Home | About Us | Network | Programmes | Forum | Search | Links | Contact Us

Back to SIDT News Letter January February March April May Inside this Issue   SIDT News SIDT Workshop and Trainings SIDT Project Updates SIDT FAQ                       Working for  a better Solomon Islands future   Phone: (677) 23409/26823(public phone) Fax: (677) 21131 Email: sidt@solomon.com.sb    contact BRENDA ABOUT your articles for LINK.   Solomon Islands Development Trust wishes to  thank AusAID through Australia Foundation for Asia (Africa) and the Pacific for making   it possible  for funding the production of this newsletter.                     “Life is always changing especially when our cultural values are battling against the modern ways”

SIDT News GDA signs agreement between Komvitho Project and SIDT Ecoforestry/ Greenpeace The Guadalcanal Development Authority (GDA) has signed an agreement with the Komvitho Ecotimber Project and  Solomon Islands Development Trust Ecoforestry/ Greenpeace. Komvitho Project has great potential. It has met all criteria  except the availability of machineries. To meet the machineries criteria Komvitho approached GDA for  assistance under the advise of SIDT Ecoforestry/ Greenpeace. GDA offered assistance in a form of a loan to Komvitho Project on the condition that they must join the SIDT Ecoforestry/Greenpeace as part of sustainable harvesting. GDA presented a cheque of $80,000.00 to Komvitho upon signing to buy a Lucas Portable Mill from Timol Enterprises. Repayments will be done by timber exports made through Village Eco-timber Exporters (VETE) by Komvitho Project. This is the first of its kind for a Provincial Government to offer assistance. It was assured that once turn out to be a success,  GDA is prepared to assist  more projects in this kind of field in the future.  Rove’s First Graduates On 20th May, guards and prisoners of Rove Prison witnessed a special event. It’s not usual for prisoners to be the centre of attention except when something goes wrong.  But in this case, something special went very well and the prisoners were at the very centre of attention. Twenty one inmates attended a graduation. It was their graduation (and they have certificates to prove it) from a 12 weeks course on Restorative Justice Program (RJP) given by the SIDT Staff. In marking the special event the Commissioner of  Prisons, Philip Norris made it clear that this was the kind of study he welcomed for prisoners to follow. After presenting prisoners with their certificates, he shared his thankfulness with the prisoners for sticking to the 12 week schedule of study, for the SIDT Staff for their consistent dedication and for other Rove Staff members for making it all happen. It was hoped that this training course and similar courses would be available to other inmates and others working in the Rove system. The Restorative Justice program (RJP) is really about restoring of traditional ways island people effectively used over centuries to defuse and overcome their conflicts. Challenges that face a Women Leader From Munda Western Province Eulsa Rex is married to Central Guadalcanal and has lived on Guadalcanal for the last 28 years. Being the Coordinator of Good Shepherd Parish for the past two years Eulsa has faced challenges  her work. In an interview she said that there has been little cooperation and it resulted in the failure of community activities. To be invited to attend the Guadalcanal Women’s Forum Eulsa described this as good and that it can restore what should be done at the first place. “ Now it is becoming daylight,” said Eulsa.  For Eulsa when there is little cooperation this cannot really support her work.  After the one day Forum Eulsa looks forward to change. Eulsa wishes to thank the SIDT/BLESS Project for the one day Forum as it was an eye opener so that women can work together to arrange leaders meeting in their different parishes. She stressed that working together is important for things to be done. Australian Youth Ambassador helps BLESS BLESS Project is now assisted by an Australian Youth Ambassador. She is Regan Field. Regan will be helping BLESS project for the next 12 months.   Regan is working as a volunteer under a scheme for young Australians under the AusAID Program. Prior to taking up the job with SIDT/BLESS, Regan worked with a local member of Parliament. After completing her studies in 2002 where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Science majoring in Environment Resource Management.   Regan will be assisting the BLESS project on management and capacity building. She is hoping to help the SIDT theatre group to share the little experience she gained in Australia while doing Play Back drama.    Being in the country for a month Regan can only say that the BLESS project is an exciting project and there is a lot to keep her busy.  However, Regan said that she is privileged to have the chance to know more about SIDT as a NGO. More into how the different departments work and in what ways different activities can link their work together.  UP SIDT WORKSHOP AND TRAININGS Women from North and Central Guadalcanal Constituencies attended a one day Forum at the Goldridge Re-location Village During the Forum Jenny Saki shared her speech on behalf of the Guadalcanal Women and it states: It is a pleasure indeed to have this opportunity to be able to stand here in front of you Big Men and Big Women to deliver these few humble words of mine. I stand here to express my views on what I see as pressing issues affecting our lives not only the mothers of North and Central Guadalcanal but all of us women in Guadalcanal.   North Guadalcanal for example as been a major contributor towards the National Economy, to name a few the former SIPL, the Pacific Timber, the rice development (BSA and GPL) and others not mentioned here. All these companies have come and gone but today we mothers have yet to see, touch and feel the real benefits they promised us years ago. Today, we mothers are beggars on our land.   There are many stories we want to share. Often our pleas have fallen into deaf ears. Many companies which have come in the past left little impact on our land in terms of infrastructure. Nothing or very little was done to our roads. Maybe they came only for themselves that was why roads within the vicinity of their operations were maintained as seen by many women. Even the schools and clinics too were built for their own benefit. Why aren’t we the resource owners given enough time to look into these matters. We the women, traditionally we are proud to be landowners, are questioning what is our position. Are we losing or winning? I think we must be given the chance to share our views in whatever so called development are operating on our land. I may be wasting my time voicing these concerns but to be realistic enough this is just what is happening to us mothers and children of this land..  What time will these people listen to us? My children and all other children and mothers and men who are humble enough to have pity on our side will grow to accept living in this sick society. Our society is sick my fellow sisters. Is there a way out? If there is any then its time you help us together to find a solution.  Why haven’t the fathers of this nation and this province especially make this day a special one just to sit down and listen to our pleas for equal participation in decision making. To the women who are educated enough please you too must listen to us. We need your help to build our confidence.   I think there will come a time that our decision makers will then come to realize why women are equally important in participation. I urge my fellow sisters not to back down but lift up their heads and strive for a good cause. Central Makira communities complete PLA Training Grassroot Opportunity for Action Leadership (GOAL) Project completed its Participatory Learning Action (PLA) and Proposal Writing workshop at Nukukaisi during the second week of May. Benol Ngiloaia and Brenda Mauli facilitated the workshop. Kaokaona, Makarima and Nukukaisi communities attended the training. Participants attending the expressed their appreciation for such a training because it has been something that they  lacked and needed help in rebuilding their own capacities. Speaking to LINK Newsletter Chief John Rangikofe of Nukukaisi said that life is always changing especially with when our cultural values are battling against the modern way of life However, Chief Rangikofe said that the Visual Art of a Community Tree is true and that real unity deals with mind, commitment and cooperation. According to Chief Rangikofe it is high time that such a training is conducted so that it refreshes people’s mind towards a better future for them and their own communities. The training was funded by European Union through Just World Partners (JWP) United Kingdom and to FSPI, Suva, Fiji.  UP SIDT PROJECT UPDATES VDW/TRAINING DEPARTMENT: Attended Guadalcanal Women’ s Forum. Follow up visit to GOAL Project Communities on Savo. PRINT MEDIA DEPARTMENT: Conducted PLA and Proposal Writing workshop for communities at Central Makira. Attended a 4 days workshop on Election and Media and Civic Education. RADIO/THEATRE: Joseph Major accompanied Honiara Youth Theatre to the Western Province to do HIV/AIDS Campaign at Gizo, Munda, Noro and around the Marovo area. Walter Turasi is working on a work plan to do a documentary on Ecotimber Project in Marovo and other success stories for existing projects. ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT: John Roughan attended the CBSI Annual Report. Questions were raised about the non– cash sector’s value to the natural economy conceded that CBSI’s numbers do not accurately reflect the reality of Solomon’s private sector (the village). John attended  the Eminent Persons Group meeting with the Civil Society Network, NGOs, Churches and Women’s Group on ideas about the future of Solomon Islands. Rove Prison inmates graduated. 21 participants successfully completed the 12 course. GOAL PROJECT: Benol and Brenda conducted a one week training on PLA and Proposal Writing for communities in Central Makira. Follow up visit to communities on Savo. BLESS PROJECT: Financial Year 1 for BLESS Project will lapse on 31st May. The Project team did Evaluation and Monitoring to Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces. David Shires is also in the country to work with the project on their work plan for Years 2 and 3. SIDT/BLESS CDWs are also included in the work plan team to share their opinions for Years 2 & 3 and also to share the weaknesses encountered in Year 1. ECOFORESTRY: The department worked on arrangements and preparations for a Capacity Building Training scheduled for 6th June. The programme tried to set up activities according to suggestions and recommendations by the Auditor Price Waterhouse Coopers.  UP SIDT FAQ WHAT IS SIDT’S DEVELOPMENT WORK? · SIDT’s development  goal is to strengthen the quality of village living. WHY DOES SIDT WORK THIS WAY? · SIDT understands that the heart of the nation lies in the village life. That is why SIDT’s four area of concern: better nutrition, sanitation, improved health and securing modest amounts of money are some ways of strengthening the quality of village living. HOW  DOES  SIDT DO THIS WORK? To strengthen the quality of village living SIDT focuses on five works which village people can do, require small amounts of money and which immediately raise the quality of village living. For instance, the SIDT approach to better nutrition is to have families establish their own sup sup garden, sanitation is accomplished by having a family toilet, better health comes when  family members sleep under treated mosquito nets and cook and serve food from upgraded kitchen, and finally gain a bit of money by working on small income generating projects.  UP