Australian MPs visited Gwaibaleo Community Channels of Hope

January 19th, 2018 Honiara - On Wednesday 17th January 2018, a team of Australian MPs visited World Vision’s Community Channels of Hope Programme at Gwaibaleo community near Auki, Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands.

Funded by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), Community Channels of Hope is helping 5 communities, including Gwaibaleo, to be more effective in reducing Gender-Based Violence.

The programme helped set up Village Gender Committees and helped communities to set up work plans and Community Hope Action Teams (CHAT) to work closely with World Vision on a quarterly basis. The programme addresses issues related to gender-based violence through dramas, community policing, awareness talks integrated with Community Economic Development Projects on soil improvement and Savings. 

Speaking on behalf of the team before they left Gwaibaleo, Australian Federal Member for Oxley, Milton Dick said they will remember in their heart the personal stories, questions and sentiments echoed by members of Gwaibaleo community.

"But from the delegation, we will not forget the stories, your questions, your issues and the things that were raised with us and we’ll take them back to our country, but more importantly you will always remain in our heart. Thank you so much for your time, thank you to the children, you need to go and play before it gets to dinner time. We look forward to working with you and your country for many years to come, God bless you all."

The team also met with community members, paid a visit to the Malaita Provincial Government as well as learnt traditional ways such as cultural dressing, cultural dances and others.

“Today is really the highlight of our visit to the Solomon Islands as we have learnt so much about what has happened and what needs to happen in the years to come. On behalf of the delegation, today I want to say our friends in Australia value all of you. Your friends in Australia want you to achieve everything that you can, particularly your children so they could reach their potential,” said Milton Dick, Federal Member for Oxley, Australia.

Gwaibaleo community members thanked the Australian Government and the team for visiting their community. They also acknowledged World Vision for addressing issues in their community and other communities in Malaita.