YouMe Support Foundation
YouMe Support Foundation was formed in 2007 and is a registered charity in Vanautu. In partnership with Win a Resort, it provides high school education grants, to kids who will never have an education without outside assistance.
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Children in the isolated tropical islands of Vanuatu are left without a future, unable to enter the 21st Century, because many of their parents are unable to pay the school fees. They have dreams of becoming doctors, nurses, teachers and flying a plane, just like any other kids anywhere in the world. |
No Free Education In Vanuatu
In 2006 Vanuatu was named the Happiest Country on Earth on the Happy Planet Index. However, the Daily Post reported on the 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 lighting. Residents on the islands are forced to rely on ancient custom methods.”
Statistics:
Official Stats:
- 18.3% never have access to an education
- Only 55.8% of children complete year 6
- 16.8% only complete junior secondary
- 7.8% complete secondary or vocational training
- 1.3% enter tertiary education
Other facts:
- Some spasmodic education is available through volunteer organizations
- Some primary school teachers are provided by the government
- Everyone has to pay school fees
- The teachers lack resources - An exercise book is divided between several children in the outer islands
- Pencils are cut into three, with no blackboards or chalk provided
- Many parents are unable to read or write
Rick and Wendy found that helping the villagers through the Community Project by providing some essential day to day requirements, was not enough. It was like feeding a black hole. There was never enough money to meet the needs. It needed a lot more.
After speaking with government ministers, school teachers and parents, Rick and Wendy knew there was a desperate need to help educate the next generation. Dedicated, high achieving students who are hungry for more education, but in desperate need of financial assitance.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," Nelson Mandela said. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, declared that every child has the right to have access to an education.....taking into account the particular needs of developing countries, (such as Vanautu).
High School Education Grant
The first student entered the programme in January 2009, as was promised as far back as May 2008. More kids are anxiously waiting to hear if they too will be given a grant. They don't want to spend the rest of their life just sitting under a coconut tree, because their parents couldn't afford to educate them.
Desperate mothers (many unable to read or write themselves), plead with politicians at election time: "I will vote for you if you will educate my child." One politician reported that his wife and his income is badly taxed in trying to help as many kids as they can.
Only education will help the Lesser Developed Countries break through the Chiefly system and the 'wan-tok' system (jobs only for the families and friends of influential people).
YouMe Support Foundation is giving the lesser privileged kids a chance.
These kids' dreams will never be realized without YOUR help.
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YouMe Support Foundation, a charity founded and registered in Vanuatu.