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World Vision (WV) is an International Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO), dedicated
to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. WV’s
projects and programmes aim to target those who are most vulnerable. Formed in 1952 in the
USA, WV has grown into a federation of 100 World Vision country entities linked together under
a global partnership structure. National Offices such as the Solomon Islands office implement
development projects and programmes, whilst support offices such as World Vision New Zealand
raise funds and support development programmes.
World Vision has three key focal areas, these are: long term development projects, disaster relief,
and advocacy. WVSI has worked in Solomon Islands for over 30 years; it is one of largest NGOs
working in Solomon Islands. Current areas of engagement in the Solomon Island programme
include: Health, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); Maternal and Newborn Child
Health (MNCH) and Nutrition; education (Early Childhood Education and Adult Literacy);
economic development; and disaster risk reduction.
Current areas of focus for World Vision’s advocacy campains address key issues such as,
substance abuse, gender-base violence including domestic violence, providing opportunities for
productive employment, maternal and newborn child health, and climate change
The key focus of this assignment will be to impart technical skills through a process of learning
by doing with a diverse range of counterparts. World Vision has recently recruited an Advocacy
and Communications Officer and a key aspect of the assignment will be to transfer
communication and advocacy skills to that officer. Other counterparts include: government
officers across various Ministries and departments, and WV staff in the five provincial offices.
The volunteer will be based in Honiara with a significant amount of travel (approximately one
week a month) to provincial offices and project sites in Guadalcanal, Central Islands, Makira
Ulawa, Malaita and Temotu Provinces.
A VSA volunteer worked with WVSI in the first half of 2014 on video production. The planned
work was interrupted by the April floods.
Solomon Islands
Situated in the South West Pacific, Solomon Islands is made up of over 922 islands, islets, atolls
and cays, which stretch for 1.35 million sq. km of sea, from Papua New Guinea in the north to
Vanuatu in the south. The weather is hot and humid all year round (averaging between 27 to
30C) with heavy rainfall on the larger islands. Cyclone season is November to April.
Solomon Islands became independent in 1978 and is a parliamentary democracy. The 1999
census recorded the population of Solomon Islands as 420,000, approximately 15% of whom live
in the capital, Honiara. The population of Honiara is fast growing due to high urban drift from the
rural areas and is therefore beginning to develop the usual social problems associated with urban
centres. This has been exacerbated by the recent ethnic tensions on Guadalcanal.
The majority of Solomon Islands inhabitants are Melanesian with a small proportion of Polynesian
and Micronesians. With 74 indigenous languages and dialects, traditions and cultures vary from
island to island – even from village to village on the same island. Pidgin English is the lingua
franca. In Solomon Islands 88% of the land is owned under customary tenure.
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Guadalcanal Province
The first European contact in the region began with Gallego, one of the commanders of an
expedition led by the Spanish explorer Mendana, in 1568. The island of Guadalcanal is the
largest of what became known as the Solomons Group. Further European contact with the island
did not occur until the late 1700s. By the late 1800s, a number of missionaries and traders were
living on Guadalcanal and in 1893 it became a protectorate of Britain.
Until 1942 Solomon Islands remained a backwater of the British Empire until June 8, 1942 when
Japan invaded Guadalcanal. Two months later the US Pacific fleet arrived and US marines
landed at Red Beach to take an airfield the Japanese were building. Six months of desperate
fighting followed before Guadalcanal was considered relatively secure. The Guadalcanal
Campaign, as it became known, was a pivotal battle in the Pacific War.
After World War Two the administrative centre of Solomon Islands was moved from Tulagi, in
the Florida group (of islands), to Honiara, in order to capitalise on the considerable infrastructure
that had been left behind by departing American forces. Considered a pleasant colonial town in
the 1960s, Honiara has rapidly expanded, especially since independence in 1978. It is now a
sprawling town of some 50,000 people and has become the main commercial centre for the
country.
Guadalcanal is divided into two distinct regions. Divided by a steep mountain range that runs
the length of the island, the northern side of the island is relatively well served by road as well as
shipping. The Weather Coast, as the southern part of the island is known, is isolated and is only
accessed by sea and three airfields. This part of the island bears the brunt of incoming storms.
Honiara
Honiara is the business centre of Solomon Islands and as such is a melting pot for people from
all the island groups that make up the diverse nation. Honiara offers most facilities albeit in a
fairly rudimentary form.
The Central Market is an excellent place to buy cheap food and there are numerous
supermarkets where most western food items can be obtained for a price. There is also an
abundance of local trade stores that are owned and operated by local Chinese Traders. Island
Clothing is the recommended kaleko/clothing shop and is located near to the NPF Plaza. Word
soon gets round when stores have imported sought-after food items.
Transport is very cheap within Honiara. The local bus service is provided by a plethora of vans,
and some well appointed larger buses, that run a set route along the main street (from King
George VI School, through Point Cruise, to White River and return) and one further route which
deviates along Kola Ridge. A single fare of SBD$3 applies, regardless of the length of the trip.
Taxis charge a moderate fare (currently SBD$10 per kilometre) but it is wise to establish a fare
before commencing a journey.
VSA will provide basic furnished rental accommodation in Honiara. Houses have power (although
there are power cuts from time to time), gas stove, fridge and running water. Attempted breakins are not uncommon in the town, so many houses also have high fences and lockable gates
as a security precaution. Windows and doors are fly/mosquito screened.
The hotels are expensive but there are a number of comfortable and very affordable guest houses
in Honiara.
Phone, fax and e-mail connections are available in Honiara, as they are in most provincial
centres, and there is a very affordable internet service provided by the People First Network (PF
Net). This is located in the blue Anthony Saru building in downtown Honiara.
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Cell phone communication has expanded rapidly over the last two years and there is now mobile
coverage in all provincial centres. There are two mobile phone providers, Telekom and
Bemobile. Rural internet services are also accessible in several locations in most provinces
through the PF Net rural internet network.
There are numerous local radio stations. Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC)
offers an MW service to the whole country and is one of the main sources of news and also acts
as a community notice board. There are three FM stations. Both the ABC and the BBC
rebroadcast their services on a local FM service, but only in Honiara. A good quality shortwave
radio is often considered to be an essential survival tool by most volunteers if located outside
Honiara. TV is available and consists of the BBC world service programme, Australian Network,
and for several periods a day Solomon Islands recently established TV One. It is free to air and
gives better coverage of the super 15, Australian Rugby league and AFL than free to air coverage
in New Zealand.
The local newspaper, Solomon Star (SBD$5), is also a good source of local news and can also
be viewed online at http://www.solomonstarnews.com. Overseas newspapers, when available,
are expensive.
Malaria is a problem and care needs to be taken. The use of appropriate prophylaxis is mandatory
for the duration of the assignment. Infections can be quick to develop and serious in
consequence. Care needs to be taken with even small and superficial wounds such as grazes or
insect bites.
Work
The Volunteer will be based in Honiara and working out from World Vision’s Country Program
Office. The office is located at Kukum near sea front and has around 50 staff working in support
departments, namely Operations, Finance, People & Culture, Program Quality, Advocacy &
Communications etc.
World Vision has a security officer who is available 24/7 should the volunteer encounter any
security issues.
The volunteer is expected to travel out to the field/communities from time to time for resources
collection/gathering, and should be prepared to stay in places with very basic living conditions.
Hours of work are 8 am to 12 noon and then 1 pm to 4.30 pm. The official language of work is
English but pijin and local languages are also used in the workplace. VSA will provide pijin
lessons when the volunteer first arrives in-country, and volunteers are encouraged to learn and
use pijin as much as they are able. It makes a big difference in terms of being accepted locally.
VSA is always willing to facilitate further pijin lessons throughout the assignment if this is required.
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