Women on a mission to help Vanuatu schools

PORT VILA – A shipping container brimming with toys, books, games and stationery was donated to schools in Vanuatu, thanks to the help of two New Zealand women.

Woodville’s Joy Kopa and Palmerston North’s Pennie Smith spent two weeks in Vanuatu gifting equipment to children in need.

Kopa said the donations were needed by primary schools and kindergartens that were damaged by Cyclone Pam.

She said she regularly donates to charities and people in need but this time she wanted to see just where that charity went.

“I’m so used to just putting it in a box and waving goodbye to it. This time I just thought it would be a fulfilling experience to actually see where it ended up,” she said.

Kopa and Smith, who were both Tararua District staff members, took time off work and privately funded their gift-giving mission, alongside the Vanuatu Education Aid charity.

They had planned to visit 28 schools in two weeks, but ended up donating goods to 40 primary schools and kindergartens.

Backpacks full of frisbees, tennis balls, skipping ropes, glitter, glue-sticks, balloons and beach balls, were packed into a shipping container.

“They’re things we consider everyday items, but there, they’re a luxury,” Kopa said.

When the container was packed, they packed their own luggage with school equipment too.

“I stuffed my suitcase with cuddly toys, pens, pencils, you name it. I hardly had any clothes to wear for the two weeks.”

Kopa said many of the schools were in need of supplies and were grateful for the help.

“The kids were just gorgeous. They were very shy, but just to see those kids and see their faces light up, it was great.

“It makes us come back and think we have hardly nothing to complain about here,” she said.

While she was pleased with all the donations given to schools, Kopa said it was still “a drop in the bucket, and that’s the scary thing”.

It took a year to organise the trip and she hoped to continue sending equipment through Vanuatu Education Aid to help school children there.

The cyclone season is due begin again in November and Vanuatu was not ready, Kopa said. - Stuff