Climate Change and Disaster Management
This project supports the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) in the Solomon Islands to build local community strengths to prepare for disasters, increase their food security and address the adverse impacts of climate change.
The Pacific Island nations are one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of climate change in terms of sea level rises and increased intensity of storms and cyclones.
There are significant challenges the church faces in implementing the project, including disruptions to inter-island travel in the country and even climate change itself which has made weather patterns less predictable and therefore can play havoc with planning to do trainings to fit in with communities’ planting and harvesting seasons.
Despite the challenges, there is a strong commitment by communities and schools to work together with ACOM on this project. A total of 1,850 people currently benefit from this project, including 1,080 children.
Work is proceeding on the Bishopsdale Coastal Protection site to reduce coastal erosion due to sea-level rise and high swells.
Two water tanks have been supplied to St Stephen’s Anglican College in Pamua. These tanks also serve three nearby communities, as well as the 500-strong college community, and a Rural Training Centre.
Food security demonstrations have taken place at St Nicholas School Farm, greatly impacting on the learning of the senior agriculture students at the school and at Norman Palmer Community High School. AID has also supported the provision of tools, equipment, and other agricultural requirements to the School Farm, which serves more than 150 agriculture students, both female and male. These demonstrations have a wide reach. Scores of students from two Anglican secondary schools in Honiara complete eight-week courses at the farm. They are also very cost-effective. The farm was constructed from locally sourced materials and has low labour costs.
A teacher demonstrates growing crops at St Nicholas School Farm ©ACOM-Solomon Islands
Each month, ACOM has been networking and sharing lessons learnt on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change with officers from the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN).
Two Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness awareness trainings were conducted in the Diocese of Central Solomons on Savo Island with Paibeta Community High School and the Panueli Community.
Although much has already been achieved, ACOM has big plans. They hope to expand the project, including disaster preparedness trainings, to other dioceses.
A donation to this project will help more local communities in different parts of the Solomon Islands prepare for disasters, increase their food security, and address the adverse impacts of climate change.
Project Prayer
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
– Psalm 46.1-3
We give you thanks and praise,
We give you thanks,
Ruler of the earth and sea and sky,
for the chance that the Anglican Church of Melanesia
and Anglicans in Development have
to work together with vulnerable communities
in the Solomon Islands this year.
May the work of those who establish sea walls and buffer zones
protect their communities from erosion.
May the hygiene packs prevent the transmission of COVID-19
at St Stephen’s School and the Rural Training Centre.
May the demonstration gardens assist urban families,
may the farmers find new and effective ways to market their produce,
and may the communities arrive at food security.
And may the climate change data collection
and the disaster preparedness training
instil resilience into the communities
so that when disasters occur
the disruption to the lives of almost 8,000 people is minimised.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever.
Amen.
In 2024 we hope to raise for this project:
$40,600
Donation code: XG011SC
Tax-deductible
Donate Online Now
Your gift will be used to help our Sustainable Communities projects planned for this year.
Your donation will help ABM’s Anglicans in Development and our overseas church partners work with communities to combat poverty, overcome illiteracy, enable better access to clean water and sanitation, end gender-based violence, build equality, increase resilience to climate change and disasters and strengthen community-level leadership.
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Need help? Call us 1300 302 663
As noted, this is a tax-deductible project. All donations are in Australian dollars (AUD) and all gifts of $2 or more are tax-deductible.
Gifts are received by the trustee for the ‘Anglicans in Development Ltd’ ABN 86 647 293 481
Gifts will be applied to the support of projects selected. In the unlikely event of projects being oversubscribed or not proceeding to completion, donations will be applied to similar projects.
Project Updates
Solomon Islands Climate Change and Disaster Management Project Update
Read here about some of the achievements this year of the Climate Change and Disaster Management project implemented by the Anglican Church of Melanesia in the Solomon Islands.
ACOM Solomon Islands’ Disaster Resilience Workshops
When ABM’s partner, the Anglican Church of Melanesia, ran a series of disaster resilience workshops on Savo Island, the local people were enthusiastic participants.
