THE Community Artisans across Four Islands in Western Province are now capable to start their own sanitation businesses after completing a one-day Artisan Business Training in Gizo, Western Province.
The term “artisan” refers to a person skilled in a craft who creates handmade products, often using traditional methods. These products are typically unique, high-quality, and not mass-produced.
The training was organized by Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) through its National Sanitation Sustainability Plan (NSSP) Phase 2 Extension Project. This project was funded by DFAT through UNICEF and implemented by ADRA in Solomon Islands.
The project is currently being implemented in Simbo, Rannogah, South Vela, and North/South Kolobangara Islands in the Western Province.
Participants included six artisans from South Kolobangara, six from Central Rannogah, six from South Vela, one from Gizo, and five from Simbo Island.
The training session took place at the Chacha Conference Room Building on Tuesday 29 of April 2025.
The training was facilitated by UNICEF WASH Specialist Mr. Issifu Adama and UNICEF Program Officer Mr. Erick Hale.
Prior to the training on Monday, 28 April, ADRA and UNICEF, with support from RWASH in the Western Province were able to launch the No Open Defecation (NOD) League table, in which Ward 5 in Central Rannogah currently top the league with the highest number of communities being declared for NOD.
UNICEF WASH Specialist Mr. Issifu Adama, who facilitated the training, thanked all participants from the islands for attending.
βI would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the artisans from these islands who are able to attend, despite your busy schedules. This training is very important for you and your communitiesββ
“After this training, I encourage you to return to your communities and begin thinking about how you can start a sanitation business to support and improve local sanitation services,ββ Mr Issifu said.
Fostah Tola, an artisan from Nusa Simbo, expressed his gratitude to UNICEF and ADRA for facilitating the training.
βI would like to thank ADRA and UNICEF for this training, which will help us to start a sanitation business in our community,β he said.
βWe now have the idea and motivation to begin a sanitation business, especially since our community currently lacks one.β
Delson Pio from New Bare Community in Central Rannogah shared similar opinion about the training.
βI am truly happy to have joined this training. It has given me valuable ideas on how I can start a sanitation business in my village to support our ongoing and future sanitation projects,β he said.
βI would like to thank ADRA and UNICEF, with the support of RWASH in Gizo, for organizing this important training for us as artisans. It will help us earn income by using our skills,β Mr. Pio added.
Peter Reggie from Patupaele Community in North Kolobanagra described the training as a blessing for him and his family.
βI am a builder by profession, and attending this training has given me new ideas on how I can promote and apply my trade skills in the community to earn an income,β he shared.
βI had set aside my building skills for quite some time, but now I plan to use them by starting a small sanitation project to help others and earn money. Thanks to ADRA and UNICEF for this training,β said Mr. Reggie, an experienced builder.
The artisan business training focuses on how to start a sanitation business, how to market sanitation products, when to launch the business, and other relevant topics related to sanitation entrepreneurship.
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ADRA-SI
