ABC AUSTRALIA

Bibingo komiuniti statim skul taem ol tija i straek

Teacher’s union called a strike over pay disputes. The public education system is on hold in Port Vila. Many schools are closed. Parents without knowing what to do, were happy to know that the Bibingo Squad found a solution for their worries.

Cynthia, James and Alice are members of the Ekoftau Environment and Wellbeing Association and organizers “The Voice of Erakor Lagoon”. They had a discussion, on Sunday afternoon, about the logistics of preparing the Theatre Play – Bibingo, to participate in a broader organization with other activities to make awareness about the state of the Erakor Lagoons Restoration Plan, organised by the Chief of Solwota, Marik Woute, and Chief of Erakor Bridge, Marik Koftau II, on behalf of the Council of Chiefs of Erakor. This is inspired on the previous events from 2022. organised by the community of Erakor Bridge.

Bibingo is a theatre play written by the late Chief Maril Koftau, Timothy Andrew Director of Natontong Theatre group, based on a Kustom story of Erakor. This play was prepared on the request of the children to make awareness to the people to protect the Erakor Lagoons. It was played in April 2022 at the Espace Cultural Alliance Francaise and at the Erakor Bridge in November 2022.

In the last weeks, without school, children have been restless without anything to do. Despite of all free time, it has been hard to have all children ready on time to practice the Bibingo play, without adult supervision.

Sunday, after a discussion on how to get the rehearsals going on in a better structured way, Cynthia, now student representative on the School Board, James, teachers’ representative, and Alice, School Principal, decided to create the Ekoftau Bibingo School, with a proper structured timetable, so children are able to get a routine and be ready on time to performing the Bibingo Reharsals.t this was an opportunity to catch up with the formal school-work and have a dedicated time for the “school package” provided by each respective school.

Additionally, Ekoftau Bibingo School has Environment, Health, Hygiene Sports, Drawing and Gardening subjects. If more volunteers are available to teach more subjects are able to be accommodated to the Timetable 8AM to 4PM, Monday to Friday, until the children is ready to perform again Bibingo. The Theatre play is planned to be played in the 3^rd edition of “The Voice of Erakor Lagoon”, most likely at Espace Cultural Alliance Francaise in a date to be determined and the island Nugna, where late Chief Timothy agreed with Unakap Chief a cultural and Kustum exchange with Erakor Bridge on Environmental Protection.

The Ekoftau Bibingo School, with 25 students, starts with a School Assembly with Teachers, Students and Parents at 8AM finishing with a pray. The first subject is Bibingo rehearsal, Health and Environment, Drawing, School Package, Sports and Bibingo again till 4PM.

New subjects may be inserter into the curriculum, depending on the availability of volunteers to teach.

It is not the first time, at Erakor Bridge, that the community see a crisis as an opportunity.

The children are proud of themselves, full of energy and want to continue the legacy of their late chief on the protection of the Erakor Lagoons.

Yumi On nomo Tukfa!

Erakor Bridge aims to be a school as a community and host visitors who may want to know about their love for a Beautiful Lagoon and environment.