FREE RANGE PIKININI
I was surrounded by a gang in Port Sandwich. The squad of 4 years olds held me up with their bright eyes and Bislama banter. They ruled their turf fiercely with laughter, cheek, and infectious grins. Barefoot, bare chests, and open hearts. Their giggles rang out as they tore up the village, throwing English words at us, and then peeling away with laughter. They belly-laughed so hard when I showed them these photos. I gave them stickers, they stroked my hair - a good trade. Oh, my heart. I loved this posse so much, I went looking for them to play.
The children in Vanuatu are truly free-range. I came across these four intensely making sandcastles on a remote beach on Tanna Island 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon. No parents, no lifeguards, no watches. Siblings pile into dugout canoes, 3 kids deep, to paddle, in uniform to and from school. On Erromunga Island Camilla left her 3-month-old baby sleeping in the grass hut while she showed us around the island for a few hours. Walking on Malekula Island, a high-pitched ‘hello’ came from high up in the treetops, a wee 4-year-old perched solo saying hi to white people walking by. The kids are alright in Vanuatu.
