How Ni-Vanuatu children are seeing themselves in stories – and discovering the joy of reading
A new storytelling initiative is helping children in Vanuatu fall in love with reading — through books that reflect their own lives.
Culturally relevant stories for Ni-Vanuatu children
In many parts of Vanuatu, particularly remote communities, books are a rare treasure. Children often grow up without seeing their lives, languages, or landscapes reflected in what they read.
Save the Children’s Library for All initiative is changing that — supporting the creation of 100 uniquely Ni-Vanuatu books written and illustrated by local people. These books aim to be “mirrors,” not just “windows,” helping children recognise their own world in the stories they read.
“I feel happy to see my name on a story”
Writing workshops are being held across the country to support local storytellers. One of those young writers is 17-year-old Roderick, who attended a workshop in Port Vila.
“My story will be sent to Australia, and they will put it in a book, and it will be distributed to different islands. I feel happy to see my name on a story that I’ve written in a book.”
Roderick believes in the power of reading: “I think stories are important because they may help. They may help children by changing them. Sometimes they may act different, but when they read a story, they may copy the character of that person in the story and may change their life.”
His message to other children is simple: “Never give up. Never give up on what you are doing. Never give up in education and study hard.”
Rewriting the future
Thanks to your support, more than 8,000 copies of these books will be distributed to schools and learning spaces across Vanuatu — ensuring thousands of children, many for the first time, can enjoy stories made just for them.
Together, we’re giving children the tools to learn, dream, and thrive — one story at a time.