New Zealand Children's Health & Education Trust has been working in Vanuatu since 2000.
Vanuatu is one of the closest Island Nation to New Zealand and one of the most impoverished. New Zealand Children's Trust assist with programmes initiated and supported by the local communities to improve the health, education and transport systems of the remote islands of the Republic of Vanuatu.
Statement from Liane Farry founding Trustee of New Zealand Children’s Health & Education Trust:
In my experience the whole concept of western aid as we know it today is a failed concept, by this I mean the handing out of money and possessions. It is a far better concept to ask the peoples what they required to improve their lives, then put those requests into action, always continuing to be guided by the peoples themselves.
I have often been asked by people what mistakes have been made in the field of aid and my reply is and has always been; "never go into a community and just with your eyes presume to know what they need or what they will want. Instead get to know the people, sit with them and if possible live with them, ask them how your organisation can assist them.
If a person is poor it is because of lack of opportunity not because of ignorance. If that person does not speak English it does not mean they are ignorant it just means they do not speak English and probably speak five other languages.
These are judgment mistakes often made by people coming from the western societies.
Therefore New Zealand Children’s Health & Education Trust try to give opportunities to remote impoverished communities by assisting with project and programmes initiated and supported by local communities helping them to reach goals in a way that best serves their communities.
We support our commitment by insuring:
- All donations go directly to the local community.
- We have no administration costs.
- All workers are volunteers often paying for the privilege.
- All project and programmes are based around sustainability.
- All project and programmes start with local community initiatives.
