Vanuatu’s Titan FX Dream beyond borders shortlisted in ICMA awards

October 1, 2026 11:08 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Vourie Molivakoro.

Elizabeth Mokoroe’s remarkable journey from Ambrym to Japan has taken Vanuatu onto the global stage, with a video telling her story shortlisted for the International Content Marketing Awards (ICMA).

The ICMA, presented by the Content Marketing Institute, is a global programme recognising excellence and innovation in content marketing across agencies, brands and in-house teams.

The official shortlist was announced in August, with Titan FX’s “Dream Beyond Borders – The Human Bridge That Helped Bridge Vanuatu” among the selected entries.

The nomination marks the first time Vanuatu has been represented in the awards, with the video shortlisted in the Best Videos – Individual category.

It joins entries associated with major international brands, including Woolworths from South Africa, McDonald’s from the Netherlands, Microsoft from Sweden and Kmart from Finland.

The video tells the story of Mokoroe, a 40-year-old mother of two from Ambrym, who dreamed of learning the Japanese language and culture and eventually made that dream a reality. She later used her experience to help build stronger links between Vanuatu and Japan.

Her journey began while she was working as a tour and desk officer at The Melanesian Hotel.

Although she had not completed her studies at Lycée Louis Antoine de Bougainville, she remained determined to pursue her ambitions.

It was at the hotel that she met Japanese visitor Asari Hiroshi, who offered her an opportunity that would change her life.

With his support, Mokoroe travelled to Hokkaido, Japan, at the age of 19, where she studied Japanese for two years before continuing her studies for four years at Dohto University in Kita-Hiroshima.

She eventually returned to Vanuatu and became involved in local administration, as well as working as a Japanese translator on a project through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Years later, she fulfilled a promise she had made to the Japanese man she came to regard as her father.

Helping to build a bridge between the two countries became a reality in a very literal sense when Japan, with support from JICA, funded the construction of the Teouma Bridge in Port Vila.

“A bridge is more than concrete. It connects people, families and dreams,” Mokoroe said.

For Mokoroe, the bridge represents more than infrastructure. It symbolises the connection between the two countries and the promise she made to Mr Hiroshi.

She said Mr Hiroshi’s kindness gave her the opportunity to pursue an education she once thought was beyond her reach, and she wanted to honour that opportunity by returning home and contributing to her community.

Mr Hiroshi has since passed away, and Mokoroe said she wished he were alive to hear that she had fulfilled the promise she made to him.

“I wish that he were alive, and my father here in Port Vila, who died very recently, so I can tell them,” she said.

She said the two men were among the first people who came to her mind when she received the news that her story had been shortlisted.

Mokoroe was also the winner of the Titan FX Dream Beyond Borders award last year, which helped bring her story to a wider audience.

“I am so thrilled and humbled by this big achievement.

“I would like to thank Titan FX for producing the video. It was through this video that we were shortlisted,” she said.

Titan FX Managing Director Martin St-Hilaire said the company was proud to see Mokoroe’s story recognised internationally.

“We are very proud that Elizabeth’s story has been shortlisted for an international award, standing alongside major global companies,” he said.

“Vanuatu is a small island nation, but there are many people here with big dreams. I am very happy that Titan FX could help create an opportunity to share their stories with people around the world.”

Mokoroe said her experience showed that people should not give up on their ambitions regardless of the obstacles they face.

“There is no dream too big or too small. Just keep on dreaming and believe that you can do it,” she said.

“There may be challenges, but take it one day at a time.”

The “Dream Beyond Borders” video was also shown at a tourism expo in Japan this month, further sharing Mokoroe’s story and Vanuatu’s connection with Japan with an international audience.