Tools for Vatu Training Center, Solomon Islands
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Please share this effort far and wide!
Goals:
This fundraising capaign targets financial assistance to purchase hand and power tool kits (x10) needed for trade skills training courses occurring at Vatu Rural Training Centre in Gudalcanal, Solomon Islands. Any funds raised in excess of our goal will be allocated to the Solomon Islands Rural Training Center's non-profit general fund.
The overarch impetus for my taking this trip to one of the most remote corners of the planet comes by way of my inherent need to solve problems and assist those eager to help themselves.
People:
My name is Chris Guttenberg, I'm currently in the Solomon Islands - where I served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer and Logistics Cordinator from 1996-'99. I reside in Missoula, Montana USA. I work as a building contractor and hostel owner. My educational background lies in renewable energy technology and vocational skills research & training at both the high school and university levels.
Returning to the Solomon Islands means not only reconnecting with long time Peace Corps friends and ongoing support organizations, but actually working along side local partners here - the leaders who continually provides me critical industry, language and cross-cultural understanding.
Place:
Although Melanesia can be perceived as 'exotic' from outside it's Oceanic borderlines, it's the furthest thing from it. People here are regularly subjected to all that comes with a staggering 33% annual rate, changing climate, malaria, dengue, water and sanitation issues, chronic power shortages, rampant corruption, malnutrition, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis and sea level rise. Although peaceful and tranquil, this place has a lot of progress to pursue.
I was introduced (and now reconnected) to a group of dedicated tenacious leaders who are able to visualize and move students towards positive lasting change. My being here is on purpose; to return an olive branch of care, support, awareness & survival to these leaders and those following in their footsteps.
During 2014 the Solomons we're ravaged by a series of nasty hurricanes and floods which left most subsistence-level villages in peril. Since then, I have been communicating with my long time friend and counterpart James Manangelea about ways we can remediate some lasting issues specifically occurring at the vocation school we started together nearly 20 years ago. James and I have reconnected now, as of March 4th, 2019 (see photo above).
Vatu Rural Training Center is located in the central plain's of north-central Guadalcanal Island/Province. A primary part of my Peace Corps assignment concentrated on launching the school with James and his village community. We initially enrolled 7 student and now Vatu R.T.C. caters to 35 boarding students; boys and girls with varying abilities between the ages of 13 + 20 . Six support staff and their families also live at the training center. Together the school community cultivates meal program gardens and grows/harvests materials required to build and maintain classroom and workshop spaces in conjunction with curriculum design. (Read about the purpose of Rural Training Centers in the Solomon Islands by clicking the link below) Essentially R.T.C.'s are intended to serve as learning communities, self-sustaining educational facilities where improving life through capacity building remain paramount - a pedagogical focal point which guides this country's R.T.C. teaching & learning program.
Unfortunately, budgetary constrains brought on by misappropriated governmental support funding means there is a perpetual funding shortfall at these centers. Student fees avg. $2,000 Solomon dollars, which amounts to 30 US dollars per student per year. Staff here work unpaid, merely asking for food support and a chance to be involved in a positive, active and vibrant learning community. Supporting this process is where I'm asking for your compassion & generosity.
Currently the Training Center is experiencing a high incidents of housing and classroom structural degradation, beyond that which the students can keep up with. So, instead of us using our building know-how to repair everything ourselves, James and I have come up with a more appropriate and lasting educational solution, one which requires tools etc. and training for teachers and students at Vatu RTC. I will be living, inspiring and assisting at the Center during the next 3 weeks.
Call to action:
The course work and construction projects
will require that James and I go shopping together and then 'ship' things back to Vatu from the capital Honiara. Our plan is to compile 10 hand-tool kits, 10 kg. fastening hardware, misc. sized timbers and a handful of essential power tools from a local hardware store. Each toolkit will be used by one student from a Building Construction class who will be working on 3 different buildings for 2 hrs each day and will remain at the center for regular class time use. The power tools will be used by instructors only, to prepare materials for the students to make building repairs and additions.
Step 1 will be to build a locker room, through which students can access and return their tools in before and after class each day.
Each hand tool kit (x10) will include:
25 foot tape measure, hammers, pencils, carpentry squares, furniture squares, string/chalk line, crosscut & rip saws, chisel sets, sharpening stones, sandpaper and nail sets.
Power tools:
Portable Honda generator
Electric extension cord
Power plane
Circular saw
Extra blade
Materials'
40 - 2"x4" timbers
Hand nails
Thank you for your generous contribution and supporting this mission on behalf of hard working Solomon Islanders! Be sure to check back here for photos of progress.
~ Chris
http://apskills.ilo.org/network/solomon-islands-association-of-rural-training-centres
Goals:
This fundraising capaign targets financial assistance to purchase hand and power tool kits (x10) needed for trade skills training courses occurring at Vatu Rural Training Centre in Gudalcanal, Solomon Islands. Any funds raised in excess of our goal will be allocated to the Solomon Islands Rural Training Center's non-profit general fund.
The overarch impetus for my taking this trip to one of the most remote corners of the planet comes by way of my inherent need to solve problems and assist those eager to help themselves.
People:
My name is Chris Guttenberg, I'm currently in the Solomon Islands - where I served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer and Logistics Cordinator from 1996-'99. I reside in Missoula, Montana USA. I work as a building contractor and hostel owner. My educational background lies in renewable energy technology and vocational skills research & training at both the high school and university levels.
Returning to the Solomon Islands means not only reconnecting with long time Peace Corps friends and ongoing support organizations, but actually working along side local partners here - the leaders who continually provides me critical industry, language and cross-cultural understanding.
Place:
Although Melanesia can be perceived as 'exotic' from outside it's Oceanic borderlines, it's the furthest thing from it. People here are regularly subjected to all that comes with a staggering 33% annual rate, changing climate, malaria, dengue, water and sanitation issues, chronic power shortages, rampant corruption, malnutrition, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis and sea level rise. Although peaceful and tranquil, this place has a lot of progress to pursue.
I was introduced (and now reconnected) to a group of dedicated tenacious leaders who are able to visualize and move students towards positive lasting change. My being here is on purpose; to return an olive branch of care, support, awareness & survival to these leaders and those following in their footsteps.
During 2014 the Solomons we're ravaged by a series of nasty hurricanes and floods which left most subsistence-level villages in peril. Since then, I have been communicating with my long time friend and counterpart James Manangelea about ways we can remediate some lasting issues specifically occurring at the vocation school we started together nearly 20 years ago. James and I have reconnected now, as of March 4th, 2019 (see photo above).
Vatu Rural Training Center is located in the central plain's of north-central Guadalcanal Island/Province. A primary part of my Peace Corps assignment concentrated on launching the school with James and his village community. We initially enrolled 7 student and now Vatu R.T.C. caters to 35 boarding students; boys and girls with varying abilities between the ages of 13 + 20 . Six support staff and their families also live at the training center. Together the school community cultivates meal program gardens and grows/harvests materials required to build and maintain classroom and workshop spaces in conjunction with curriculum design. (Read about the purpose of Rural Training Centers in the Solomon Islands by clicking the link below) Essentially R.T.C.'s are intended to serve as learning communities, self-sustaining educational facilities where improving life through capacity building remain paramount - a pedagogical focal point which guides this country's R.T.C. teaching & learning program.
Unfortunately, budgetary constrains brought on by misappropriated governmental support funding means there is a perpetual funding shortfall at these centers. Student fees avg. $2,000 Solomon dollars, which amounts to 30 US dollars per student per year. Staff here work unpaid, merely asking for food support and a chance to be involved in a positive, active and vibrant learning community. Supporting this process is where I'm asking for your compassion & generosity.
Currently the Training Center is experiencing a high incidents of housing and classroom structural degradation, beyond that which the students can keep up with. So, instead of us using our building know-how to repair everything ourselves, James and I have come up with a more appropriate and lasting educational solution, one which requires tools etc. and training for teachers and students at Vatu RTC. I will be living, inspiring and assisting at the Center during the next 3 weeks.
Call to action:
The course work and construction projects
will require that James and I go shopping together and then 'ship' things back to Vatu from the capital Honiara. Our plan is to compile 10 hand-tool kits, 10 kg. fastening hardware, misc. sized timbers and a handful of essential power tools from a local hardware store. Each toolkit will be used by one student from a Building Construction class who will be working on 3 different buildings for 2 hrs each day and will remain at the center for regular class time use. The power tools will be used by instructors only, to prepare materials for the students to make building repairs and additions.
Step 1 will be to build a locker room, through which students can access and return their tools in before and after class each day.
Each hand tool kit (x10) will include:
25 foot tape measure, hammers, pencils, carpentry squares, furniture squares, string/chalk line, crosscut & rip saws, chisel sets, sharpening stones, sandpaper and nail sets.
Power tools:
Portable Honda generator
Electric extension cord
Power plane
Circular saw
Extra blade
Materials'
40 - 2"x4" timbers
Hand nails
Thank you for your generous contribution and supporting this mission on behalf of hard working Solomon Islanders! Be sure to check back here for photos of progress.
~ Chris
http://apskills.ilo.org/network/solomon-islands-association-of-rural-training-centres
Organizer
Chris Guttenberg
Organizer
Missoula, MT