Australia funds several community projects in Solomon Islands

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On Tuesday 8 August, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Member for Hograno/Kia/Havulei Hon Jeremiah Manele, Member for South Choiseul Hon Sammy Galo, Member for East Are’Are Hon Peter Kenilorea Jnr, and Premier Tongua Tabe of Choiseul Province witnessed Project Coordinators from across Solomon Islands being awarded grants for community infrastructure. Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands HE Rod Hilton wished the project coordinators well in implementing their projects and expressed Australia’s long-term support for small-scale infrastructure through community partnerships.

High Commissioner Hilton said “I’ve seen first-hand the difference that the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership can make to those living in villages in Solomon Islands, particularly through community infrastructure. These projects directly support community needs, and Australia is proud to work with Solomon Islands communities to deliver them.”

The project coordinators and other community leaders explained how this funding would impact their communities at the grassroots level. Mr Harisimae, Project Coordinator of the Halevaka Canoe House in Temotu Vatud Constituency, said “thank you to Australia for helping us to improve our livelihoods in a remote part of Solomon Islands. We want to help our young people learn traditional ways of building canoes to preserve our culture – this new project will help us do that”. Mr Hatingongo, Project Coordinator of the Taubangibo Borehole Brackish Water Project, told attendees how important fresh water supply is for people in Rennell & Bellona Province, saying “this new project will give fresh water to our community”. Ms Isarongo, Project Coordinator of the Katova Community High School Amenity Infrastructure Project, explained the importance of good quality sanitation infrastructure for students, to encourage attendance at school.

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Thirteen projects were selected out of 61 applications, based on the standard of their applications and how they demonstrated benefit to the community.

The successful projects are spread across various provinces and include:

• A borehole, solar powered pump and water tanks in Bubumala, North-West Guadalcanal Constituency
• A new concrete footpath, concrete drains and solar lighting at Wagina Community High School in South Choiseul Constituency
• The completion of a classroom building at GS Faisi Technical Vocational School in East HoniaraConstituency
• An ablution block at Baenga Primary School in Temotu Nende Constituency
• A Halevaka Canoe House in Duff Islands, in Temotu Vatud Constituency
• A community hall at Hatagua Community School in Rennell and Bellona Constituency
• A borehole water supply project in Taubangibo, in Rennell and Bellona Constituency
• An ablution block at Taba’a Parish, in North Malaita Constituency
• An ablution block and water tanks Mt Olive Primary School, in North Malaita Constituency
• A footbridge connecting 200 people in two communities in Nukiki, in North-West ChoiseulConstituency
• An ablution block Katova Community High School , in Hograno/Kia/Havulei Constituency
• A community hall and resource centre in, Raeao, in East Are’Are Constituency
• And a climate change mitigation sea wall in Horara, Gao/Bugotu Constituency

Australia’s Community Partnerships Fund is a small grants program, which supports community-led projects that seek to improve living standards. These community projects reach widely across Solomon Islands – and Australia is looking forward to continuing our collaboration with communities across the Hapi Isles.

We strongly encourage applications for projects that benefit disadvantaged groups such as women, youths, those with disabilities and those from isolated communities.

The Australian High Commission will open the next funding round in the coming weeks, to be announced via our Facebook page.