Building Peace in Solomon Islands

Many communities have been adversely affected by the conflict in Solomon Islands in recent years.

Property destruction, the movement of displaced people, and serious declines in economic opportunities and basic services have had a serious impact on communities in all provinces.

For countries that have been wracked by violence and social unrest it's often the small things that count toward restoring peace and goodwill.

Judi Patterson and Angela Mercuri The Community Peace and Restoration Fund plays a big part in bringing together communities riddled with conflict. For the past two years, Judi Pattison, the fund's team leader in Solomon Islands, has had the tough but rewarding task of overseeing its operation in the Solomons.

Judi Pattison, Team Leader of the Fund (right) speaking to AusAID officer Angela Mercuri [Photo: Simon Buckley]

The fund was set up by Australia's overseas aid program in November 2000 to provide small-scale, quick impact, community-based activities in a society facing internal conflict and economic difficulties.

When a community establishes a need for assistance, it approaches the fund. If its proposal is accepted, small grants worth about $12,000 are given in kind.

'These grants may be in the form of building materials for new classrooms, training workshops, income generation for women, piglets for farming, or seedlings to set up nurseries,' Pattison says.

'The range of projects is very broad. For example, some assist communities to restore damaged health clinics or school classrooms, while others help ex-militants who have returned to their homes and rebuild roads and bridges.

'Even providing small pieces of sporting equipment goes a long way to creating social cohesion. Groups that haven't got together in years start playing together. Once you have the equipment, you have to play with somebody. A little bit goes a long way,' she says.

Australia is also tackling issues of conflict resolution and peace building in a number of other countries including Indonesia, PNG (Bougainville), East Timor, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

2003