The V Factor
If you are regular visitor, or have lived in Vanuatu, you will no doubt have heard or referred to, the V Factor. The V factor can mean several things, sometimes positive and sometimes not quite you were expecting. It can…
Community Conversations with FreshFM Radio
Judene Edgar speaks with Belinda from Mammas Laef about Period Poverty and how a group of Vanuatu people are tackling the burden felt by many women in the island nation. Follow this link to listen. https://www.freshfm.net/Programmes/Programme-Details.aspx?PID=9bc6e10b-f881-41e4-a587-abbcd702af6b This is an insight…
Waiting for a bus …
I spend a lot of time waiting for a bus when in Vanuatu. The past 12 months, I estimate I've taken 650 bus trips, injecting around 100,000 vatu (that's about $1,300 NZD) into the bus economy :) Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai…
Holidays aren’t for everyone
Be inspired Recently, she took first holiday and she's 48 years old, but why did she wait so long? She grew up in a small village on a small island in a small country. She’s not always been in paid…
Home of the worlds’ most accessible active volcano – Tanna Island
Mamma's Laef have supplied hundreds of washable sanitary pads to girls in schools on the southern island of Tanna, in Vanuatu, via CARE International in Vanuatu. CARE International invited two of our team to visit Tanna Island in late February…
No more sales
The day has finally arrived and my final GST return can be completed. The website shop has closed. For those lovers of Lav Kokonas Virgin Coconut Oil, I'm sorry, but I have been unable to find an alternative NZ supplier…
1kg Organic Fairly Traded Coffee Beans
Usual price $35 for a kilo - a great price, but use the coupon 20%NOW and its yours for $28 with $7 postage nationwide (NZ only)
Tail of the Blue Baskets – headed for landfill-
I first wrote about these adorable baskets made from recycled industrial waste, in 2014 - almost three years ago. They were expertly woven by ni Vanuatu women from the island of Epi, when living and working in New Zealand as…
Nelson Hospital medical equipment finding new homes
Equipment being re-homed all over Vanuatu I received a lovely email from Annie, physiotherapist at the Vila Central Hospital. Annie arranged 2 truckloads of gear from the shipping containers sent to Vanuatu in mid 2016. Here's her inventory. Distributed 3 Bags of…