Vanuatu has been voted the ‘World’s Happiest Country’ by several major travel organisations and it is easy to see why. Surrounded by crystal-clear tropical waters, forest and amazing natural attractions, the place is a paradise.

Grahak Cunningham spent several days there in July and took the torch to the community. Vanuatu school kids joined with millions of others around the world by participating in the run. 

He started at Pango Play School, which Leimara Jimmy runs from her converted house. A widower, she spends hours with the children everyday. With little money, the children are cared for largely from her heart power. At Pango Play Group, Grahak was joined by a group of Australians, led by Hannah, who were there gaining work experience or enjoying playing with the kids.

From there the torch went to Kawenu Primary. A somewhat daunting task for lone Wold Harmony Run team member Grahak, as it was a solo presentation in front of 370 kids. It all went well and the kids were led out with the torch by their top running student Joseph who is one of the countries best junior runners. Evelyn Toa from Vanuatu’s Independent Newspaper came along and was touched by the run and its message. 

At Vila East Primary the local TV crew arrived to film the torch. The children were unbelievedly excited – they mobbed the camerman and broke into an ecstatic dance in front of the torch and camera.

Grahak then made his way back to Pango and the main English Primary school, Pango Primary. The children were well drilled in singing and their enthusiastic rendition of the song was the best on the island. 

Lastly, Grahak visited his gracious host Dorry Albert of Tree Top Bungalows. Her warm smile was indicative of the Vanuatu people. The locals all speak a minimum of three languages. Their local village dialect, Pigin (a mixture of dialects, French and English) and French or English.

Dorry kindly translated Sri Chinmoy’s poem for Ashrita Furman in his latest World Record attempt to have a poem translated into as many dialects and languages as possible.

Be like a child,
Act like a child.
Go from one flower to another
In your heart-garden
Until you find complete joy
And perfect satisfaction.
                     – Sri Chinmoy

Bislama translation

Mekem olsem wan pikinini
Actem olsem wan pikinini
Ko from wan flawa ia iko long narawan
Insuet long garan long hart blong yu
Iko kasem wei yu complitim glad hart ia
Mo satisfaem igud

Pango Language (Nafsan)

Iwel tesa sesiskei
Pa fring wel tesa ses nen
Pa kruki nafumkas nag ru tmer nrokosir
Emrom nig napomme
Pan Pan Ku papnot na semsemswen
Ngo ku nrongwi kin.

STOP PRESS:  Vanuatu Today News covered the story in its July 20, 2010 edition.

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