Building Healthy Family Relationships in the Pacific Nation of Vanuatu

By Titima Wanwilaiwan, 1st year MDP student

My field placement this year is with the Blossom Project of ADRA Vanuatu, a non-profit organization, located in The Republic of Vanuatu, an island nation located in the South Pacific, and a three-hour flight from Sydney, Australia. The country only gained its independence from the British and the French in 1980 and has become popular among luxury tours and tourists from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America.

A small island near Espiritu Santo showing traditional livelihood practices

Vanuatu is comprised of more than 80 islands, 65 of which are inhabited. It is one of the Pacific Island countries that is prone to natural disasters, such as cyclones, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The people of Vanuatu move a lot among the islands to avoid natural disasters, visit family, education, employment/ economic and tourism development opportunities.

The Blossom Project is a pilot project, that started in response to the high rate of domestic violence, youth pregnancies, and abandoned babies. Initially, the project started with the Gender Needs Assessment in 2013, and it works with young students in school, communities, as well as with parents and teachers. The project was expanded to include sexual offenders for more effective results. Prevention activities aim to enhance healthy family relationships to tackle violence against children, especially girls. My role with ADRA Vanuatu was to support the Blossom Project in developing the plan and activities for Phase II to tackle these issues effectively. 

Women from Tangoa community presenting their discussion on community values

In order to do the work properly, I needed to understand the context and the complexity of the island community in Vanuatu. I examined urban and rural livelihoods, community-based food systems, health and wellness, and other important factors such as gender roles and responsibilities, tourism and the legacy of colonialism.  I also observed and participated in project activities, including planning a community survey.

One example of the project activities that I participated in was the training on domestic violence prevention at the Low Risk Detention Centre. The training is part of the rehabilitation program for the inmates who will soon return to their communities.

I am so thankful that ADRA Vanuatu and the MDP program allowed me to practice my skills in the field and learn about the ongoing work to prevent child sexual abuse, domestic violence and youth pregnancies in the Ni-Vanuatu community.

 

Off to do a training workshop on domestic violence prevention at a prison. (L-R) ADRA Program Director, Blossom Project Manager, staff member from Finance team, Titima, and 3 trainers.

And All Other Duties as Required

By Chelsie Parayko, 1st year MDP student

When signing up for the MDP program, I did not envision what exactly working with community would look like, and I would imagine typically that’s not something that most people consider. It is likely that most of us thought about the great work in research we will do, the positive impacts we may potentially have and maybe, just maybe, we think about how community will change us and impact who we are. 

On Blackfoot traditional territory during the Pathways Annual Gathering: “Land-based learning and healing”

What we don’t talk about is how sometimes we have to roll up our proverbial sleeves and drive a 15-passenger van down a windy highway, be a cheer leader for a young artist who is unsure of her talents, run bear-watch, or how we might have to become hosts to elders and run to ensuring their dinner is everything they expect, and their water is always topped up.

We have been told to “check ourselves at the door” and to enter a community with humility, understanding and with no set idea of how your time will turn out to be, but this is just the beginning of that story. As Dorothy says, “we are no longer in Kansas anymore,” we are here for the community and most of our preconceived notions are proven to be completely incorrect.

Elder Mabel Horton sharing teachings in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation

Our job as researchers is to disrupt the norms and to be the community’s biggest advocates. During a fire-side-chat, Bonnie Healy, of the Blood Tribe, said that “we are all aware that Indigenous peoples have been researched to death, but it is our responsibility as Indigenous researchers to research ourselves back to life.” This is true for both Indigenous researchers and our allies as well.

I have had the great pleasure of working with Nanaandawewigamig this summer and I have seen this happen in its truest form. The staff in the Research Department have an extremely long list of experience, western education and what seems like endless knowledge of and appreciation for Indigenous ways of knowing and being. 

This group of individuals make up some of the foremost Indigenous researchers, however when tasks need to be taken on, they are always the first to roll up their sleeves and do what needs to be done. I am perpetually in awe of this group of people and feel incredibly privileged to have had to opportunity to learn from and to have worked along-side them.

Traveling North - Pisew Falls, MB. (B-F) Rachel Bach, Stephanie Sinclair & Chelsie Parayko