Vanuatu’s first non-fiction children’s storybook about inspiring ni-Vanuatu has been launched on National Children’s Day, 24 July, by the Vanuatu Children’s Literature Community Initiative to celebrate the nation’s 40th anniversary of independence.
Initiative lead and co-editor Anna Naupa says the idea began when she was reading her daughter a book of real-life stories about extraordinary people from around the world. Her daughter asked, “Where are the stories about people from Vanuatu who have done amazing things?”
The idea grew to have three core goals: encouraging Vanuatu’s children to read; sharing stories about people and contexts familiar to Vanuatu’s children; and inspiring Vanuatu’s children with real and amazing home-grown stories. Over 75 people volunteered their time to plan, research, write, edit, proofread, illustrate and organise the book.
The highly illustrated 180-page hardback book presents 40 diverse stories for children, parents and teachers to read together. Called ‘Taf Tumas! Different journeys, one people’, it will be launched as part of the official independence anniversary programme.
With encouragement from the Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and support from financial sponsors, the majority of the printed books will be given free to Vanuatu’s approximately 400 primary schools. A smaller number will be sold to help pay for costs and hopefully a second edition.
“Selecting the ‘first 40’ for this first edition was a difficult process,” Ms Naupa said. “There are so many inspiring people from across Vanuatu who have achieved great things! We have strived to select a balance of stories that reflect Vanuatu’s diverse geography, cultures and languages. But also, to include stories that inspire self-empowerment, self-determination and respect for human rights and gender equality,” she said. “What all of the stories have in common is that they show that no matter what your background, age or gender, you can do something great!”
The publishing group is especially grateful to the ‘first 40’ who agreed to share their inspiring stories, and also to the financial sponsors for printing, design, translation, duty exemptions and distribution costs: the Ministry of Education & Training (MoET), European Union, Pacific Community, CARE, Alliance Française, French Embassy and New Zealand High Commission.
“This book celebrates the inspirational stories of a diverse range of Vanuatu’s people who have helped shape our nation. From all sorts of backgrounds and beginnings, the people within these pages have taken different journeys, but have all touched the lives of Vanuatu’s people,” Ms Naupa said.
Illustrations by various artists engaged as part of the initiative will be exhibited as part of the Alliance Française’s “40 Artists” exhibition that opens in Port Vila on 20 July. The Taf tumas! artistic portraits reflect a range of techniques using paints, pencil and digital media. The exhibition runs throughout the 40th independence anniversary celebrations.
“In consultation with MoET, the stories are written for children aged nine to 13 years and published in English and French as the official languages of instruction for these age groups. We hope many other people will enjoy the book too, and that this initiative continues to grow and inspire us all to collect stories of Vanuatu’s greatness,” Ms Naupa said.
The stories have also been recorded for broadcast on radio in Vanuatu’s three official languages, Bislama, English and French, and will feature on social media.
Photo supplied