Eighteen students from Christchurch Adventist School (CAS), in New Zealand, recently travelled to Vanuatu for a 12-day service trip, where they contributed to rebuilding a community centre and church in the village of Etas, near Port Vila.
The facility will serve as a place of worship and a vital cyclone shelter for the local community.
Working under challenging conditions, with high humidity and temperatures reaching 30°C, the Year 13 students hand-mixed and poured cement to complete 16 pylon holes over five days. Despite the demanding labour, the team celebrated their accomplishment as they poured the final barrow of cement, marking a significant step in the project.
Beyond construction, the students led church programs and connected with members of the Etas Adventist church. Their visit also included snorkelling off Pele Island and a tour of the Hope Channel Vanuatu studio.
“The students returned home with a sense of achievement and gratitude, having made a tangible difference in the lives of the Etas community,” a CAS spokesperson said.
The trip was supported by ADRA Vanuatu, ADRA NZ, CAS staff and the Etas church.
