INDUSTRY stalwarts Gary and Collette Porter are leading a group of travel industry literati helping support the communities of Aneityum, the southernmost island of Vanuatu.
The Australian couple and eight industry colleagues have set up The Aneityum Island Community Fund (AICF), a not-for-profit charity established to supply much needed help to the island.
Working directly with the Paramount Chief of Aneityum, the Chief’s Council and the Health Committee, AICF’s aim is to help the island in the many areas it is needed, such as urgently required health & medical equipment, schooling & education aids, tsunami safety systems, basic sanitation needs, and filtered water supplies.
The pair, which splits its time between Vanuatu and Moama, NSW, has set the charity’s goal of raising the basic living standards on Aneityum – a situation inflamed by the tourism income the communities have lost due to COVID-19.
Cruise Ships made up 98% of Aneityum’s tourism income prior to the pandemic and enabled the local Aneityumese community to send their children to school, and in some cases, further education.
One of the first mandates of the AICF has been to set up a lottery, raffling off a 10-night, all expenses paid holiday to Aneityum.
The first lotto offers stays at Nasama Resort, Island Breeze Bungalow, and more, with a view to hosting regular giveaways in the future.
To buy a lottery ticket and for full prize details, click here.
