Volunteer Assignment Solomon Islands - The Forgotten People!

This fundraiser is to support Volunteer Services Abroad (VSA) to cover part of their financial shortfall so they can send people like me throughout the Pacific to help others.

San Isidro Care Centre (established in 2007) is a rural training centre for young people living with disabilities, predominately hearing and speaking impairment. The Centre educates young people from the ages of 14 and over, over a period of three years. The Centre offers courses in sign language, literacy and numeracy, agriculture, life skills (home economics), carpentry (woodwork) and practical trade and skills. Their vision is to change social attitudes towards people living with disabilities, ensuring their right to dignity and a decent life for anyone. Currently, there are about 40 students enrolled at the Centre. Most of the students are deaf. The Centre is managed by a principal from the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (MSSM) with the support of local teachers and ancillary staff. Altogether there are 13 staff.

As a volunteer, it will be my job to support and conduct training in the principles of business and social enterprise as well as developing a strategy that guides social enterprise and implement it. The overall output of this project is to boost income for the Centre to support its sustainability. Most of this is currently undertaken by producing and selling agricultural products and small livestock. Other income-generating measures will be further explored.