From Strings to Seeds: Jerry Paratamboa’s Journey of Music, Farming, and Community Change

In the quiet community of Dova, GIPPOL 2, a young man is turning his passion for music and farming into powerful tools for youth empowerment and community development.

Jerry Tougu Paratamboa, the third youngest in a family of nine, has grown from a teenage church musician into a youth leader, farmer, and change-maker whose work is inspiring those around him.

Jerry’s roots are deeply tied to both Malaita and Guadalcanal, with his father hailing from Malaita and his mother from Guadalcanal. Growing up, music was always in the air at home. Inspired by his father — once a church musician himself — Jerry picked up the guitar at the age of 14.

Today, he plays acoustic, electric, and bass guitar and coaches other young musicians at his church.

But music is just one part of Jerry’s story. His journey with Ola Fou, a youth development program, began last year. Just last week, he proudly graduated, marking a milestone in a chapter filled with learning and community service.

“I joined Ola Fou because I wanted to help young people in my community, especially the church youths, and also to grow as a leader,” Jerry said. “The lessons I’ve learned are life-changing — we call it ‘more fun, more learning’ because every activity had deeper meaning.”

One of those activities was the “Through Their Eyes” project, where young people were given cameras to capture what they loved — and didn’t love — about their community. Those images, Jerry said, told powerful stories that sparked deeper conversations and inspired more youth-led actions.

Another key moment came when Jerry and his peers helped their community develop a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) map. By engaging residents and youth, they identified risk areas and implemented solutions, such as building proper drainage systems.

“I learned that working together makes the job easier and faster,” he reflected.

Farming, another passion rooted in his upbringing, has also become central to Jerry’s leadership. After attending Ola Fou’s organic farming workshop in Koleasi, he returned home and worked with his youth group to establish an organic demo farm.

“Growing up, my parents always farmed,” he said. “But I wanted to improve our traditional methods, and the training gave me new knowledge to do that.”

The project is already bearing fruit — literally and figuratively. Community members have started adopting the techniques the youth group is using, diversifying their crops and increasing profits.

“People now come to ask us about the methods we use,” Jerry said proudly. “When we teach them, they apply it, and it’s helping farmers get better harvests.”

Despite challenges such as weather, illness, and initial skepticism from some family members, Jerry persisted.

His strategy? Help others first. “When you help them, they’ll help you when you need it,” he said.

Looking ahead, Jerry dreams big. His vision is to “restore the Garden of Eden in our farms,” combining traditional knowledge with modern organic practices to build thriving, sustainable food systems in both Guadalcanal and Malaita.

And through it all, music continues to play a central role in his life. He is currently coaching four young musicians at his church, nurturing their talents and helping them find confidence through music.

“I want to help young people find their true purpose in life,” Jerry shared. “For me, that purpose is music and farming, and I believe those two things can help transform lives and communities.”

From strings to seeds, Jerry Paratamboa is proof that when passion meets purpose, change is not just possible — it’s inevitable.