Newsletter 6: 5 May 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Vanuatu - Tropical Cyclone Harold Appeal

Whilst Australians are consumed with managing our response to the Coronavirus pandemic, and arrangements are being made for students returning to school in different ways and times in each State and Territory, our fellow Marists in Vanuatu are in urgent need of our support in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Harold. This Category 5 system made landfall on the island of Espiritu Santo with sustained winds of 200km/h on 6 April.

Australian Marist Solidarity has launched a national charitable recovery appeal for St Michel Technical College, which has been devastated by the cyclone. St Michel provides critical skills development for Vanuatu with both mainstream and vocational education pathways and has been supported by the Marist Brothers for 26 years. The school has 320 enrolled students from grades 7 to 12 and a further 80 enrolled in the vocational stream of the school. It has been seen as a beacon of hope on Espiritu Santo as it was one of the first schools established on the island.

Vanuatu is one of very few places on Earth with no confirmed cases of COVID-19. To prevent the coronavirus from being brought to Vanuatu, officials have banned foreign aid workers from entering the country to help with the recovery. Supplies that enter Vanuatu are being quarantined for three days and sanitised to ensure there is no remaining risk of coronavirus transmission.

Australian Marist Solidarity CEO Rebecca Bromhead said the situation remains critical and this appeal is vital to ensuring the local school is rebuilt.

“Supporting a remote community to recover from a cyclone like Harold is challenging at the best of times, but to do so in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic will require complex and sustained efforts. In times like these, the best chance for recovery is found in existing relationships and networks. Standing together in solidarity with our friends at St Michel will ensure the best possible future for the young people of Vanuatu, but we can’t do it alone. We need your support to be able to carry out vital rebuilding at the school as quickly as possible.”

For further information to support our fellow Marists please CLICK HERE.

Saint Joseph’s College at Tenaru in the Solomon Islands has also suffered tragic loss due to the Cyclone. 28 passengers travelling on the MV Taimareho were swept overboard as large seas caused by the cyclone crashed over the boat. Among them were members of the Haiuasi family. Abraham Haiuasi is the Deputy Principal at St Jospeh’s. Tragically Abraham’s wife, three sons, brother and house staff member perished. Abraham survived and is with his extended family.

Please keep Abraham and the Marist community at Saint Joseph’s Tenaru in your prayers.