Currently, children’s reading proficiency in Vanuatu is alarmingly low, with 79 per cent of Year 4 children not reading at their grade level. The main reasons for this include language barriers, a lack of resources, remote geography, and school disruptions.
To help boost literacy outcomes for Vanuatu’s youngest children, Library for All, under leadership of the Government of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Education and Training – and with funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Global Partnership for Education – developed 59 new stories, all by Ni-Vanuatu writers and based on stories from local children.
As a result, the books reflect real life in Vanuatu – the culture, the customs, and the everyday moments that make this island nation home.
A very special delivery
With support from Save the Children Australia, Library For All distributed the books, which are published in both English and French, to every primary-school student across the country – no mean feat given some of the country’s terrain.
To ensure the books reached one particularly remote community in Sanma Province – where student Sylvie, a bright and curious eight-year-old lives – a group of young local community members traversed steep mountainous paths, rocky rivers and dense forest on horseback.
When the precious cargo finally arrived at Sylvie’s school after a 10km trek, Sylvie and around 100 children and families were waiting for them, waving excitedly on the riverbanks.
Meet Sylvie
Keen student and captain of her class, Sylvie, loves reading, writing, and exploring nature. She was very happy when the books were added to her school’s small library and when it’s hot, she enjoys reading books in the shade of her favourite tree.
“I love to read books, books about butterflies.” ~ Sylvie
Sylvie also likes books about Vanuatu because they teach her about her local culture and customs.
For children like Sylvie living in such a remote, hard-to-reach community, reading materials have been in desperately short supply, so receiving high-quality, culturally relevant books can be genuinely lifechanging.
Sylvie’s teacher, Miss Julie, also welcomed the new schoolbooks, especially as they aim to reflect real life in Vanuatu.
“I feel happy because the books improve the standard of teaching in class.” ~ Miss Julie
“They also help the students by relating to daily life here in Vanuatu.”
Another big fan is Sylvie’s mum, Caroline, who has high hopes for her daughter’s future.
“Sylvie loves reading books. I want her to find a good job – maybe a nurse or a teacher.” ~ Caroline
Whether Sylvie explores either of those career paths or not, she now has access to books designed to boost her love of learning and literacy skills.
When the right books find their way to children like Sylvie at the right time, they have the power to change lives.
Meet Sylvie and watch the horseback books delivery in action: