YouMe Support Foundation

YouMe Support Foundation 1, is an independent non-profit charity formed in 2007, committed to giving underprivileged children the opportunity to participate more fully in society, through education.

YouMe Support Foundation provides high school education for children in third world countries in particular on the tropical island nation of Vanuatu Vanuatu, in the South Pacific.

The founders

Nelson Mandella's Nelson Mandella statement, “Education is the only way to make lasting changes” had a profound effect on the founders of YouMe Support Foundation, Wendy and Rick Tendys in the late 90's when they moved to Vanuatu after teaching English in Hong Kong.

Instead of retiring, they built a small accommodation business, Seachange Lodge and became deeply involved with a local community on Mota Lava Mota Lava, in the far north of the country.

After meeting a headmaster from a school on Mota Lava, the Tendys quickly discovered that the greatest need was for school supplies. It is common practice to break pencils into three in order to give children writing implements and exercise book are broken apart so each student can have some paper.

When Richard and Wendy (in their late 60’s) felt it was time to retire, they realized that if they sold the resort they would no longer be in a position to be able to assist the community, as they have been doing since 2004.

There is no free education in Vanuatu. Local government officials confirm that statistics have changed little since 1997:

   * 26% of children in Vanuatu never go to school at all
   * 55.8% of children reach year 6;
   * only 18.2% have the opportunity to go to high school

The Tendys evolved a business plan, with the blessing of the local government, to raffle Seachange lodge 2 on the Internet.

YouMe Support Foundation today

Selling raffle tickets internationally has proved a problem particularly due to the banking changes with the Late 2000's recessionLate-2000s_recession. Eventually a discount voucher system was developed that gives consumers a discount off accommodation at Seachange Lodge, gives them the opportunity to win a 7 day holiday at Seachange Lodge, as well as the opportunity to own the entire property for just a few dollars through a separate website 34.

The Foundation placed the first student into the high school program in January 2009 5. A twelve year old who was top of her class throughout primary school, but wouldn't have been able to go to high school. Her brother is the only other one of the four children to go to high school.

Goals

YouMe Support Foundation is over sighted by a six member Board of Directors, from the local business community in Port Vila Port Vila, Vanuatu, the headquarters of the charity. They are fully aware of the commitment the Foundation has made in promising to take students from high school, right through to tertiary education. A commitment that could embrace a ten-year plus period and involves everything from supplying a lamp for doing homework at night, through to doctor, or dental requirements where necessary. "You cannot take a child out of a corrugated iron shack, sleeping on a mat on a coral floor and give them bright promises for the future, to suddenly one day just abandon them says Wendy Stenberg.

You Me Support Foundation makes a long term commitment to every one of its students, to assist them to make a smooth transition from high school to work, or further education. The aim of the charity is to assist these underprivileged children to a clearer idea of their abilities, interests and the opportunities available to them and how to achieve their dreams.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship of individual children through YouMe Support Foundation 6 is welcome as the number of children who will never see the inside of a high school classroom, far outnumbers the ability of the Foundation. to provide for all of them, but want to assist as many children as possible.