Soloman Islands:FW Country & prayer pages 27/8/08 16:46 Page 54
Province of Melanesia
Solomon Islands
T
he Solomon Islands consist of several large volcanic islands to the
south-east of Papua New Guinea. The terrain is mountainous and
heavily forested.
Personal risk especially between people from different
Years of civil conflict which began in 1998 islands.
devastated the economy and local
infrastructure, uprooted families and led to Training workshops
the breakdown of community relationships. Mothers’ Union runs workshops on a variety
Food became scarce as many women were of subjects including nutrition, parenting,
too frightened to spend much time in their child abuse and sexually transmitted
vegetable gardens. Roadblocks meant that diseases. Sadly, adultery and domestic
they could not travel to market. During this violence are on the increase in Melanesia.
time, Mothers’ Union leaders were among Mothers’ Union is actively trying to tackle
the few people allowed through the these issues through training workshops and
roadblocks – at great personal risk – to local campaigns. Members also run income-
deliver much-needed essentials to families generating and community outreach
living in villages cut off by the fighting. A projects such as vocational training, sewing,
peace agreement was signed in October bee-keeping and health clinics.
2000 but residual tension left a legacy of
distrust and fear among the population. Tsunami
Mothers’ Union has been working hard to In April 2007 a tsunami engulfed the island of
encourage reconciliation Gizo killing at least 50 people, destroying
and harmony between over 900 homes and leaving families without
communities, even the basic possessions. A grant was sent
from the Mothers’ Union Relief Fund to help
purchase emergency supplies such as pots
and cooking utensils. Many people still live in
temporary shelters on high ground, now too
scared of the water to return to what is left of
their original homes. Viola, one member
whose home was destroyed, tells her story in
the [Home] pack – see page eight.
Fact File
Population: 581,318 Mothers’ Union Members: 12,500
Mothers’ Union has been working in the region since the 1930s
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www.themothersunion.org
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