The Penjuku Adventist School community at Marovo, Western province has received a critical boost to infrastructure through two projects funded by the Solomon Islands–Australia Community Partnerships, including a fence around the school, and solar lighting for classrooms.
Solomon Islands – Australia Community Partnerships support community-led projects that improve living standards. These are small projects with a big impact on Solomon Islanders.
Penjuku Adventist Primary School received SBD144,005 for the fence project, including building materials and transportation from Honiara to Penjuku. The fence is now keeping dogs and unauthorised visitors out of school grounds.
As Penjuku Adventist School completed this project quickly, Australia was able to award their school a second project – solar lighting for the school precinct.
Using more than SBD237,000 for building materials and transportation, Penjuku Adventist School worked with Superfly to install solar power to their school precinct.
Now students at Penjuku are able to study outside of school hours with reliable lighting.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, said a safe environment at schools is critical to support students’ learning.
“We are supporting communities across Solomon Islands to deliver community infrastructure projects just like these,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
“And we’re supporting Solomon Islands businesses and jobs directly by buying their hardware materials to build these projects.”
In 2024, Australia funded a record 100 community projects across all provinces of Solomon Islands, representing more than SBD23 million in direct funding to local businesses.
The Australian High Commission is accepting applications for the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnerships until 23 March. For more information, please visit: https://solomonislands.embassy.gov.au/honi/communitypartnerships.html
– AHC
