Despite its close proximity to Australia – Honiara, the capital, is a short flight from Brisbane – the Solomon Islands is one of the least developed countries in the world ranking just 135 out of 182 in the Human development index.

Although stunningly beautiful and rich in natural resources, the reality for the vast majority of the country’s half a million inhabitants is poverty and unemployment. Like many Pacific Island nations, the Solomon Islands is experiencing a period of transition and transformation, with globalisation and rapid socio-political and economic change weakening traditional systems and values. In recent years, this has been exacerbated by political instability and civil unrest. The period of violent ethnic tension between the two main ethnic groups between 1998 and 2003 brought the nation’s development to a halt. 

Currently, with the restoration of law and order through the assistance of Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), the economy of Solomon Islands is slowly recovering as major companies resume normal operation. The Solomon Islands is comprised of nearly 1,000 islands, with more than 80 per cent of the population living in remote and rural areas. Formal full-time employment is rare and it is common for one waged person to support upwards of 15 extended family members. If you are lucky enough to secure full-time employment in a grocery store, you will earn the equivalent of AUD$25 per week.

Many children in the Solomon Islands do not attend school or leave school early. The Solomon Islands has experienced a growing demographic ‘youth bulge’ with youth unemployment rates twice as high as other working age groups.  Seventy per cent of the population is under 24 years of age, and limited opportunities for young people result in substance abuse (home brew and marijuana); teenage pregnancy; criminal activities; and sexual exploitation leading to exposure to HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases.

In 1986, Save the Children started working in the Solomon Islands, with a focus on finding sustainable solutions to the various issues that hinder the development of children and young people. Currently, the programs focus on child rights, basic education, HIV & STI prevention and engagement of youths.

Child Advocacy Project	HIV & STI Prevention Project	Youth Outreach Project
A program that focuses on creating awareness of child rights in the Solomon Islands.	This project educates young people about HIV and STI  infection and prevention.	We work with young people to encourage sustainable livelihoods, healthy lifestyles & participation.
Education Project
This project seeks to remove the barriers that prevent children from achieving their right to education.