Three participants living with disabilities are taking part in the Vanuatu National and International Friendly Skills Competition 2026 in Port Vila for the first time, showcasing their skills and promoting greater recognition of the abilities of people with disabilities.

The competition brings together participants from eight countries, providing an opportunity to share knowledge, learn from one another and raise the standard of skills training in Vanuatu.

Among the three participants are Alon Alvea, a wheelchair user and owner of Solway Auto Machinery Repair in Santo, and Foran Tom, from Etas, who repairs grass cutters and chainsaws.

The participants are using the event to demonstrate their abilities and send a strong message to the public that disability does not mean inability.

Alon encourages young people to believe in their abilities

Alon attended the competition to showcase his small-engine repair skills and encourage young people living with disabilities to pursue their interests and believe in what they can achieve.

“I want to advocate to the public and let them know that people living with disabilities can do things too. Do not look down on yourself or think you cannot do something because of your disability.”

Alon established Solway Auto Machinery Repair in 2018. His business provides repair services for two-stroke and four-stroke engines.

He attended the competition to showcase his skills rather than compete, and acknowledged his wife, Esliphone Boemarban, who accompanied him and supports him as his carer and business partner.

Esliphone said the couple had been together since 2017 and started their business in 2018. She said supporting Alon through the challenges of running a business had not always been easy, but they continued to stand together.

“We can smile to other people, but what we have gone through is not easy.”

Esliphone said their faith in God had helped them face challenges and that they continued working towards a better future for their children.

She encouraged young people to recognise their own abilities and not judge people by their disabilities.

“We should not look at their disability, but at their ability.”

Foran’s skills recognised by his community

Foran Tom is also using the competition as an opportunity to showcase his skills in repairing grass cutters and chainsaws.

His mother, Jenny Tom, said Foran developed an interest in repairing equipment when he was young. After seeing others working on equipment, he would pick up items and try to fix them himself.

Jenny said people in their community now bring grass cutters and chainsaws to Foran when they need repairs.

She said she was happy to see her son participating in the competition and demonstrating his skills.

Promoting inclusive participation

Juliette Yakis, Community-Based Inclusive Development Officer for the Vanuatu Society for People with Disabilities (VSPD) in the Erakor area council, said it was the first time VSPD had participants with disabilities attend the Skills Competition.

She thanked Vanuatu Skills Partnership and its partners for making it possible for Alon and Foran to attend and showcase their skills.

Yakis encouraged other people living with disabilities not to allow their impairments to prevent them from pursuing their goals.

Knox Lanny, Disability Inclusion Coordinator at Vanuatu Skills Partnership, said the organisation was pleased to support participants with disabilities at the event.

He said the competition provided an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their skills and supported the aims of the National Disability Inclusive Development Policy, which promotes inclusion and the rights of people with disabilities across different sectors.

Lanny said three participants with disabilities were taking part, supported by their carers, with accommodation assistance provided by Vanuatu Skills Partnership.

He said the longer-term goal was for people with disabilities to compete in the inclusion category within the next two to three years, alongside other participants.