The 2018 AMS Christmas Appeal will this year feature 4 projects from the Pacific Island region. Please join with us to support these projects.
St Dominic’s Rural Training Centre (RTC) is located in Vanga Point on the rural Kolombangara Island, Solomon Islands. It is a 1-hour open water boat ride to the nearest town – Gizo. This Marist-run RTC plays an important role in the Solomon’s educating youth from rural areas in practical vocational skills, allowing them to stay in rural areas and halt the high rate of urbanization.
St Dominic’s offers vocational training in building, mechanics, poultry raising, agriculture and forestry. As the Solomon Islands consists of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands, residents often have to travel in open water in search of education and jobs. By providing rural youth with small-scale infrastructure and income-generating skills and opportunities it will strengthen the livelihood of individuals in these rural communities.
There are currently 145 students, aged from 18-30 and 12 teachers. To improve the quality of teaching and learning an administration building is needed – something that the school has never had. The principal works out of a room in the Marist Brothers house, and the staff have no area to work. Without the proper infrastructure the staff of St Dominic’s have not been able to properly plan lessons, undertake joint-planning sessions and conduct staff/student meetings. Ultimately, this reflects in the delivery of the curriculum and is impacting the students learning.
The construction of the 13.5 x 11.5 metre administration building will be undertaken by the staff and students as part of their learning. Concrete blocks and a concrete slab will be installed as they require less maintenance and can withstand inclement weather and are termite-resistant.
Supporting St Dominic’s RTC will help fund the construction of an administration building.