A Dunedin rotary club has raised $60,000 with the help of other South Island clubs to build a kindergarten in Vanuatu.
The project, which started before the Covid-19 pandemic, has finally come to fruition after years of fundraising.
The Dunedin Harbour Rotary Club had initiated the project and had received support from other South Island clubs as well as Rotary International.
Construction was expected to begin in May at the village of Amelvet on the island of Malekula.
The building would measure 10m by 6m and provide space for 28 kindergarten pupils, with additional pupils from other villages.
The village’s last preschool was blown away in a cyclone but the new building would be able withstand any future cyclones.
The club had initially planned an overseas project dating back 12 years.
While it had done work in Vanuatu since, the kindergarten would be its biggest project so far.
Four New Zealand workers would be sent to Vanuatu to complete the project.
They would transport concrete, reinforcing structural steel, corrugated iron and the inner lining of the building.
The project would be overseen by a local builder who had built similar structures in many other villages.
They had consulted the island supervisor in Port Vila who helped them with the logistics of transporting the materials.
They had previously visited the island and were inspired to give back.
"When you see what you can do for them, it’s just as well that we can provide this opportunity for them," Mr Wilson said.
"We feel that we can do it and we’re going to do it."
