Seeing ability in Vanuatu

For Nesther, World Vision’s Water, Women, and Disability research in Vanuatu was more than just a job opportunity, rather it was one of the first times her abilities had been highlighted rather than her disability.

"My rheumatic cardiac condition affected my relationships... my condition resulted in me missing out on sports and many other activities at home, in the community and at school and losing my self-confidence... I was so happy when the World Vision project employed me for the survey."

Nesther is among 20 per cent of enumerators with a disability who were employed as part of World Vision's inclusive initiative in Vanuatu as part of the Water for Women Laetem Dak Kona project.

In partnership with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Vanuatu National Statistics Office, the survey Nesther helped conduct formed part of research targeting a total population of 64,000 people in the two northern provinces of Sanma and Torba. This research will provide much-needed information about access to and experience of Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and continence management amongst persons with disabilities, alongside those without disabilities, women in particular.

“During the survey I was surprised by the number of children living with disabilities who were kept at home because schools were not inclusive and because parents would consider their other children over them,” said Nesther.

Preliminary research results support Nesther’s experience, finding that Children with disabilities were much less likely to be attending school than children without disabilities (46% of children with disabilities vs 87% children without disabilities). 61% of children with a disability had never attended school. 

Research analysis is ongoing and a full report will be released in the coming months. Nesther is optimistic about how this information gathered will greatly assist the government and organisations helping people with disabilities, and so are we!