primary school. She had no way of going to high school, because of a lack of funds.
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We have been delighted to be able to assist her and will see that she has the opportunity to go as far as she desires to go. YouMe Support Foundation remains faithful to the needs of the student. It's not the number of students we put through, but the quality of care each student receives. |
Other students are now being introduced to the program and being assisted to stay in school. They will not have to drop out because they have no money to pay the school fees.
Qualifications
In the tropical island nation of Vanuatu:
- 18% of children receive no ecudation at all
- 55.8% go to primary school
- 16.8% complete junior secondary
- 7.8% complete senior secondary/vocational school
- Only 1% receive tertiary education.
It was therefore necessary to choose a particular area to work in. Our interest is in picking up students who are in danger of dropping out of the education system, after having proven themselves as good students.
If they are allowed to slip away for a year or so, peer pressure stops them from continuing their education. They end up sitting under a coconut tree, with no future, just like Maimona's older sister.
Because of the huge demand for education grants, YouMe Support Foundation can only accept a student into the program by the recommendation from the school and other recognized authorities in the community.
- The student must have a good track record throughout primary school and show a genuine desire to do something with their life, that will make a difference in the community they live in.
- The parents must be in a genunine financial situation where they cannot afford to keep their high achieving child in high school.
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More students are anxiously waiting to hear if they too will get a grant. They don't want to spend the rest of their life just sitting in the village, because their parents can't afford to educate them. They want to make a difference. Your donation can help make a real difference in these lives. |
Overseas Policy
Any student requiring overseas training will be offered a grant from YouMe Support Foundation, on the condition they are prepared to be bonded back to Vanuatu for three years, upon completion of their training.
Or are prepared to pay back three years tuition fees, in order to help us put other students into the programme. YouMe Support Foundation cannot be seen to simply be a 'brain drain', to a country that really needs its educated children.
Join us in partnership now and you could be on your way to a VIP holiday on a tropical island.
Wendy is also the author of Tropic Post
YouMe Support Foundation, a Corporation founded and registered in Vanuatu .