OPINION: The Unfinished Story of Our Youths

In the Solomon Islands, young people are full of talent, energy, and ambition—but access to safe, supported spaces for learning, mentorship, and growth remains limited.

We often call young people “leaders of tomorrow.”

But walk through the streets of Gizo or Auki, and you quickly realize tomorrow has already arrived.

Nearly 70% of our population is under 34. We are not a nation with a youth sector; we are a youth nation.

This presents both incredible opportunity and a serious responsibility: to ensure our young people can thrive, lead, and innovate.

Across the country, youth are making their mark as entrepreneurs, community leaders, and participants in government and regional initiatives.

Many return from training and exchange programs within the country and abroad, bringing new skills, perspectives, and savings that help strengthen local economies.

Yet alongside this promise lie real challenges. Job opportunities are limited, urban migration is rising, and gaps remain in education-to-employment pathways.

Physical infrastructure, such as youth centres and resource hubs, is stretched thin.

Without the right environment, energy and potential risk being stalled.

A Tale of Two Realities in the Capital

Every story needs a place where ideas take root. In Honiara, those spaces exist but are under strain.

At Town Ground, opposite Coral Sea Resort and Casino, a facility earmarked for youth, women, and children by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children, and Family Affairs, was intended as a hub for innovation and empowerment.

Today, it houses storage crates, a garage, a small betel-nut market, and a house.

Meanwhile, the Honiara City Council continues to run programs through the Honiara Youth Centre.

Despite their efforts, demand far outstrips capacity, leaving many young people without access to the training, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities they need.

They still require greater support for these programs to reach communities across Honiara.

When one space becomes a warehouse and another operates beyond capacity, an unintended message is sent: youth development can be delayed by storage needs or limited space.

The policy intent exists, but the reality is lagging.

The Vision vs. The Reality

The Solomon Islands National Youth Policy 2017–2030 provides a bold roadmap.

It prioritises youth empowerment, access to services, leadership development, and inclusive participation.

It emphasises that no young person should be left behind.

Yet policies are only as strong as the systems supporting them.

While the policy calls for “access to information” and “youth-friendly spaces,” in practice, physical limitations often block opportunities for collaboration, growth, and innovation.

Youth centres are not just buildings, they are the platforms from which ideas, skills, and leadership can flourish.

Without sufficient, dedicated spaces, the promise of the National Youth Policy remains partially unrealised.

Progress and Partnerships

It is important to recognise the work that is being done.

Programs supported by government, non-government, and development partners are equipping young people with the skills, guidance, and opportunities they need to thrive.

At the same time, the government faces multiple competing priorities: health, education, economic recovery, and infrastructure.

Urban land is limited, budgets are stretched, and maintaining facilities can be challenging.

These realities highlight that the solution is not simple, but it is urgent.

Provincial Innovation: A Blueprint for Hope

Provinces are demonstrating what’s possible when leadership matches energy and ambition.

In Western Province, a new youth centre is nearing completion, designed as a hub for training, mentorship, and leadership.

In Malaita, the Youth and Children’s Resource Centre in Auki is emerging as a “one-stop shop” for health services, peer mentoring, and entrepreneurship programs.

These initiatives highlight the importance of decentralisation; opportunity should not be concentrated in the capital.

Youth across the country deserve access to spaces, programs, and platforms to grow.

Pathways Forward

If the Solomon Islands is truly a youth nation, development must be treated as a national investment, not a sectoral issue.

·   Make better use of existing spaces: Clear and allocate facilities for their intended purpose, ensuring they can serve as hubs for youth engagement.

·     Strengthen partnerships: Collaboration between government, private sector, civil society, and development partners can unlock resources, innovation, and expertise.

·    Look beyond buildings: Digital access, vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and reintegration pathways for returning workers are equally critical in preparing youth for the future.

·     Keep youth at the centre: Young people must be partners in designing solutions, not just benefit from them.

A Shared Responsibility

To young people, your creativity, resilience, and determination continue to shape this nation, with or without perfect conditions.

To national, provincial, and city leaders, the foundation exists in policy, partnerships, and youth energy.

The next step is ensuring that implementation matches ambition. 

The story of our future is still being written.

With vision, investment, and collaboration, it can become a story not of missed opportunities, but of a generation fully empowered to lead and to serve.