Each year since 2005, the Vanuatu men have traveled across the ocean to attend
the annual Sandroing (sand drawing) Festival.
The Sandroing festival is a
time for isolated communities to gather together to express their ancient ways
through art. This tropical islands archipelago has over 150 distinct cultures
and languages
Each year the Festival occurs at a different location, in
the northern tropical islands of Vanuatu. This can prove to be a deep
disappointment for some artists as it hinders their involvement. The northern
islanders of Torba Province can抰 make the journey in their canoes, across the
wide expanses of wild ocean, when the Festival is held to the south.
The
sailing canoe, part of the Festival, recognizes the close historical link
between sand drawings and inter-island canoe voyaging.
An extensive network
of relationships developed between different language groups. Songs, stories and
rituals were dispersed and modified. With difficulty in communication, because
of the different languages, sand drawing became a form of
communication.
The Sand drawings are precise, geometric patterns,
produced directly in the sand with the finger. They convey a wealth of knowledge
about local history, rituals and cosmologies, kinship systems, natural phenomena
and farming techniques.
In 2003, Vanuatu Sand Drawing was proclaimed a
"Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO. In
2004, UNESCO/Japan Funds-In-Trust For the Preservation and Promotion of
Intangible Cultural Heritage, began to fund a program to safeguard sand drawing
in Vanuatu.
A skilled artist must have a steady hand, a strong
understanding of the graphic patterns and motifs, and a deep understanding of
their significance. Sand drawers must be able to interpret the drawings for
spectators.
Sandroing Festival includes other ancient traditions such as
dances, games, magic shows, story-telling, string figures and weaving
demonstrations.
The acknowledgment by UNESCO of the sand drawing
tradition strengthens the Vanuatu peoples?resolve to maintain their traditions,
whilst going forward into the 21st century.
Vanuatu, a Lesser Developed
Country of the South Pacific, recognizes the urgent need to educate the next
generation, if Vanuatu is to move forward into the 21st century.
Many of
the villagers live on isolated islands in a no-cash economy. The government
admitted in late 2007, that it does not have the finances to provide free
education and the islanders can抰 pay the required school fees.
The dire
consequences of this are:
?only 55.8% of Vanuatu kids will get to grade
6;
?of those only 18.2% will go to high school ;
?26% will never go to
school at all.
YouMe Support Foundation is raffling a resort on the
Internet in a unique, world first, to raise funds to educate these children. You
can visit our website for your Blue Moon Opportunity.
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