The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), through its Turn on the Tap (TOTT) Project, has successfully completed its soft component program with Gilo Primary School in Northeast Guadalcanal.
The soft component program took place at Gilo Primary School on Tuesday, 31 March, and Wednesday, 01 April 2026, and was held in the school classroom.
Jenei Belden, a TOTT Volunteer, and Lynda Asse as an ADRA International Volunteer facilitated the soft component program.
The activities included CHAST (Children Hygiene And Sanitation Training) the establishment of a WASH committee for the school, and hygiene training for both teachers and senior students as part of this important program with the school, handover of wash materials to school and handover of menstruations pads to senior female students.
ADRA recently has completed a magnificent renovation and sanitation improvement project for the school which was fully funded by ADRA Australia through the ADRA Solomon Islandsโ Turn on the Tap (TOTT) Project. The renovation and improvement work began in December 2025 and was successfully completed at the end of February 2026.
The Gilo Primary School was identified due to the needs and priorities following a full assessment conducted by the TOTT project team across three schools in Northeast Guadalcanal Province.
After the assessment, the project team decided to select Gilo Primary School which under the Guadalcanal Provincial Education Provider due to its coverage areas of the students attending the school, beside the urgent need for renovation and improvement of its existing sanitation facilities to meet proper education sanitation standards.
Gilo Primary School currently has nine teachers and an enrolment of 262 students from Grade 1 to Grade 6. The school serves students from the GPPOL 3 area up to Brande. It is also one of the longest-serving schools in the Tasimboko area in Northeast Guadalcanal.
Jeanei Belden, who conducted the training and is currently volunteering with the TOTT Project, said they carried out two activities for the school.
โOn Tuesday, we conducted CHAST training, set up a WASH committee for the school, and provided hygiene training for both teachers and senior studentsโโ
โOn Wednesday, we carried out awareness sessions on menstruation for girls, handed over some WASH materials to the school, and distributed menstrual hygiene pads to the students as part of the activity,โโshe said.
The awareness program was funded by ADRA Australia through the ADRA Solomon Islands Turn on the Tap (TOTT) Project. Currently, ADRA is working closely with Gilo School as part of this pilot project implementation, supporting the school with improvements to its sanitation components which was handed over to the school recently.
Meanwhile, Ms Belden, on behalf of ADRA, thanked Gilo Primary School for availing their students and staff to join and participate in this important soft component program for the school.
End////
