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Communities of Guadacanal, Weathercoast, Solomon
Islands
2006 is the second year of a three-year Commitment
Agreement with Turusuala Community-based Training
Centre, located on the remote Weathercoast
of the Solomon Islands. In line with IF’s
strategic approach, IF provides core
funding to the centre, which enables the centre
to pay teachers’ salaries, buy tools and stationery
supplies and cover transport costs. The centre provides
vocational education to young people, most of whom have
only finished primary school.
The courses offered at the centre in 2006 include agriculture
(model farming, piggery and poultry), woodwork (furniture
making and building), mechanics (engine maintenance)
and home economics (sewing, nutrition and home management).
Community outreach activities are one
important aspect of the training students receive. As
these comments below indicate, IF’s support for
vocational education brings benefits for both students
and the community.
“The students of Turusuala have done some
work for the clinic. We had asked the Province to help
but without any response and so we approached the Principal
Celestine. It is so encouraging to see young people
practicing what they had learned at the Centre. They
have drawn the real picture of Turusuala. We still have
plenty of work for them to do but we need to buy the
materials first.” Clinic nurse
“It is very encouraging to see these students
applying their new skills during their practical work.
My plan is also to engage the centre to build the secondary
school girls’ dormitory when materials are available.
This will be part of their training.” Secondary
school principal
Practical building experience provides a community
service and also assists the students to practice what
they learn. The first quarter of the new teaching year
saw further community outreach initiatives with two
workshops for farmers being held on pest management
and food security. Both workshop topics were requested
by local community members and are being run in conjunction
with Kastom Garden, an NGO with long experience in the
area of food security.
IF’s has conducted two independent monitoring
and evaluation visit to the Centre. The visits confirmed
that Turusuala has been ‘an excellent
choice for support by IF.’ It is the
only vocational training centre serving a remote
area with a significant population and, as
the comments above indicate, the Centre is supported
by, and benefits, local communities. Considerable progress
has been made in the first two years of operation and
should continue in the third year of our current Commitment
Agreement.
If you would like more information please contact the
project
manager at indigo.foundation@bigpond.com.
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