The Nabanga Pikinini projects have called on many helpers for their expertise and guidance. Although not everyone has been acknowledged on this website, they have not been forgotten and their contributions were important - thank you for always being at the end of an email or telephone line and patiently offering your time and knowledge.
The Nabanga Pikinini Committee
The Nabanga Pikinini Committee
Anne Pakoa (chairperson) is from the island of Tongoa (Shephard Islands). Anne was the Capacity Development and Advocacy Support officer at Vanuatu Education Policy Advocacy Coalition (VEPAC). Through Anne's work with VEPAC and their survey regarding the literacy rate in Vanuatu, she became a strong supporter of Nabanga Pikinini and has encouraged many rural communities to start libraries. Anne is currently head of the Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition.
Pauline Grindley was born in South Africa. She trained as a Preschool and Primary school teacher in Cape Town and worked in Cape Town and Knysna as principal of pre-primary schools before leaving to become a full time mother. In 2002 she moved to New Zealand with her family and in 2005 arrived in Vanuatu. She has always had a love of children's books/stories.
Mark Stafford (member) Mark graduated from the University of Melbourne with a B.Comm. In 1997, Stafford and Associates merged with Barrett & Partners (a leading Chartered Accounting and Consulting firm in Port Vila) and Mark became a partner. Mark held the position of president of the Vanuatu Cricket Association for 23 years and is currently the president of the Kiwanis Club of Port Vila. Mark has been involved with Nabanga Pikinini from its beginnings through its association with Kiwanis International - Port Vila.
Ralph Regenvanu (member) Currently a Member of Parliament - prior to his entry into politics in 2008, Ralph served as the director of the National Museum and Cultural Centre of Vanuatu, for eleven years (1995-2006). In this role he was one of the founding executive board members of the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) and was on the international drafting committee of the “Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage” which was adopted by the General Assembly of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2003. In 2013 he was the main driver behind a major overhaul of the land laws of Vanuatu and is currently chairing the government’s efforts to put in place a new national sustainable development plan for the 15 years post 2014. Ralph is also an artist and has had many works exhibited and published and has illustrated a book of oral traditions from his home island of Uripiv. Ralph has been involved with Nabanga Pikinini from its beginnings in 2007.
Rufino Pineda (member) was born in Monsempron (South West France) where he studied Geology, Geodynamics’ and Civil Engineering. From teaching in Morrocco to lecturing Geology at USP Suva (Fiji) in 1987 Rufino arrived in Vanuatu to Lecture science at USP Santo and Vila for 11 years. In 1999 Rufino became the Technical Advisor Team leader at the Institute of Technology in Port Vila before moving onto project manager for various organisations such as NSA (the EU Non State Actors Program), Dept. of Forest Santo, etc. Rufino is the Assistant Governor for Rotary, Vanuatu. In his spare time Rufino is a dedicated tennis player representing Vanuatu at the Senior Tennis Pan Pacific 2012 games and is an International Lawn Tennis referee. He lives in Luganville, Santo. Rufino has been involved with Nabanga Pikinini from its beginnings in 2007. Christina Shaw (member) Christina Shaw, a veterinary surgeon from England, has lived in Vanuatu for the last 12 years. In 2014 after completing a masters in Veterinary Conservation medicine from Murdoch University, Australia Christina started a conservation organisation The Vanuatu Environmental Science Society. VESS has implemented projects to protect dugongs and seagrass meadows and are the implementing partner of the GEF-funded Dugong and Seagrass conservation project. Other projects focus on Vanuatu’s threatened and endemic species such as Vanuatu’s flying foxes. Christina and her husband are partners in the scuba diving business Big Blue Vanuatu. Both VESS and Big Blue have been raising awareness about the problem of plastics in our oceans and have conducted cleanups in the water and on the land. Using this data to support the single-use-plastic bans that have recently come into force in Vanuatu.
Carol Aru (member) Born on Ambae, Carol is a teacher by profession. She worked at the USP, Emalus Campus, for 11 years until 2019. She loves writing fiction stories and poems. She is the Co-author of A Tovotovo lo Leo Ndui Ndui (2020) in the Duidui language with Roselyn Qwenako Tor. The book covers a range of topics including marriage, traditional cooking, custom dances, children's games and stories from West Ambae. A passionate advocate for vernacular languages Carol loves to encourage young people to value their traditions and be proud of where they come from.
Pauline Grindley was born in South Africa. She trained as a Preschool and Primary school teacher in Cape Town and worked in Cape Town and Knysna as principal of pre-primary schools before leaving to become a full time mother. In 2002 she moved to New Zealand with her family and in 2005 arrived in Vanuatu. She has always had a love of children's books/stories.
Mark Stafford (member) Mark graduated from the University of Melbourne with a B.Comm. In 1997, Stafford and Associates merged with Barrett & Partners (a leading Chartered Accounting and Consulting firm in Port Vila) and Mark became a partner. Mark held the position of president of the Vanuatu Cricket Association for 23 years and is currently the president of the Kiwanis Club of Port Vila. Mark has been involved with Nabanga Pikinini from its beginnings through its association with Kiwanis International - Port Vila.
Ralph Regenvanu (member) Currently a Member of Parliament - prior to his entry into politics in 2008, Ralph served as the director of the National Museum and Cultural Centre of Vanuatu, for eleven years (1995-2006). In this role he was one of the founding executive board members of the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) and was on the international drafting committee of the “Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage” which was adopted by the General Assembly of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 2003. In 2013 he was the main driver behind a major overhaul of the land laws of Vanuatu and is currently chairing the government’s efforts to put in place a new national sustainable development plan for the 15 years post 2014. Ralph is also an artist and has had many works exhibited and published and has illustrated a book of oral traditions from his home island of Uripiv. Ralph has been involved with Nabanga Pikinini from its beginnings in 2007.
Rufino Pineda (member) was born in Monsempron (South West France) where he studied Geology, Geodynamics’ and Civil Engineering. From teaching in Morrocco to lecturing Geology at USP Suva (Fiji) in 1987 Rufino arrived in Vanuatu to Lecture science at USP Santo and Vila for 11 years. In 1999 Rufino became the Technical Advisor Team leader at the Institute of Technology in Port Vila before moving onto project manager for various organisations such as NSA (the EU Non State Actors Program), Dept. of Forest Santo, etc. Rufino is the Assistant Governor for Rotary, Vanuatu. In his spare time Rufino is a dedicated tennis player representing Vanuatu at the Senior Tennis Pan Pacific 2012 games and is an International Lawn Tennis referee. He lives in Luganville, Santo. Rufino has been involved with Nabanga Pikinini from its beginnings in 2007. Christina Shaw (member) Christina Shaw, a veterinary surgeon from England, has lived in Vanuatu for the last 12 years. In 2014 after completing a masters in Veterinary Conservation medicine from Murdoch University, Australia Christina started a conservation organisation The Vanuatu Environmental Science Society. VESS has implemented projects to protect dugongs and seagrass meadows and are the implementing partner of the GEF-funded Dugong and Seagrass conservation project. Other projects focus on Vanuatu’s threatened and endemic species such as Vanuatu’s flying foxes. Christina and her husband are partners in the scuba diving business Big Blue Vanuatu. Both VESS and Big Blue have been raising awareness about the problem of plastics in our oceans and have conducted cleanups in the water and on the land. Using this data to support the single-use-plastic bans that have recently come into force in Vanuatu.
Carol Aru (member) Born on Ambae, Carol is a teacher by profession. She worked at the USP, Emalus Campus, for 11 years until 2019. She loves writing fiction stories and poems. She is the Co-author of A Tovotovo lo Leo Ndui Ndui (2020) in the Duidui language with Roselyn Qwenako Tor. The book covers a range of topics including marriage, traditional cooking, custom dances, children's games and stories from West Ambae. A passionate advocate for vernacular languages Carol loves to encourage young people to value their traditions and be proud of where they come from.
