Projects in Vanuatu

Education

Project rationale

Literacy is a fundamental skill recognized by the Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) since 1990. An individual’s and community’s increased level of literacy can have a positive economic impact. The literacy project in Vanuatu aims to contribute to an equitable and quality education system while upholding MoET access, quality and management goals. Peace Corps seeks to augment the literacy programming that currently exists in Vanuatu. Literacy programs support the development of resources and strengthen the capacity of teachers and communities. Volunteers guide and support student learning, assist in the development of teaching/learning materials and resources, and increase knowledge and application of effective techniques and methods. Volunteers engage parents and community members in educational opportunities that are evidence-based and supportive.

Project goal

Students attain basic and transferable English literacy skills.

Project objectives

Teachers

• Enhance the capacity of teachers in general and with literacy teaching practices.
• Increase the capacity of teachers to use best practices in the classroom.

Students

• Increase students' foundational literacy skills.

Learning environment

• Increase the ability of families, caregivers, and community groups to support students' access to learning.
• Increase students' and teachers' access to teaching/learning materials and resources to support literacy development.

Health

Project rationale

The island nation of Vanuatu faces many unique health challenges with a young, growing population spread across many islands. The health system in Vanuatu struggles to provide access to services in remote rural communities. Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health aims to expand access to health services through a national community health system at the village level, where community health assistants (CHAs) provide basic health education and medications and make referrals for care as needed.

Access to sanitation facilities, safe water treatment and storage, and hygiene practices are key areas where Peace Corps Volunteers can contribute in Vanuatu. About 50% of households in Vanuatu have access to improved sanitation (DHS, 2013). While access to an improved water source is at about 90%, storage and treatment of that water is still a challenge, with only about 22% of households using an appropriate water treatment method. Where there is access, many community members still don’t maintain optimal hygiene practices for themselves or their children, resulting in relatively high diarrhea rates for young children within the region (about 10%). Another key health challenge in Vanuatu is nutrition, with both undernutrition and obesity on the rise. Over a quarter of children under five are stunted, while at the same time about half of women and about 35% of men are overweight or obese. Many lack the knowledge and skills to maintain a healthy diet for themselves and their young children.

Peace Corps Volunteers in Vanuatu are trained to ensure services are reaching the most vulnerable and that messages are being disseminated and understood at local levels. In working closely with CHAs at the grassroots level of the health system, Peace Corps Volunteers can provide behavior change education to households in their communities, while strengthening the capacities of their counterparts to promote health practices related to water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition. In addition to strengthening the CHAs’ health promotion programming, they can work with health committees to mobilize community members and enhance their project management skills.

Project goal

Communities in Vanuatu lead healthier lives through improved water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition practices.

Project objectives

• Increase knowledge and skills of family members to improve their water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition practices.
• Reduce barriers to healthy WASH and nutrition practices through increasing access to clean water and improved sanitation and hygiene facilities.
• Improve community health workers’ skills to deliver health education and behavior change messages
• Activate and strengthen the capacity of health and/or water committees to support health activities in their community.