Remona is thrilled at the change in her community following the Disaster READY training run by CARE in Vanuatu. She is happy that the community attitudes towards women and the role they can play in preparedness and resilience has begun to shift. IMAGE: Hannah Marru/CARE in Vanuatu
By Johnas Santhy, Resilience Officer, CARE in Vanuatu
Remona Marru dreams of a different future for her community. Originally from Ambrym Island in Malampa Province and now a committed ‘Awareness Member’ in Iarkei East Community on Tanna, Remona speaks with a clarity shaped by both lived experienceand determination. Remona attended two days of training run by CARE through the Australian Government’s Disaster READY program. The training covered managing family finances, community-based adaptation, and writing grant proposals. She said it helped her see opportunities she had not recognised before.
“This training is one of the best courses I have attended,” she said. “We used to think that because we live in a disaster‑prone area, it was hard to earn money. But through this workshop, we identified many resources we can use to generate income.”
“When everyone shares ideas and works together, we develop our community,” Remona said. IMAGE: Hannah Marru/CARE in Vanuatu
For Remona, resilience is something she sees unfolding around her. Once, household responsibilities overshadowed community work but now she feels a renewed obligation and pride in her role as a community advocate. She speaks passionately about their vision for a safe house that doubles as a training space, especially as the church building can no longer shelter community gatherings after it was damaged by cyclones and earthquake.
Remona and her husband once lived in Port Vila, but returning home was a deliberate choice: a commitment to building something lasting for the next generation.
“We mothers focus on many tasks,” she says, “but the most important one is achieving our community vision. If mothers and fathers hold hands and work together with our children, we will surely achieve it.”
And change is already visible. The community feels more united. Respect flows more freely. Gardens are thriving, families are healthier, and the knowledge shared through CARE’s training—and reinforced by local churches—has sparked a new confidence.
Visitors often ask how the community sustains itself in such a remote place. Remona smiles at the memory. “We know our place and we know how to survive,” she said. “We thank God for what He provides. That is resilience.”
Another important change that Remona has witnessed is a shift in cultural norms. Long‑held beliefs that limited women’s voices are fading. Women now step into leadership roles including Vice Chairlady, Secretary, Treasurer, and Awareness Members in the CDCCC. Men have acknowledged the strength women bring and have opened space for shared leadership.
“When everyone shares ideas and works together, we develop our community,” she said.
For the people of Iarkei East Tanna, the refresher workshop was a reminder of what unity, knowledge, and empowerment can build. For Remona, it reaffirmed a dream she refuses to let go—one of resilience, dignity, and a community walking forward together.