On Wednesday the 14th of October 2015 Nabanga Pikinini proudly held the first of their Vanuatu Institute of Teachers Education scholarship awards. Thank you to Mark Stafford (Kiwanis Port Vila) and Belinda Roselli (Lav Kokonas) for presenting the awards. Belinda was on a quick visit to Vanuatu from New Zealand and kindly represented all our very generous New Zealand donors.
​Congratulations to all the students. We look forward to hearing your news in years to come.     
      Ist Year students      
Each received a scholarship of 7,500 Vt
Jeanifer Banga; Esneth Meltesaul; George Fred; Rodcheleen Morsen; Linda Vira Qwetovara; Geordinalyn Hakaliu; Patricia Bule; Flexoline Leo; Revanah Keke; Jenny Malessy; Xavier Tao; Jean-Luc Sewere; Naiomi Kawea; Yves Sizai; Vincent Melteknein; Johna Lop; Kinneth Lui; Roby Naes; Fiona Ngwele; Nathalie Nalet
       2nd Year students
Each received a scholarship of 12,500 Vt
Evelyne Willie; Veliv Tasi; Lorna Wai; Lerina Tari; Angelyn Aru; Jayline Morris; Valdina Namol
      3rd Year student             
Received a scholarship of 15,000 Vt
Juliano Mele

         Many thanks to the donors who made this years scholarship possible                                                                     
Lav Kokonas Ltd (Nelson, New Zealand)                                                     = 15,000 Vt
Everdina Van de Riet                                                          250 Euro's         =  28,653 Vt
Once Upon An Island Trust ( Oneroa, Waiheke Island New Zealand)          = 404,50 NZ$
Katerina Wendt - Jonas Fee Auckland cake sale                                         = 80 NZ$ 
Anonymous                                                                                                   = 30 NZ$
Katerina Wendt                                                                                             = 200 NZ$
Richard Wendt - Hamilton friendly evening barbeque                                  = 190 NZ$ 
Anonymous                                                                                                   = 15,000 Vt
Classic Printers                                                                                             =  7,500 Vt                                                                   With the sales of the Nabanga Pikinini books the total scholarship fund was 252,500 Vatu

Thank you Richard Wendt for paying the Nabanga Pikinini domain name subscription since 2014. 
In 2016 the scholarship money came from two scholarship funds:- The John Bent Memorial Fund, donated 1,000,000 Vt to the Nabanga Pikinini Association money. The Nabanga Pikinini funds
​are derived from the Nabanga Pikinini book sales in Vanuatu. The life of a remarkable man and teacher was celebrated by awarding twenty nine VITE students with scholarships to the value of 402,500 Vatu. 
Picture
The John Bent Memorial Fund 
in partnership with
Nabanga Pikinini 
present the 2017 scholarships to students
​from the 
Vanuatu Institute of Teachers Education 
Picture
Aidan Bent plants a coconut tree after laying his fathers ashes to rest in the grounds of VITE.
​John Bent arrived in Vanuatu in 1969 to lecture at Kawenu Teachers Training College (VITE) before moving to Lakataro in Malekula as the District Education Officer. When John returned to the UK distance did not break his ties with Vanuatu. His home in Evington, Leicester, became a base for many a Vanuatu student studying in Britain. John returned to Vanuatu on numerous occasions and helped many Ni-Vanuatu families especially with their children’s school fees. It was this that gave the Bent family the idea to set up a trust, John Bent Memorial Fund, to continue his vision of helping young students. In 2016 this trust fund was handed to the Nabanga Pikinini Association to administer. 
Photo gallery of the 2017 scholarship awards
Michaela Bent and her fiance Cullum Law hand the scholarships to 22 students.
Ben Boulekouran (acting head of VITE) announces the names of the successful students. 
Anne Pakoa ~ chairperson of the Nabanga Pikinini Association addresses the students. 
Congratulations to
John  Pakoa                     Thompson Samson                    Don Lifu                                 Georginalyn Hakaliu
Jeanifer Banga                 Linda Vira Qwetovora                Josian Salvan                         Robson Moses
Debra Loli                         Florida Liu                                  Marie Antoinette Yaput           Roby Naes
Geraldine Rangi               Johna Lop                                  Sabrina Philip                         Sonalie Karai
Ivanna Umou                    Erina Willy                                  Yves Sizai                              Pascaline Barako
Rachael Are                     Olivier Musurwok
A song was sung by this group of very talented girls ~ thank you for ending the ceremony on such a lovely note.  
Photo gallery of the 2016 scholarship awards
Congratulations to the following students :- 
Year Two students each received a scholarship of 12,500 Vt
Namol Valdina; Niala Nelly; Lop Johna; Yaput Marie Antoinette; Liu Kinneth; Malessy Jenny; Keke Revanah; Alguet Edwina
Naes Roby; Moses Robson; Hakaliu Georginalyn; Meltesaul Esneth; Banga Jeanifer
Year Three students each received a scholarship of 15,000 Vt  
Mape Cindy; MoliJannie  Dalian; Krem Linda; Paululum Nathalie Prisca; Wobas John Fox; Situ Nawa; Silas Trevor' Tari Lerina
Tasi Veliv; Iapson Kuras; Maile Florence; Wai Lorna; Tugu Erelyn; Morris Jayline; Basilio Giselda; Messipi Angelina
All illustrations, stories and photographs are  ©  Pauline Grindley and the Vanuatu Cultural Centre 2014. 
​Any unauthorised copying, editing or exhibition is strictly forbidden