A Who’s Who and What’s What List of Everybody and Everything Important in Vanuatu (At least in my own little world). For those of you mentioned herein, if you believe your ‘Bio’ needs changing please feel free to cuss me out and demand the changes. Please try and refrain from physical violence. Thank you! Now, with no further ado, The Vanuatu Yellow Pages:
Benson Sale – a proficient kava drinker and a great host Papa, Benson took the place of Harold, my and Jennifer’s old Papa, when he had passed on before our arrival. Benson was the former, possibly still (this point is unclear in the village), the chairman of the Health Dispensary Committee. Additionally, he was trained by the Vanuatu Family Health Association – part of Planned Parenthood International – to be their representative on Maewo, but cannot hold or look at a condom without laughing (that’s progress!).
Camp GLOW/BILDs / ToTs – Girls Leading Our World, Boys I Leadership Development, Training of Trainers, Camp GLOW/BILDs are camps made for teenagers and are geared toward develop leaders among youth. The Camps address topics such as Communication, Trust and Team-building, Adolescent Reproductive Health, Public Speaking, and Leadership; ToTs are ran by the GAD committee once a year on different islands and in different provinces. The ToTs allow PCVs around Vanuatu to bring young adults from their villages to be trained in running Camp GLOW/BILDs.
Community Health (CH) – One of the two programs still present in Vanuatu. CH Volunteers work with Dispensaries and Aid Posts to help strengthen the medical services and develop the community.
Dennilson – a brother of mine in Naviso, Dennilson can most often be found roaming around with my other brother Pato. Dennilson accompanied me to Ambae to meet my parents after the ill-fated attempt to reach Maewo by boat.
G-23 – Each new group of PCVs is designated a number. My group is the 23rd group of PCVs in Vanuatu. Thus, we are Group-23 or G-23. The group before us and after us G-22 and G-24, respectively.
Gender and Development – a development theory: After years of development projects targeting only men (most often the decision makers in developing countries), development work changed direction and targeted solely women (Women In Development = WID). WID proved more effective then targeting only the men, but researchers found that involving both men and women – considering both of their needs, abilities, and workloads – led to much more sustainable projects. Simply: if you forget women, in the long run your project is fucked. GAD projects include PACA, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), FRE3HOP (F, Religion, Economy, E,E, House, O, Politics), etc.
Gender and Development Committee (GAD) – The GAD Committee (commonly referred to as GAD) consists of Nancy Miyake, Mac Bradley, Danielle Depau, Matt Dwyer, Nik Karr, and three new volunteers from Group-24: Karla, Carlie Congdon, and Laura Ripple. GAD is best known for their work in Youth Initiatives – especially the Camp GLOW/BILDs and ToTs – but has recently changed its mission statement, goals, and objectives to address more GAD-related subjects.
Hamlison Leo – My cousin-brother in Naviso Village, Hamlison has always sought out my friendship and helped me in any way possible. Hamlison has a knack for frequently “dropping the ball”, but he usually comes through in the end. Hamlison is also the Kindy Teacher (Kindergarten Teacher).
Jean Claude (Siro Bahn) – My brother, the eldest in the family (not including me), and yes his “Christian” name is Jean Claude, but everyone calls him Siro (pronounced Zero). Siro is experiencing adolescent awkwardness and the need to break free. He just finished his own house, which is right next to the family kitchen – so not too free – and, as you can imagine, is like every other teenage boy.
Jennifer Blount (JB) – Peace Corps Volunteer from Group-23. Jennifer is my site mate. Originally from Austin, Texas and former teacher, Jennifer now serves as a SHREP volunteer (and a Health Volunteer on the side). She frequently helps me draw pictures for almost every workshop I’ve conducted. Jennifer and I share a taste for ridiculous amounts of sweets and have junk food parties where we indulge our sweet tooths. She also has an affinity for drinking the vinegar in pickle jars (I know, I can’t explain it either).
Jet-Li (Sale Kio) – My youngest brother, usually found running around buck naked with a distended belly, his “Christian” name is in fact Jet-Li, but everyone calls him Sale (pronounced Sally). This kid cries ALL THE TIME!
Lindsay Templin – Peace Corps Volunteer from Group-23. Lindsay is stationed at Baitora, South Maewo and is known throughout the island for her ability to roll local tobacco leaf cigarettes. Lindsay is a CH volunteer and often collaborates with me on health projects. Lindsay calls Colorado her home and aspires to work for the United Nations.
Luganville – one of the two major urban centers, Luganville is located on the island of Espiritu Santo. Opposed to Vila, Luganville is a sprawling town, with massive roads, and clean. Luganville is a tourist hub, but not as well traveled as Vila.
Mary Catherine Bradley (Mac) – Peace Corps Volunteer from Group-23. Stationed on North Ambae in the village of Qatamele, she comes from Washington and serves as a PEACE volunteer. She replaced a volunteer named Blake (in Mac’s words: the God Blake) who had spent 5 years in North Ambae. It can be difficult to step into the shoes of a volunteer who had been there 5 years, but Mac has been very successful. Her primary project was to work with the North Ambae Women’s Group (NAWG) that sell handicrafts in Port Vila. Blake originally set-up the group, but lacked the adequate knowledge of business practices and thus Mac filled the gap. Additionally, Mac is Treasurer of the GAD committee.
Mid-service Training (MST) – A training that takes place mid-way through service and again mid-way through the second year.
Nancy Miyake – Peace Corps Volunteer from Group-23. Nancy started in Vureas, North Ambae, replacing a one Billy Delancey, but now resides in Port Vila. Nancy currently works at Save the Children. Additionally, Nancy presides as Chairwoman of the GAD committee (also replacing Mr. Delancey) and likes to spend her lunch hours talking about participatory methods and gender-based violence. Before Peace Corps Nancy lived very close to me in Boston (we had no idea each other existed) and is originally from NYC.
Nic Thiltges (Boe Malo) – Peace Corps Volunteer from Group-23. Stationed on West Maewo at Sulua Centre School, originally from Tucson, Arizona, Nic now serves as a SHREP volunteer. Nic acquired the nickname Boe Malo as a joke from his Host Papa. While others have let the name die, I continue to keep it alive. Boe Malo likes long walks on the beach, catching crabs, and pillow talk. Additionally, Nic runs a nice little guesthouse that Jennifer and I use quite frequently as we pass through West Maewo.
PACA (Participatory Analysis for Community Action) – PACA uses four different tools – community mapping, daily schedule, seasonal calendar, and priority ranking/needs assessment – to help communities analyze their community resources, what they lack, division of labor, burdens of men and women, seasonal changes that affect the community or work, and what are top priorities for the community. This analysis is used to create a work plan that involves both the men and women in the community in a sustainable fashion.
Pato – one of my Brothers in Naviso mostly known for his ability to memorize every Stringband song, but nothing in school. Pato enjoys singing these songs at ridiculous volumes. Pato is somewhere around 11 years old (not knowing exactly) and in the 5th grade. He also accompanied me to Ambae to meet my Parents after the ill-fated attempt to reach Maewo by boat.
PEACE – a Peace Corps Vanuatu Business Development program terminated in 2011.
PHAST (Participatory Hygiene And Sanitation Transformation) – PHAST is a workshop that focuses on communities deciding the best methods to improve the state of sanitation and hygiene. PHAST relies on an extensive picture set that has gone through 4 revisions so far. Peace Corps Vanuatu currently uses PHAST 4G (4th Generation).
Port Vila (Vila) – The National Capital of Vanuatu and one of two major urban centers, Vila is the hub for the Government, travel, and Ex-pats trying to relive the days of colonialism. Located on the south of Efate Island, Vila has a lot of things shoved into a very small place. Due to the French and British influence and the international locale (on the other side of the world from Europe) you can find just about every kind of cuisine imaginable.
Pre-service Training (PST) – Training before going to site. In Vanuatu, PST takes place in two phases. PST-I takes two months before going to site; PST-II is two weeks after you have been at site for 2 – 3 months (in my case 4 months).
Rural Water Supply (RWS) – a section of the Department of Geology, Mines, and Water Resources (DGMWR) charged with constructing water system in the rural village of Vanuatu. Completely donor-funded, RWS selects 5 rural villages and constructs 5 new water systems every fiscal year. Systems include Gravity-fed Pipe, Hand Pump, and Rainwater Tanks.
SHREP – Strengthening Human Resources through Education Project, the retired education program that focused on building capacity through training teachers and school committees.
VIP (Ventilation-Improved) Toilet – a toilet meant to stop flies from escaping toilets by trapping them in a pipe that they cannot leave and thus protecting your food from your own shit.
VITEL (properly pronounced VIT-L) – Vanuatu Instructional Technology and English Literacy, the new education program in Peace Corps Vanuatu, VITEL complements the CH program. VITEL emphasizes English-literacy and Instructional Technology.
