Access to clean water, food security and even basic services like health care and education are some of the biggest challenges faced by children and communities in the Solomon Islands.
We chatted to Brenda Daya, a Programme Manager here at ChildFund about what life is like in the remote villages where ChildFund works.
With your support and by collaborating with local organisations and government we can help remove the barriers that stop children and communities from reaching their potential.
What are the most significant challenges communities face in the Solomon Islands?
In the very remote areas in Temotu Province where we work, the biggest challenges are:
- Access to clean water and sanitation
- Food security
- Basic services such as electricity, healthcare, and education
- Earning an income
- Impacts of climate change
Solomon Islands has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world and violence against children is also a significant concern.
What are some of the projects ChildFund is working on to address these challenges?
In Temotu Province we are partnering with local organisation, Greenergy Pacific, to implement a project to improve clean water access, food security, and disaster response capacity on Santa Cruz Island.
What does this mean for children and communities?
- Children will have more time in class and with their families because they will have water access in their village. Time won’t be spent walking hours to collect water.
- Families will have a more stable food supply and income through teaching families farming techniques and how to grow crops.
- Children are learning gardening and cooking in class so they can learn about the importance of nutritious food.
- Fish and produce can be preserved and enjoyed year-round in new solar-powered community freezers.
What was a highlight from spending time with the Solomon Islands ChildFund team and communities?
There are so many highlights! The main one has to be the warmth and genuine welcome of the people in Temotu. Because these projects stem from the priorities and ideas of the communities themselves, everyone is invested and involved in their success. Daily life is pretty challenging but parents and community leaders are excited and hopeful to be leading the changes to build a better life for their children.
Can you share a story or moment from your trip that has stuck with you?
We were doing a community consultation in a village called Noipe in the centre of Santa Cruz Island. The community split into groups of women, youth, and men and discussed the main challenges and problems they faced in daily life. They then ranked them in order of priority and identified possible solutions. One woman who was a teacher at the local school and also a mother, was presenting back to the community at the end of the session on the priorities and challenges identified by the women of Noipe. She became very emotional when talking about the number one priority of clean water and sanitation – she talked about the impact that dirty water has on mothers, and children, and families – on the health of children and their education. Even though she was crying, her voice stayed strong because she knew how important it was to speak and advocate for her community.
To support these communities monthly or with a generous one-off donation
