A major milestone for Bava Island in South Vella Western Province is set for next week with the official groundbreaking of the Bavaqole Rural Training Centre (RTC), a project aimed at strengthening rural education and community development.
The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 25 February on Bava Island.
It marks the start of a significant initiative led by the Bava Development Company Limited (BDCL) in partnership with the Bavaqole tribe, designed to boost skills development and provide local youth with practical tools for self-reliance.
Chief Philip Viuru, Chairman of BDCL, described the occasion as a “historic step forward in strengthening and enhancing rural education, skills development, and community empowerment within Western Province and the nation at large.”
The project supports the national government’s priorities for inclusive growth by improving access to vocational training in remote island communities.
For years, Bava Island leaders have called for enhanced educational and community services, ensuring that children no longer have to travel long distances for schooling and other essential services.
The Bavaqole RTC is expected to serve as a hub for practical learning, offering courses tailored to the local economy and the specific needs of the Bavaqole community.
Community leaders, communities, the media and provincial leaders have been formally invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony.
The groundbreaking follows years of community-led efforts under the BDCL motto: “Securing Our Generation.”
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
