Vatu Rural Training Centre
Choiseul Province

Originally built for Catechism training, the centre was founded in 1995 by James Manegelea, a former student of St Martin RTC on Guadalcanal, and a teacher at Stuyvenberg, Makira. The community renamed the centre in 2002.
Vatu is well positioned, on flat, fertile land, close to the forest and ten minutes' walk from the seashore. The nearest village is just five minutes' walk away. We cater for school drop-outs who and aim to help young people become useful citizens, and leaders in their families and communities. in addition to our vocational programme, we have cocoa and coconut plantations, and we grow yam, beans, peanuts, shallots, potatoes and pana. We sell clothes, furniture and baked goods made by our students, and manage a small store. Sports activities at the centre include volleyball, soccer, swimming, and athletics.
We have a dedicated staff of six, all of whom work on a voluntary basis. We can accommodate 30 students, male and female, from all denominations. Some of our buildings are of permanent materials, and some are local leaf. Water is supplied by a well. We have no electric lights, so we use kerosene lamps after dark. We have a two-way radio for communication, and a Hilux for transport. The European Union provides support for materials, and there are plans to install a solar water pump and acquire a generator, build Mechanics and Carpentry workshops, and four staff houses. We are a Member of SIARTC.