Building capacity for peace in the Solomons
The Inclusive Community Program in the Solomon Islands aims to strengthen the skills and confidence of communities to work together to make decisions, resolve conflict, network effectively, and reduce poverty.
This is a joint-funded initiative of AngliCORD, ABM, AusAID, and the Church of Melanesia.
In Anglican parishes across all of the provinces, the ICP team will run 100 village-based workshops to introduce these ideas and skills.
“Through ICP we are teaching steps and skills to help people open up a conflict, rather than try to push it down,” says Lesley Hoatson, an Australian development specialist supporting the ICP in the Solomons.
“I have great respect for the skills people already have in the Solomons, and the great capacity they have to make decisions as a community and to work together, but we are finding that there are new skills and ideas that can also be introduced.”
According to Lesley, communities are grappling with questions of how to hold on to what is valuable from traditional village life and yet still move forward to embrace modern life.
“In one particular workshop, two very senior chiefs attended the first few days. They were called away to mediate on a land dispute, but as they were leaving they told us “we have been telling people how to solve problems, rather than listening to them and helping them find a way forward themselves” and through this we can see that we are reaching people who can really take these ideas and use them effectively,” Lesley says.
The renown warmth of the Solomon Islander people is not the only thing drawing Lesley back for another two years.
“People found the years of tension very frightening, and people are very serious about taking up this opportunity for change,” Lesley says.
“I see a real commitment both within our team and also across the provinces to work hard now to build health communities.”
Lesley knows that many challenges remain for the Solomons.
“The tensions were under-lined by poverty and hopelessness, particularly for young people who are unable to get jobs when finishing school, and unable to pursue their dreams. These are very real problems that will take a long time to address,” Lesley says.
As a community development agency committed working with local organisations, the ICP is an important program for AngliCORD, as many levels of partnership are modelled.
“Partnership is the most important aspect of our work, and the only real way to be effective, but it’s not at all easy,” says Lesley.
“It requires significant good will on both sides, and I am sure that my colleagues have forgiven me for many mistakes. But we have all decided to do everything we can to make it work.”