A glimpse into the activities of The Safe, Resilient Communities Program, where The Anglican Church of Melanesia in Vanuatu is striving to create a safer world.

Earlier this year, 80 church leaders from Vanuatu participated in transformative Faith and Gender training sessions. Critical topics included attitudes toward gender, various forms of violence and their root causes, the power dynamics that lead to violence, and fostering healthy relationships.

‘This workshop has broken down all the hard parts in me, my wrong beliefs and masculine status which was derived from my patriarchal society,’ shared one leader after the training. 'I am so happy that I attended with my wife, and I assure you we will endeavour to practice this learning within our home and reach out to other families in our community.’

While program staff were implementing activities in the southern part of Pentecost Island, Tropical Cyclone Lola struck. They witnessed volunteers from the community, who had participated in Psychological First Aid and Psychosocial Support in Complex Emergencies training, putting their learning into practice. Immediately after the cyclone, the volunteers had consulted with the chief and a plan was put in place to ensure those most vulnerable were protected and supported.

‘We were delighted to witness and hear how the words they had learned were echoed to their people,’ reported program coordinator Ethel George.

In another area of work, when preparing to implement mental health training in schools, the program team consulted with a principal, who identified that a major stress for students was the unsuccessful attempts at growing vegetables in their home gardens due to wild animals eating the produce. ACOM Vanuatu staff were able to facilitate links with government services, who then provided training on backyard gardening.

Praying for our Partners Impacted by Climate

Afar Pastoralist Development Society (APDA) in Ethiopia

Anglican Church of Melanesia in Vanuatu

PNKS in Cambodia