Bougainville

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, previously known as North Solomon Islands, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The region consists of two main islands, Bougainville and Buka, as well as a large number of smaller islands. Bougainville declared its own independence in 1975, but it is not recognised by the United Nations as a sovereign state. Since then, the region has faced decades of turmoil and bitter conflict due to multi-national mining companies establishing mines in the resource-rich islands and imposing colonial regimes. Bougainville has the opportunity to hold a referendum by 2015 to decide if they want to be governed by Papua New Guinea or become an independent state.

The Marist Brothers arrived in Bougainville in 1941. They then began offering education and healthcare services to the local community. The region has a history of conflict, due to its difficult relationship with Papua New Guinea and its ongoing fight for independence. Between 1988-1997, Bougainville fought a nine-year war against Papua New Guinea that left much of the region destroyed. Despite the lack of resources and destruction the region faces, the Marists Brothers are focused on building relationships that encourage local ownership of development and education programs.