Three Ni-Vanuatu volunteers will travel to New Caledonia for the first time under a new volunteer exchange programme, marking another milestone in the long-standing partnership between Vanuatu and France.

The announcement was made during celebrations commemorating 60 years of French volunteer service in Vanuatu, where an exhibition showcasing the stories and contributions of French volunteers was also presented at the Emmanuel Watt Gallery in Port Vila.

French Ambassador to Vanuatu, Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer, said the new exchange programme reflects the continued strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.

He also paid tribute to the hundreds of French volunteers who have served in Vanuatu since the 1960s, working alongside communities in education, health, community development, culture and environmental protection.

The exhibition, “Portraits and Stories of French Volunteers in Vanuatu,” features photographs and personal testimonies highlighting six decades of volunteer service and its impact on communities across the country.

Representative of France Volontaires, Ophélie Quilbeuf, said volunteering today is built on partnership rather than assistance alone.

“Volunteering today is not simply about providing assistance. It is about partnership, exchanging knowledge, sharing experiences and learning from one another.”

The exhibition also brought together former and current volunteers, partners and members of the public, providing an opportunity to reflect on the friendships, experiences and lasting relationships built over the past 60 years.

Organisers say the exhibition celebrates not only the history of French volunteerism in Vanuatu but also the enduring people-to-people ties that continue to strengthen relations between the two countries.