A trip to Kiribati to see the ministries of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan first-hand has given Good Sams Foundation Executive Director Sonya Mears valuable insights into the people and the culture and paved the way for the Foundation to help fund two projects to help support the community.
By Debra Vermeer
Sonya visited the Pacific island nation for eight days last month and said she was overwhelmed by the natural beauty of Kiribati.
“It was so beautiful,” she said. “I wasn’t prepared for how very pretty and tropical it is, the colour of the water and the sky and the white coral sand. It was gorgeous.
“And staying with the Sisters was amazing too, to get to know them and to see first-hand their care for the community and their knowledge of the people around them and their compassion.”
Sister Michelle Reid SGS (left) accompanied Sonya Mears to Kiribati. Image: Good Sams Foundation.
The Good Sams have had a presence in Kiribati for more than 30 years, and today there are two communities of Sisters, one in Abaokoro and the other at Temaiku.
The Sisters are engaged in a variety of educational, pastoral and community development ministries in Kiribati. These include running the Good Samaritan Early Childhood Learning Centre, visiting the elderly, engaging in Lectio Divina in the village and at Te Meeria Ward (Mental Hospital) and the Prison at Bairiki.
They provide cultural preparation for people preparing to take up seasonal work in Australia. They offer pastoral care to patients at the psychiatric hospital and those in prison, and support people with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Sister Ameria Etuare SGS is on staff at Kiribati Teachers College where Sister Taabeia Ibouri SGS is a student. Sister Kawi Arebonto SGS is a teacher at Kiribati School and Centre for Children with Disabilities.
The Sisters also remain active in the Kiribati Pastoral Institute (KPI), a diocesan pastoral institute for young leaders.
Sonya, who was accompanied by Sister Michelle Reid SGS on her visit, spent time at both Abaokoro and Temaiku, and said her time with the children at the pre-school in Abaokoro, during which they shared their rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was a highlight.
Meanwhile, in Temaiku she joined the Sisters in their ministries and observed the work underway on renovating their previous convent for outreach purposes.
Sonya said the first-hand immersion in the life and culture of the people of Kiribati gave extra context to the work of the Good Sams Foundation in supporting the Sisters’ ministries there.
“While Kiribati is surrounded by aqua waters and coral sand, its natural beauty can hide a harsh reality,” Sonya said. “Kiribati is one of the poorest nations in the Pacific, with approximately 30 per cent of its population living on less than $3.20 per day, according to the World Bank.”
She said even more concerning were statistics showing that nearly 20 per cent of the population is classified as multidimensionally poor, with an additional 30 per cent vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.
Kiribati is surrounded by aqua waters and coral sand. Image: Good Sams Foundation.
“Kiribati faces unique challenges,” she said. “Its small population, limited private sector, and scarce employment opportunities make economic growth difficult. Climate change further exacerbates these hardships, with rising tides, drought and saltwater intrusion threatening the supply of fresh food and drinking water.”
Sonya said one of the important pathways to a better future for the people of Kiribati is education.
“Providing quality learning opportunities equips children and communities with the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty and build a more resilient, prosperous future,” she said.
“That’s why the Good Sams Foundation has made education the cornerstone of its work in Kiribati. We know that illiteracy and early school dropout rates are directly linked to unemployment, poor health outcomes and intergenerational poverty.”
Sonya said that this year, the Foundation’s focus in Kiribati is on two transformative initiatives.
The first is raising awareness for the Sisters’ new outreach centre at Temaiku, South Tarawa.
“With South Tarawa’s population rapidly growing, this centre will be a welcoming gathering space offering hospitality and the opportunity to share ideas and find support for personal challenges,” she said.
In 2009, the Sisters opened a pre-school in Abaokoro. Image: Good Sams Foundation.
The second is raising funds to provide playground equipment and learning aids for the Sisters’ early learning centre in Abaokoro village, North Tarawa, which Sonya said would be important, educational building blocks for the pre-schoolers living on the island, which is a 45-minute motorboat ride from the capital and main centre of Kiribati.
“It’s widely accepted that early childhood education sets children up for lifelong success,” she said. “However, access remains limited in Kiribati, especially on the remote islands.
“In 2009, the Sisters opened a pre-school in Abaokoro village for children between 3-5 years of age.
“To alleviate financial burdens, attendance costs at the Abaokoro Kindergarten are free or heavily subsidised. Many families pay with in-kind-services, such as volunteering at the school in exchange for their children’s education. This system not only ensures accessibility but also fosters dignity and a strong sense of community.
“The Kindergarten is more than just a place of learning – it is a foundation for future success. Through interactive play, creative arts, and essential lessons on health, hygiene and environmental care, these small children gain the skills they need to continue their studies and improve their resilience.”
Sonya said the play equipment to be funded by the Foundation would include a climbing frame or see-saw to assist in developing the children’s balance and motor skills. And while it is difficult to source materials for such equipment in Kiribati, she is hoping that both projects might be complete by the end of the year.
“The Sisters in Kiribati are very good at being neighbour,” Sonya said. “They are inspiring. I loved my time with them, and I can’t wait to go back, because once you’ve gone and spent time there and scoped things out, then you can go down deeper and learn more at the next level.”
Donations to the Good Sams Foundation for projects making a difference to families living in Kiribati can be made via the Foundation’s website. In Australia, donations over $2 are tax deductible.
