Sustainable Development Goals
The Project
The Diocese of Gizo has requested a songwriting tutor and performance facilitator to work with the highly talented but socio-economically disadvantaged community in Nusabaruku. Most of the population are climate refugees from the Gilbertese Islands of Kiribati. They live with minimal local services. Basic primary education and basic medications are provided by the Dominican nuns in the John Bosco Primary School established by the former Bishop of Gizo.
Sustainable income generation remains a critical priority for the Gilbertese particularly where formal employment options are limited. One of the most powerful yet underutilised avenues is the rich cultural heritage already present within the community—especially local music, performance traditions, and creative expression. The Gilbertese have distinct cultural dance and music traditions which are essentially orally transmitted. Most have no formal music training, but many have great skill with their own drumming, acapella harmonies and group dance. Investing in local musical talent is not only an economic strategy—it strengthens cultural identity, supports youth engagement, and builds community cohesion. When communities are empowered to earn through their own culture, the benefits multiply: pride increases, skills grow, and economic resilience deepens.
As Gilbertese have limited alternative employment opportunities, this project seeks to build on their strengths and support self-esteem identity by encouraging the creation of music about their own lives and developing opportunities for them to earn income through musical performances. The much-needed income will enable youth and their families to afford medical and education expenses.
Some opportunities to build on include:
- Cultural nights, festivals, and community events where local musicians and performers are paid for their work.
- Partnerships with schools, NGOs, churches, and local government to integrate cultural performances into official programs.
- Tourism‑aligned performances, such as welcome ceremonies, cultural showcases, or music evenings for visitors.
- Recording, digital sharing, and promotion of local music to reach wider audiences and generate income through modern platforms.
Feature image: St John Bosco Nusabaruku
[The new school has six classrooms and a multipurpose room, as well as three houses for school staff]
The Location
Nusabaruku is a fishing village located on a hill on the outskirts of Gizo. Gizo is the capital of the Western Province in Solomon Islands. With a population of 7,177 (as of 2019 It is situated on Gizo Island approximately 380 kilometres (236 miles) west-northwest of the capital, Honiara, and is just southwest of the larger island of Kolombangara.
The Challenge
Rising sea levels led to the need for the people of the Gilbert Islands (in Kiribati) to relocate in the mid-1900s. Although accepted as citizens of the Solomon Islands, they are significantly disadvantaged as they have no access to land, even for subsistence agriculture. The population at Nusabaruku is also unable to set up significant sea-based enterprise due in part to lack of land to dry or process produce. Most now subsist through fishing for the Gizo local market. Their relative economic disadvantage compounds issues of identity and community pride and creates unhealthy living conditions for the population.
About 12.7 percent of the population of Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line. Roughly 20 to 25 percent of youth in the country never attend primary school with 30 percent of those attending never completing school. Limited access to education and an adult literacy rate of less than 35 percent perpetuate the cycle of poverty from generation to generation. Prior to St John Bosco being established, children from Nusabaruku could not easily attend school, with the nearest school on Gizo involving an open boat trip.
Eighty-four percent of Solomon Islanders reside in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Access to health care and other social services is very limited. Transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure is poor or non-existent. With the majority of youth living in remote areas with limited educational and employment prospects, overcoming poverty is a challenge.
About You
The Palms participants will need to have:
- Qualifications or relevant experience in song writing
- Experience in coordinating musical performance and events
- An ability to engage with local ethnic music [Kiribati and Solomon Island]
- Experience in mentoring teachers and youth
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Cultural sensitivity and openness to working within a different cultural context
- Willingness to work in Gizo for a minimum of 12 months, with limited resources and facilities
- Willingness to engage their Australian community in promoting the work of the host organisation and their role
How You Will Help
First you must be willing to learn from the local community.
Over the first several weeks you are asked not to change anything or suggest a change to operations. During that period you will take the time to learn language and cultural mores from a local counterpart willing to mentor you. You will also start a register of the strengths of the current personnel and the assets in the community/country that might be used to achieve the goals of the assignment.
You need to commit to clarifying why things are done the way they are rather than presuming from your own cultural lens to outline what is missing. So, you need to ask questions to enable you to learn from your hosts, rather than in ignorance make suggestions about how things can improve. Palms training will prepare you for this approach.
From then onward, your responsibilities are to:
- Train and mentor local teachers and youth leaders in the community enabling the music program skills to eventually be localised.
- Enhance opportunities for students and young people in the community to engage with traditional and other cultural music and dance to re-engage with their own cultural identity and develop some understanding of others.
- Contribute to the capacity building of the local teachers and youth leaders.
- Identify opportunities for practical income pathways and mentor teachers, students and youth groups to generate income through musical performances.
Note: The monthly living allowance enables you to live a modest local lifestyle. Based on the cost of living in a particular country, it covers food, your daily commute, communication and other local costs. It is not set to enable you to meet financial commitments at home, such as a mortgage or a personal loan. It will not cover the costs of eating out and other entertainment. Read more about what is covered in our FAQ.