Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Honiara (Agenzia Fides) - Catholics in Solomon Islands continue to provide human, cultural, professional and spiritual education for young people. Recently about 90 students took part in a three day retreat guided by a team of animators, teachers, priests and religious at Epalle Catholic School in Honiara on the theme “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”. The participants meditated on Scripture, prayed together and shared their experience. Youth pastoral animators are very active in forming young people in parishes and communities all over Solomons Islands.
The young people of in this country risk being caught up in violence, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, symptoms of social hardship and unrest which together with civil institutions and organisations the local Christian community is working hard to overcome. Solomons has a population of 450,000, 50% under 18. Unemployment is high among young people the only jobs available are in food production, fishing and farming.
Education is a challenge, in fact only 20-25% of the children go to primary school and only 35% of these go on to secondary school. Ninety percent of the disadvantaged dissatisfied youth in towns like Honiara and in villages smokes marijuana, which grows wild here. Consumption of alcohol is increasing causing alarm among sociologists, educators and civil authorities.
The local Catholic Church is aware that education is determinant in view of building a better future for Solomon Islands still suffering the consequences of civil strife some years ago. The future of the country depends on contributions from everyone and the state relies on the help of private bodies and religious communities including the local Catholic Church seriously committed to furthering the moral and cultural growth of the people. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/9/2006 righe 27 parole 274)
