Telebere News

While many young people wait for opportunities to come to them, Deffe Bennie, a young entrepreneur from Choiseul Province, chose to create his own, transforming his passion for tourism into an eco-tourism venture that will put Choiseul on the map. His journey received a major boost on 27 January 2026, when he officially received $40,000 in funding support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism through the Launch Pad initiative, implemented by Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands (YECSI) and Solomon Islands National University (SINU), designed to help young tourism entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. Originally from Choiseul, Deffe travelled far from home to pursue his studies at the National University of Solomon Islands (SINU) under the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Today, he is turning academic knowledge into practical action by establishing an eco-tourism lodge on Supizae Island, just outside Taro, the provincial capital. He named the busine...

Telebere News recently encountered a story that serves as a sobering reminder of life's fragility and the power of community. Herma Darren, an eight-year-old boy from the remote Shortland Islands is currently in a desperate fight for his health, requiring urgent medical intervention that is unavailable in the Solomon Islands. The Medical Challenge Herma   was born with a nasal dermoid cyst, a rare growth situated between the eyes. While it may have started small, the condition has progressed significantly. Today, he faces constant pain, severe swelling, and recurring headaches. Herma Darren - Photo by Solomon Star Beyond the physical toll, the condition has caused deep emotional distress. Specialists in Honiara have confirmed that the Solomon Islands lacks the facilities and specialized expertise required to treat this complex case. Without specialist surgery overseas, he faces the risk of life-altering complications. A Family’s Plea For a family living in a remote isla...

Each year, young people across the Solomon Islands leave school at Form 3, Form 5, or Form 6. For many, this moment marks a difficult transition—one filled with disappointment, uncertainty, and questions about the future. For some, leaving school can feel like the end of the road. But it is not. In reality, it can be the beginning of a new and meaningful journey—one that leads to skills, employment, and a life built on purpose and pride. TVET: An Alternative Pathway to Success While academic education is often viewed as the main pathway to success, it is not the only one. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), or Rural Training Centres (RTCs) that established across the Hapi Isles of Solomon Islands, offers young people a practical and skills-based alternative. Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world experience, these RTCs have been equipping many young people with skills needed in growing sectors such as construction, hospitality, agriculture, tourism, a...

Dear young people of the Solomon Islands, You may sometimes feel that the world is unfair. You might feel you haven’t yet found your purpose, or perhaps you feel tempted to engage in negative activities simply to belong or stay occupied. If that sounds familiar, let me share my journey with you. My working life did not begin with a résumé, formal qualifications, or a clear career plan. It began with my hands in the soil, collecting coconuts after school at the age of twelve, not knowing then that every small effort was quietly shaping my future. Volunteering with the Youth Division of Honiara City Council, engaging in discussions with visiting youth work students from Victoria University, Australia. The Value of Honest Labor My path into employment was not paved with privilege or certainty; it was built on necessity, responsibility, and a determination to create a better life. In 1990, I took on my first job in the coconut plantations of Yandina. After school, I joined ot...

Young people looking to build your career in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) now have an exciting opportunity, with Australia Skills Awards Scholarships for 2026 officially open to support skills training at selected Rural Training Centres across Solomon Islands.  The scholarships are funded by the Australian Government through the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands, under the Solomon Islands–Australia Partnership, and aim to help young Solomon Islanders gain practical, job-ready skills that lead to employment, self-employment and improved livelihoods.  The Australia Skills Awards support students to study a range of technical and vocational courses offered by participating Rural Training Centres (RTCs) and technical institutes. Training focuses on hands-on learning that responds to community needs and labour market demands.  Successful applicants will have their course fees paid directly to the training centre, with payments made in tw...

True leadership begins beyond the comfort zone. For Raywin Aluta, Coordinator of the Honiara City Council (HCC) Youth Programs – Tokspot Project, stepping onto the global stage has translated into renewed purpose and practical tools to strengthen youth mental health in the Solomon Islands. Recently highlighted by the U.S. Embassy Honiara, Raywin’s journey from the streets of Honiara to the suburbs of New Jersey demonstrates how international exchange can drive local impact. Raywin Aluta - Photo by US Embassy Honiara Through the prestigious Community Solutions Program (CSP), a U.S. Department of State-sponsored initiative, she spent three months gaining hands-on experience in youth mental health and community development. Global Exposure, Local Mission Raywin was placed with the Northern New Jersey Partnership for Maternal and Child Health and the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium—two leading non-profit organisations in youth advocacy and mental health support. Working...