SOLOMON ISLANDS, Mbili Village, Mijanga Island - January 2005
School in exchange for the protection of 21 acres of marine reserves
Mbili Village is located on Mijanga Island, home to Marovo Lagoon, the world's largest lagoon with a double barrier reef and a celebrated dive destination. Mbili Village has 200 residents. Among the village infrastructure in disrepair is the primary school, which serves around 50 primary school children from ages 8 to 14. In exchange for funds for the construction of a new school building, the village is willing to protect the entirety of a 12 acre uninhabited island, and two marine areas totaling nine acres, for a minimum of 10 years. One marine area is a breeding ground for coral trout; the other is a scuba diving destination frequented by Bilikiki Cruises, which has agreed to monitor the reserves.
UPDATE July 2005 - The laying of the foundation and completion of floor level to beam height is scheduled to take place between May and July of 2005. The final phase of roof installation and building completion is scheduled to take place between August and September of 2005.
UPDATE October 2005 - A Seacology delegation visited Mbili in early October 2005 to see first-hand how the project is going. The party was very well-received. The villagers, who related to the group that Seacology's support is a "dream come true," explained that all the construction is taking place without a single machine. The supplies must be shipped from the capital, Honiara, in a small open boat in rough seas, a voyage that typically takes 11 hours. Then all the water, gravel and cement must be carried by hand from the beach one hundred meters away. Despite these difficult conditions the foundation has been laid and work has been completed up to the window level of the first story. It is anticipated that the school will be complete in 2006.
UPDATE June 2006 - Construction has been completed to first floor level. Progress is moving slowly to complete the building due to the difficulty of getting the remaining supplies to the village. While several alternative plans have been proposed, none are environmentally tenable. Field Representative Saula Vodonaivalu, Jr., will visit the site in mid-2006 to help the village order and ship proper building supplies to complete construction.
UPDATE January 2007 - Progress has slowed down due to lack of transportation options for the remaining materials needed to complete the building. Field Representative Saula Vodonaivalu, Jr., visited the site in August 2006 to help the village order and ship proper building supplies to complete construction. However, progress continues to be slow due to the lack of transportation options. The building is scheduled to be completed in early 2007.
UPDATE December 2007 - The building except roofing is due to be completed by the end 2007. The materials for roofing are scheduled to arrive on the next available barge in January 2008.
