Embrace help from the USAID Hydroponic Green Farming Initiative in empowering youths in East and North Malaita.
In July this year World Vision in the Solomon Islands, with support from the New Zealand Government, launched a four-year initiative focused on empowering the youth in the most rural communities in North and East Malaita.
The programme is targeted to reach 2000 youths in 20 communities and I noted that a strong emphasis will be placed on empowering youths to become leaders in their communities and providing them with ideas and incentives to generate income and to save for their future, giving them entrepreneurial skills necessary to support any businesses they might wish to start.
It is barely three months since the launch of the programme and perhaps too early to be able to assess results, but I hope so far progress has been made.
I would very much like the initiative to be successful and be supported by Solomon’s donor partners and especially by local organization such as the Kastom Gaden Association which is already helping unemployed youths in Guadalcanal successfully plant and manage an organic vegetable farm.
The United States Government through its international aid programme recently promoted a hydroponic farming scheme in Jordan to help vulnerable such as women and youths garner workforce skills and vocational training, and at the same time, produce hydroponic cultivated crops to increase personal incomes.
The programme is styled the USAID Hydroponic Green Farming Initiative (HGFI) and I would urge World Vision to make enquiries with the US Embassy in Port Moresby to see whether a similar HGFI programme could be initiated to support the work being undertaken with the youths in North and East Malaita.
The USAID policy is designed to support international development, reduce poverty and help people progress beyond assistance.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
