During the April 2018 school holidays we took a team of Mount Maunganui College students to Vanuatu to assist with Cyclone Pam rebuilding projects in partnership with Volunteer Build.

This year the team built a school classroom on Pele Island to replace one of several that were destroyed during Cyclone Pam in 2015. This opportunity of hands on aid work meant our Mount Maunganui College team were able to provide a safe and sturdy school environment for the local children and families who valued education but whose resources and learning opportunities were hindered due to the forces of nature and inadequate buildings.

We were not quite sure what to expect having only seen pictures of beautiful Vanuatu resorts and tropical islands. It was a certainly a shock going to what is known as a popular holiday destination and seeing the local slums, poverty, and underemployment first hand. With the help of Ollie and Paul, our builders, the team quickly learnt how to lay concrete blocks, tie steel, make concrete and block fill by hand, build trusses from scratch, build windows and door frames, lay and nail down roofing irons. Despite working in the full sun and heat the walls went up straight, the concrete flowed and roofing irons were firmly attached. At the end of each day we came away feeling exhausted yet fulfilled with the work we had accomplished.

Everybody played an important role in the build and bonded as an amazing group of students who were all hard working but not hard work and certainly did Mount Maunganui College proud. This was a truly humbling experience for all involved and there were tears flowing seeing the joy we brought to the community of Pele Island. We did something incredible and built a better future together. We would recommend to anyone who gets an opportunity like this to grab it with both hands and give back to the less fortunate because it really is a rewarding experience.

Breakfree Team 2018

Mrs Fuller, Mr Inwood, Zoey Cunningham, Akshita Dogra, Braxton Goldsmith, Charly Goldsmith, Caitlyn Jenkins, Baylee Johnston, Jack Kelly, Ella Kendall, Talia Mills-Pickering, Lara Urquhart, Logan Woods.