Mele hosts 800 women for PWMUV 80th Anniversary

May 19, 2025 | Initiatives and Projects | 0

More than 800 women from across Vanuatu have converged in Mele this week for a landmark event celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union of Vanuatu (PWMUV). The weeklong gathering, hosted by the South Efate Presbytery, also marks the Fourth National Convention and the 67th Annual Conference of the influential women’s organisation.

Running from May 10th to 18th, the event brings together delegates from all 11 presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV)—from Santo in the north to Aneityum in the south.

“This year, we are celebrating not just one, but three major milestones,” said Mrs. Rose Mansale, a key organiser from the host presbytery. “It’s a moment of pride and reflection for every woman in the church.”

Founded in 1945 on Ifira Island by two female missionaries, PWMUV has grown into one of Vanuatu’s most enduring and influential women’s organisations. It was established after 17 local women responded to the missionaries’ invitation for dialogue and community building during the New Hebrides era.

August 9th—the date of that first gathering—is now commemorated as the official founding day of the movement.

“This organisation was formed even before Vanuatu gained independence in 1980,” Mrs. Mansale said. “For eight decades, it has empowered women to support their families, churches, and communities.”

The high point of the week came on Wednesday, as delegates dressed in ruby red, the traditional symbol of an 80-year celebration. “Red represents strength, resilience, and the legacy we wear,” she said.

Activities throughout the week have included a cultural Pacific Night, where each presbytery showcased the culture, music, and history of a selected Pacific Island nation. On Tuesday, a crusade event brought together hundreds for worship and fellowship, and on Wednesday, the official 80th anniversary ceremony was held.

In addition to the spiritual and cultural celebrations, the convention has featured practical skills training in weaving, sewing, painting, and cooking—designed to equip women with tools to support their families and church communities economically.

Beyond church-focused programming, the event also served as a platform for public health and awareness. The Vanuatu Red Cross and a malaria testing team were on-site offering services and health information to participants.

“PWMUV is a self-reliant movement. We depend on our own contributions—spiritual and financial—to sustain our work. We are proud of that,” said Mrs. Mansale.

The event will culminate on Saturday, May 17th at 2pm, with a farewell ceremony and the symbolic “passing of the fire stick” to the next host presbytery, signalling the transition of leadership and responsibility for the 2026 convention.

“We welcome everyone to join us for the closing,” she added. “It’s a celebration not just of our past, but of the strength of women in the church moving forward.”

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Pikinini Playtime founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Batten has described Vanuatu’s education situation as a “national disaster”, warning that poor literacy outcomes among children could affect the country’s future development. Speaking during an interview on Kava Mo Kajap, Mr. Batten said reports that around 70 per cent of children are unable to read and write at the expected level should be treated as a serious national concern. “I think it is a national disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake,” Mr. Batten said. He said Vanuatu’s greatest resource is not its land or natural resources, but its people, and education is the foundation needed to develop that human resource. “Human resources are the number one resource for Vanuatu,” he said. Mr. Batten said countries that have successfully moved from being less developed to more advanced economies have done so by investing heavily in education and building a skilled population. However, he said Vanuatu’s current education results remain a major concern despite the country spending a significant amount of its national budget on education. “Vanuatu gives a lot of money per capita into education, but the results are still among the lowest in the Pacific,” he said. The Pikinini Playtime founder said the challenge is not only about funding but about how the education system delivers results. He questioned why many students continue to leave school without basic reading and writing skills despite years spent in classrooms. Mr. Batten said the impact of poor education outcomes can also be seen in the country’s workforce, where businesses often recruit skilled workers from overseas to fill positions. “We bring people from the Philippines and other countries to do accounting, bookkeeping, management, building and supervisory work, but many ni-Vanuatu are not able to take those opportunities because they do not have the basic education,” he said. He said the literacy issue must be addressed early because children who fail to develop strong reading skills in their early years often struggle throughout their education journey. Mr. Batten also raised concerns about the value placed on education within the system. He said teacher absenteeism, weak accountability and a lack of support for educators contribute to children losing confidence in learning. “When children see that school is not important, they begin to believe they don’t need school,” he said. Mr. Batten acknowledged that many teachers are working under difficult conditions but said the system needs stronger support, training and leadership to improve outcomes. He believes improving education requires everyone involved — government, schools, teachers, principals and parents — to work together. “Children are smart. They have the ability. But they need the right support and the right opportunities,” he said. Mr. Batten said addressing literacy must become a national priority because the future of Vanuatu depends on the quality of education provided to today’s children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Mele hosts 800 women for PWMUV 80th Anniversary

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‘Le chemin du kava (entre tradition et spiritualité)’ by Eltrisha Regenvanu

Mele hosts 800 women for PWMUV 80th Anniversary

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