The Best Investment I Made in Vanuatu

By Tess Newton Cain, TNC Pacific Consulting | March 10, 2017

Recent discussions around investment in Vanuatu have highlighted opportunities and challenges for the country’s future. The Vanuatu-Australia Business Forum in Port Vila brought together stakeholders to discuss investment, while debates continue about reforming the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA) to transform it into a true “one-stop shop” for investors.

Investment in Vanuatu was also the focus of a recent Coffee and Controversy program. Two key issues stood out: the need for a workable framework for joint ventures and the need for better coordination of private sector support activities in the country.

Reflecting on these discussions, I thought about the investments I’ve personally made in Vanuatu since 1997. While there have been many, one stands out as the best.

It became clear to me during a media ethics event when I was introduced to a well-established media professional. I mentioned we hadn’t officially met, but he smiled and said, “Oh, we’ve definitely met. You helped us with reading when I was in class 3.”

Not only is he now a reader, but he works in an industry that informs and educates an entire nation. I made a small contribution to that journey, and in terms of return on investment, it was extraordinary.

Over the years, I spent time helping students with reading in Port Vila schools, from the joy of seeing class 2 students break through with reading to working with class 6 students on developing critical thinking skills through reading discussions. Questions like “Why?”, “What do you think about that?” and “How could this have been done differently?” became gateways to deeper understanding.

Some were surprised I wasn’t spending more time discussing PhD research given my academic background. My response was simple: “One day, I hope to discuss PhD research with these kids, so we need to start developing the skill set now.”

Across the Pacific, including in Vanuatu, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea, education is central to public policy discussions. We recognize that getting children into classrooms is only the first step. True investment in education means equipping children with the critical skills they need to navigate the world and ask questions that shape their futures.

Politicians, policymakers, business leaders, and donors often talk about “investing in people.” I was fortunate to find a way to do that in a small but meaningful way.

Best. Investment. Ever.

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Disclaimer: This article is a rewrite from the Vanuatu Daily Post for educational, archival, and non-commercial purposes. Full credit to the original publication and author Tess Newton Cain. Please contact us if you require changes or removal.