Mala, 23 is working as an intern with CARE in Vanuatu, learning about how to educate her community about Disaster Risk Reduction. She is keen to continue working in this field. © CAREMala Silas left school at 12, but despite this became a kindergarten teacher. In June 2010 CARE started working closely with Youth Challenge Vanuatu to provide internship opportunities to local young people. Mala took one of these internships. She has learnt about training her community in disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and is inspired to continue this work.
Mala, 23, is from Tanna Island in southern Vanuatu. Both her parents were not educated, and they did not have the resources to send Mala and her five siblings to secondary school. ‘It was very sad for me when my parents told me that I had to leave school. However, it didn’t discourage me,’ Mala says.
Despite finishing school at the age of 12, Mala was selected by her church leaders to be a kindergarten teacher. She received additional training and support in her role there, which helped to lead her to an internship with CARE.
"I wanted to help fight poverty"
‘I agreed to join CARE and work as a volunteer because I wanted to learn more and improve my skills and knowledge. When I came to understand CARE’s mission and vision I really liked it. I wanted to help fight poverty and to help people increase their understanding of disaster risk reduction and build their capacity to be better prepared to meet any hazards,’ Mala says.
With CARE, Mala has taken part in training on disaster risk reduction, emergencies, climate change. She has also learnt about training others and taken field preparations, designed to help prepare staff and volunteers for a two month field trip in which they collect data and conduct community risk assessments.
‘Through the training at CARE, I’ve learnt about many things that I never understood before. I’ve learnt how we can respond to the needs of people when there is an emergency or when they’re at risk. I learnt how a gender balance for women, men, girls and boys helps treat women and men fairly.’
‘Lastly, I’ve learnt about the rights of different people, including disabled people and how we can help them to be a part of the community. With all the training that I’ve participated in so far, I know it will help me to understand different situations that people are in. It will also help me identify the people who are most at risk.’
CARE’s aim in engaging young people in community development through internships is to empower future generations to help their fellow citizens prepare for natural disasters. Internships also provide unemployed youth with a positive opportunity to develop their skills and job prospects. The experience stands them in good stead for future job opportunities. The majority go on to secure employment after completing the Youth Challenge programme.
Future career goal
Mala is keen to continue the work she has started with CARE and help her community and others be better prepared for the risks they face:
‘Now my future career goal is to be part of the CARE team to fight poverty and to help people around the world who are most at risk, including the people in my community, to reduce their vulnerability and be better prepared to face hazards in the future.’
With the support of the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), CARE International is currently implementing an 18-month disaster risk reduction and climate change awareness project. The project aims to increase the resilience of at-risk remote communities to the impact of natural hazards and climate change. CARE’s internship project with Youth Challenge Vanuatu is part of this project, along with work with other partners.
