24-7PressRelease/ - PORT VILA, VANUATU, August 19, 2008 - The opening of exhibitions at the prestigious Annandale Gallery, an 1860 Methodist church, converted to a Masonic Hall in 1920 and now a prestigious art gallery, in Trafalgar Street, Sydney, are always an event to be noted, on the social calendar.

The gallery has earned its reputation through Specializing in exhibitions of the best Australian and overseas modern art . The night of the 22nd July promised to be exceptional from the outset. Never before had this secret rare art of Vanuatu been displayed outside its home nation.

A group of nine Ni-Vanuatu artists, dressed in full regalia, would perform a major sacred ceremonial dance from the island of Ambrym at the opening. Altogether it sounded rather mysterious and lots of fun.

Drinking French champagne, the guests buzzed with excitement as they admired the wooden carved figures and masks. A four metre wooden drum towered over the guest's heads. One of the world's largest free standing musical instruments.

"This could easily be mistaken for modern art," explained the gallery curator, David Baker. "There is nothing like it anywhere in the world, apart from one slightly similar piece in a British museum."

Suddenly a barely clad figure stepped up to the drum(tam-tam). With a small wooden club he began to methodically beat on the lip of the face. A stylized face which had been carved to represent an ancestor. Narrow slit in the front of the drum allowing the ancestor to once more have a voice.

Then came four dancers, dressed from head to toe in a custom costume made from dry leaves. Their faces covered with brightly painted wooden masks, topped with plumes of chicken feathers.

The dancers slowly advanced towards the center of the room, planting their feet rhythmically on the floor, chanting as they moved as one. Another five dancers, dressed in full regalia of their secret society, rhythmically stomped their feet, clapped their hands and chanted in the centre of the group.

The Sydney ladies were in shock when they saw five mature Ambrym men dressed only with a wide bark belt slung low over their hips and a simple Nambas penis sheath barely covering their manhood.

The dancers concentrating on their sacred dance, appeared totally unaware of the sensation they were causing. Their gleaming well formed buttocks jiggling up and down to the beat of their dance.

During the ancient times any woman who gazed upon these dancers would have to be killed. Fortunately the Ambrym society has gone beyond this practice. Still no woman is permitted to make any physical contact with any of the dancers.

"When the dancers first entered the room it was rather difficult to know where to look," one of the woman guests explained to me later. "I haven't seen that much bare bottom since my four children were babies," she laughed.

With few modern communication devices in a land of over 153 distinct cultures and languages, life in the tropical islands of Vanuatu moves at a different pace.

Activities in the night are conducted in the flickering glow of a fire, the only light available, apart from the glow in the sky from the active volcano. Water from a tap is an unheard of luxury. The local garden is the grocery store, which villagers tend faithfully. A special chosen tree provides the dugout canoe that is used by the people to fish the deep ocean waters. Pigs are the wealth of a village, the top teeth being knocked out so the bottom teeth will grow into the highly prized and very valuable curled pig's tusk.

Education is the oral tradition handed down from father to son over the generations. Dance and songs, carvings and sand drawings tell the tales of their ancient traditions and culture. In many places the villagers still live as their ancestors have done for generations.

The chiefs are beginning to be aware of the educational needs of these remote islands. Many of the younger generation have lost the ability to understand the mystic language of the unique carved gongs. Chiefs have realized that education is the only way of the future if their ancient culture are to be preserved. This is seen in the decision to share their sacred art with the rest of the world.

The world of art has been set on its ears with the release of this secret and sacred art. The general public not aware of the wonderful secrets tucked away in the 'Must See' Travel Adventure Destination of the South Pacific, just 3 hours flight from Australia.

Vanuatu was known as the Happiest country on Earth after the voted in 2006. Yet, as this ancient society reaches out for the benefits of modern civilization, children dream of becoming pilots, teachers, engineers. Yet many of the villagers live on under $1 per day.

The inability to meet the demands of paying school fees has led to horrendous statistics in this tropical island paradise.

· 26% of children never go to school
· Only 55.8% of kids will get to year 6
· Only 18.2 % will go to high school.

In 2007 the Vanuatu government admitted that it did not have the resources to meet the needs of education in the nation. So many issues appear to be the priority in front of education.

YouMe Support Foundation and its Child Trust Fund is one of the few foundations assisting these children. Children who will never see the inside of a classroom without outside assistance.

YouMe Support Foundation is offering an innovative world first Blue Moon Opportunity that will make a difference in the lives of these children. It is an opportunity that can make a difference in your life. An opportunity you can't afford to miss.

About YouMe Support Foundation

YouMe Support Foundation, Vanuatu, a non-profit making charity, was founded in 2007. YouMe Support Foundation provides non-repayable higher education grants to children from geographically and economically underprivileged areas. The Foundation staff and advisers have all been involved in the education system and never underestimate the importance of giving a child the opportunity to gain an education. YouMe Support Foundation will follow the students through their chosen careers choices and where possible encourage the students to use their new found knowledge to improve the life of the community on their home island.

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