Vanuatu Update – October 2015 It has been a while since the Brothers of Vanuatu have updated us on their progress since the passage of Cyclone Pam in March 2015. Cyclone Pam hit on March 13, 2015 with winds as strong as 350 km/h. The storm struck the capital, Port Vila, and then headed south down the island chain of more than 80 islands. The nation of Vanuatu would be pounded by the effects of Cyclone Pam for more than 22 hours. After the enormous destruction wrought on our two schools, Montmartre, in Port-Vila, and Lowanatom, in Tanna, the Institute, its provinces and ministries came to the aid of our Brothers. The Province of Oceania received more than 500,000 € from the provinces and ministries of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart from around the world, with almost 100,000 € coming from the Province of the United States. They have been able to coordinate the rebuilding of our ministries, opening school on time in both places. As for the Brothers, the residence at Montmartre is complete while the residence at Lowanatom has some way to go. The greatest difficulty has been getting materials and organizing the construction efforts. The school and residence at Montmartre, just outside the capital, Port Vila, has done well and is again up and running. The distance and scarcity of materials made development more difficult on the island of Tanna, in the south of the island group. Today the school is up and running but it was decided that it would be better to completely rebuild the Brothers residence and that is still in process. The photos that follow show both the level of damage and the rebuilding … with our deepest thanks to all. Before and after pictures follow: Montmartre, Port-Vila, Vanuatu

Brothers Residence

Chapel 

Brothers Residence (Alt view) 

Laundry 

Brothers Residence (Alt view) 

Classrooms 

Woodwork Shop 

Classroom Block (2 views) 

Classroom Block  

Lowanatom, Tanna

The Brothers residence is the last building under repair, because it had to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Brother Anicet Paulin, who has been responsible for the works, wrote this week:

The internet is working again but for how long? Here, we have not had rain in months. It is good for the construction but not for the gardens. I have many local workers on the job so I can move the work forward quickly, hopefully before Christmas. The interior plastering is almost finished and the painting continues slowly. It just remains to put in the doors and windows in order to be able to close up the house. That will not take us too much time. After that, the ceilings, electricity and plumbing will follow. The worksite is progressing well – photo above.

Woodwork Shop 

Girls Dormitory 

Boys Dormitory 

Classroom Block 

Computers, Art and Library(2 views)