Solomon Islands December Update

HOPE Trust Solomon Islands hosts Tearfund New Zealand CEO and Staff

In December, HOPE Trust in the Solomon Islands hosted TearFund New Zealand’s CEO, Ian McInnes, Major Donors Partnership Manager, Charlotte Rowse, International Program Officer, Ms Barbara-Anne Stenson, as well as Hagar International’s Program Lead, Mr Peter Banyard-Smith. The purpose of this visit was to review the progress of Hagar’s SAFE Project. This project, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) through Tearfund New Zealand, is being implemented through the local NGO Partner, HOPE Trust.

The visit was a great experience for HOPE Trust’s staff and Board as they learned about the work TearFund New Zealand is doing globally and how this particular program came about and links to TearFund’s global priorities and strategy. Success stories from the SAFE project were shared with the visiting team, and the team took a trip to the Tina, Salabuka, and Burnscreek communities to see the project in action. It is amazing to see the progress the SAFE program has made in the Solomon Islands in only 18 months,” said Ian McInnis, TearFund New Zealand CEO. “With the support of Hagar International, the HOPE Trust team has grown and developed significantly, and it is exciting to see the impact the project is having on sexual exploitation and human trafficking, which are sadly key challenges in the Solomon Islands”.

The delegation greatly enjoyed the visit and looks forwards to visiting again to see the increasing impact the project is having on survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking and to help prevent this in the Solomon Islands.