A Mother's Heartbroken Plea

Dear Daughter

Please dont be sad that you have no money to buy me a Mothers Day gift. I know how much you wanted to get me that lovely bright colored scarf.

But you can still give me a Mothers Day gift of great value. A gift no money can buy.

Sueane, you know I have dreams for you. I long for you to have more in life than I did as a girl. It wont be easy for you to achieve this, but I want you to promise me that you will give it all your energy.

I don't want you to spend the rest of your life in the village. I don't want you to live in fear of your husband beating you up, after he has been drinking beer and kava. I dont want you to be sold to some old man whos wife has just died.

Sueane, you are a good girl. I want you to be able to hold your head high and know that you can achieve anything you want to.

I have worked hard all these years. I have tended the vegetable garden to put food in the tummies of the village. I have cared for the family bungalow and kept it clean and tidy.

Before you went to help your Aunty with the new baby, you helped me roll out the sleeping mats, kept the fire burning and stirred the pots to feed the mouths before dark. You never complained when you had to go to the next village to bring back water when our supply dried up.

You have done well in primary school, learning everything you can from the teacher. But now it is time for you to go further, if I can find the school fees.

I will continue to sew every minute of the day I can. I heard the chief talking to your father last week. They say there is a tourist ship coming to our island soon. I will take the dresses to the local market and bring home the small amounts of cash. I will hide most of it away carefully for your school fees, so your father cant spend it on kava.

Sueane, there is some hope of help. Harris Arrop, the Mota Lava area secretary, told us of an organization helping kids like you go to high school. YouMe Support Foundation already helps the village school. Remember when Mr Ricki brought those boxes with pens and paper, books and scissors. And the special parcels that come off the boats.
The guests of Seachange Lodge hear from Ricki and Wendy Tendys, the owners of Seachange, about Mota Lavas needs and leave things for the boxes. Seachange uses 10% of its earnings to provide items that Harris tells them we need.

When the cyclone came they send us rice and yams when no one else listened to our cry for help.

Sueane, if I can save up enough money you will have the chance to become a teacher like you dream of. You, my daughter, will be able to make a difference in our village in the years ahead and everyone will benefit - your brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles. Only one or two of the villages can read and write. Perhaps you could teach me to read and write. I would like that.

High school will take you away from our village, to Vanuatus capital, Port Vila. I know you will be scared as you will have to leave the security of our village family. You will have to struggle with a lot of new experiences, but you are a strong girl. I have met the people who will be looking after you from YouMe Support Foundation. They are good people Sueane.

Daughter, there are people out there that care about us and want to help us. We must show them that we will take the opportunities offered to help with your education. Daughter, I want you to be part of this program. This is all I ask for a Mothers Day gift.

Love
Your mother

This is not a pretend story. This is for real. Hundreds of children are subjected to this horrible injustice. Children who are high achieving students in their primary classes. The nation of Vanuatu needs these children if it is to take its rightful place in the International Community. You can help make a small difference in these kids lives.

Become a Friend Educating Kids and help more of the daughters of the north of Vanuatu, achieve their dreams and move into the 21st century. You can become a friend to these girls. Touch base with them, follow their progress, encourage them. Join us now at seachangelodge.com through a Mothers Day Special Gift.