YouMe Support Foundation
A Corporation founded and registered in Vanuatu and Delaware, USA.
Why a Foundation?
YouMe Support Foundation was formed when we discovered just how many extreme needs in the community are not being met.
- Some primary school teachers provided by the government
- No school buildings at all in some places
- No resources of any sort supplied
- Pencils cut into three to give the children something to write with
- No books to read or write on, or one exercise book between three children
- No blackboard or chalk (whiteboards just don’t exist)
- Many parents who are not able to read or write
We thought this all sounded bad enough until we discovered:
- No money available to send the children onto High School
Yet they dream of being doctors, nurses, teaches and pilots, like any other child.
Their dreams will never be realized without outside help.
Where?
Where is this place? Vanuatu, (once called the New Hebrides) an archipalego of islands just three hours flight, North-East of Sydney, Australia. A country that was made famous by A Michener with his book Tales of the South Pacific. Vanuatu was named in 2006 as the Happiest Country on Earth. However:
Daily Post reported 1st September 2007:
“Prime Minister Lini admits lack of service delivery in outer islands.
Prime Minister Ham Lini has admitted that the government has not done enough to provide service delivery to 95% of the population in the islands.
During a visit to the islands PM Lini received a lot of requests to help fund things like school buildings. Some of these requests are nothing more than Vt50,000 ($US500).
Some schools just needed maintenance, while others lacked basic school materials such as blackboard, exercise books and text books.
In some cases there is no medicine available and no fuel for lightning. Residents on the islands are forced to rely on ancient custom methods.”
A local stationary business in the capital of Vanuatu was forced to close down because the Education Department was unable to pay its bills for books it had purchased for the schools. This is the down side of a ‘tax free’ haven.
How?
As foreign investors in Vanuatu, we needed to find a way to assist these children, through an ongoing community project.
We could help them on our own, but only a limited number. We had many guests who have asked us if they could help financially with these children, but first we needed a legal entity for total transparency.
We consulted various government officials, lawyers, accountants, school teachers and other donor organizations, plus a wide range of consultants.
What?
We came up with the unique fund raising idea as our first project. Give Seachange Lodge Resort away as the first prize in a Draw.
All funds from the Draw are placed in a self-perpetuating Trust Fund and no private person or organization may benefit from them. The interest from the funds are used to give non-repayable high school education grants to high-achieving students, who show enthusiasm and promise.
When?
When students who prove themselves as high achievers, may be financed to high school and on to tertariary education. One condition - they must put something back into their home island.
Long Term?
YouMe Support Foundation is involved in a lot more than just raising money.
The community life of these children revolve around the family. To take a child from the village environment and transplant to a school, is not a light thing to do. Every aspect has been carefully considered.
YouMe Support Foundation takes the responsibility of assisting these students to self-reliance and if possible, full financial independence.
You can help make a real difference to these children
We have only one chance to do it right for these young lives.
