Learning Space, Networking & Coffee Ceremony
Wednesday, 16th November 2022
The Salvation Army Learning Space at Burns Creek Settlement in East Honiara is an exciting expression of transformational mission in action. Colonels Garth and Patti were welcomed by the women and children who participate in this learning space with great enthusiasm as the young boys in traditional dress greeted them with a cultural dance. Chief Peter Usi felt honoured to have the Territorial Leaders visit their humble community. The Colonels were able to observe a literacy lesson conducted by Elizabeth Tolilalo and even joined in on leading an action song with the children. It was exciting and a little emotional to see the progress of the children as one of the girls who previously could not read or write stand up and confidently read out a welcome speech to the visitors.
After the Learning Space literacy class, the Colonels were taken to visit Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands for a networking meeting with Managing Director Bob Pollard. This social enterprise tour provided them with an insight into the operations of the DME coconut oil plant The Salvation Army operates in North Malaita. They learned about each step of the process of a village operated plant, from cracking the nut to extracting the oil. The tour also gave them an understanding of how the oil is processed and made into the quality products sold by Kokonut Pacific locally and internationally.
Following the first networking visit, the Colonels were taken out for lunch with Archbishop Chris Cardone of the Catholic Archdiocese of Honiara to B Natural Café, where the Solomon Islands District Team conduct their weekly meetings every Monday morning. Archbishop Chris is a good friend of Majors Robert and Vanessa and a strong supporter of The Salvation Army. In the absence of acceptance by the national church council (SICA), Archbishop Chris has proactively engaged The Salvation Army in a number of ecumenical events and joint mission opportunities, including working with the Sisters at Mary Mazzarello Development Centre, where Major Vanessa has done a couple of workshops with the women about how to make and use the reusable sanitary kits.
After lunch, the second networking meeting was held at World Vision with Nancy Waegao, who heads up their Gender and Child Protection Sector. This social justice visit provided the Colonels with an insight into the World Vision Channels of Hope for Gender program and Gudfala Laef for Boys & Girls Sunday School curriculum, which is currently being rolled out to The Salvation Army churches. Major Vanessa has established a strong working relationship with World Vision, which has proven to be a valuable partnership for The Salvation Army in this social justice space.
In the evening, the Territorial and District Leaders had dinner with Ethiopian friends who are also an important part of the Solomon Islands District networks. Dr Zelalem is a medical doctor and the Chief of Field Office for UNICEF Pacific in the Solomon Islands. Zelalem and Hawariat had invited Majors Robert and Vanessa to their home for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, so the visit of Colonels Garth and Patti presented an opportunity to share this experience with the Territorial Leaders. They were all blessed with generous hospitality, great company and a delightful cultural evening of home cooked Ethiopian food and fresh stovetop roasted coffee, served in their traditional way. Drinking coffee in Ethiopia is an unhurried communal event where life and stories are shared over 3-4 brews.
This day of networking was aimed at connecting the Territorial Leaders with some of the important community and business relationships that significantly contribute to the success of the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands District. These networks are intentionally nurtured by Majors Robert and Vanessa to ensure they are mutually relational, as well as functional. The visits undertaken today are only a sample of a wide and diverse network of relationships that have become integral to the development and growth of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands.
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