One woman’s passion to transform inequality in paradise

One woman’s passion to transform inequality in paradise

What happens when you want to leave your online life behind and search for a ‘real’ life experience?

You move to a poverty-stricken shantytown in a remote part of Vanuatu, an island paradise slowly being devoured by the ocean, where women have no status despite being the backbone of their communities.

Bridget Isichei, a young Generation X teacher from New Zealand wanted to change the status quo. Road No Good is her story about how she helped transform the women from remote villages on the island of Santo to create a future for their children.

Bridget soon discovered that in the local village hierarchy, women were ranked at the bottom of their society but men were seen as having God-given rights.

Bridget writes: ‘I really had no idea what I was in for when I accepted a two-year volunteer post to train women to be preschool teachers in a remote part of Vanuatu.

‘The outcry was uproarious; women should know their place – and know better than to try to improve themselves!’

‘When I decided to enrol the women I was working with in a correspondence teaching course, I could never have predicted the fierce opposition my plan would face from every corner of the community. The outcry was uproarious; women should know their place – and know better than to try to improve themselves!

‘I was really amazed at the strength the women showed as they overcame huge challenges to get to our study group. I was also surprised at the numerous people in the community who couldn’t see the value of what we were doing, even to the point where I became sure some were trying to sabotage our chance of success.'

Praise for Road No Good

“Bridget Isichei’s book about the mutual impact of a young woman and an unknown land is my pick of the year. I can’t stop thinking about it. Road No Good is that once-a generation armful of books that becomes part of you and stays with you for life”

Ames Holbrook, author of Discharge and The Deporter.

“Bridget Isichei’s honest account, Road No Good, about her quest to make a difference is inspirational”

Robyn Ewing AM, Professor of Teac

Bridget Isichei has worked as a teacher and teacher- trainer in the early childhood sector in New Zealand, England, Thailand, Vanuatu and Australia. She has been nominated for the HESTA advancing pedagogy and practice award and has written for Australia’s most prominent early childhood education publication, Every Child Magazine. Bridget currently lives in New Zealand with her husband, two children and two dogs. This is her first book.

Road No Good by Bridget Isichei is published simultaneously in Australia and New Zealand on 1 February 2017 by Finch Publishing, Sydney. Retail price $29.99 (Aust) and $32.99 (NZ); colour photos; paperback; ISBN 978 1925048 827

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