Youth Environmental Movement 2021: Lokol Kaikai, Hemi Helti Kaikai

On the 15th and 16th December 2021, the Youth Environmental Movement 2021 was held in Kolokoda Primary School (KPS) in Hogarano District, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands. The event was co-organized by the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change and the staff of KPS and the nearby Kolomola Community members.

YEMSI 2021 was held in Kolokoda Primary School, Kolomola Community in Isabel Province, Solomon Islands.

The focus for YEMSI 2021 was on food security. As our communities’ environments are faced with numerous changes, notably, overexploitation of natural resources, biodiversity loss, commercial agriculture, population growth, COVID-19 and climate change, food security is threatened.

In light of the changing environments, it is vital that Pacific communities continue to strengthen their resilience by building on their existing techniques and knowledge to maintain a stable and convenient supply of nutritious food.

Pacific communities are facing numerous food security challenges.

Following the program structure from YEMSI 2020, day one kick started with ‘Umi Stori’ (let’s talk), an information session in a classroom style learning. Under the theme: Lokol Kaikai, Hemi Helti Kaikai (Local Food is Healthy Food) set the background for the youth participants to learn about the importance of food security, the numerous threats it faces and the solutions to safeguard food security.

The facilitators used visual educational tools such as short films and pictures to help communicate difficult concepts and explanations. The use of such tools proved to be effective in enabling the understanding of the link between food security and climate change. In between the presentations, complementary learning activities were introduced to stimulate group discussions and personal reflections.

Kolokoda Primary School Nursery.

Building from the learnings from the previous day, in day two ‘Umi Akson’ (let’s take action) encourages the participants to solidify their learning through practical action.

The lesson was held around a permanent nursery house and beds that were constructed by Kolomola community prior to the program with funding from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat through the Pacific Island Forum’s Secretary General’s Pacific Young Climate Leaders Alliance initiative.

There, the participants paid attentively to a demonstration by a local expert on transplanting germinated tomato, eggplants and pak choi seeds from the nursery to the bed. The participants followed suit in their own groups to plant their seedlings passionately with care. 

Environmental education is more than just promoting nature. For our Pacific, the health and sustainability of our environment are vital considerations in determining our food security. Our communities primarily derive their livelihood and meet their survival needs from the benefits of the land and the sea.

Yet, our environment and food security are facing numerous threats, notably from the adverse effects of climate change. Its impact to food security in the Pacific is devastating. Agricultural lands are damaged from increasing rainfall, flooding and king tides.

Our corals and oceans are bleaching and acidifying which continues to undermine the availability, adequacy and access to food. In light of these challenges, it is vital that our communities continue to have the capacity to feed and sustain themselves in dignity.

Stakeholders must strive to create an enabling environment to integrate youth as an equal and key actor as part of the solution. Taking a ‘leaving no one behind’ approach towards safeguarding our environment and communities is the key towards achieving a resilient and sustainable Pacific.

This spirit cannot be better captured by the motto of Kolomola community that has been passed down generations: Kaisei noda, Kaisei yeda which loosely translates to ‘together, we are one’. 

The success of the Youth Environmental Movement Solomon Islands in Barana Nature Park in Guadalcanal Province in 2020 has motivated the local civil society and youth-led initiative to continue.

Recognizing the growing concern over the disconnection of youth with their environment, YEMSI aims to provide youth with educational opportunities to educate students on the environmental challenges in their local community. By learning about the importance of the environment and the role youth can play in sustainable resource management and environmental protection, youth can become better decision makers and custodians in the future. 

Words of thanks

We would like to thank the Kolokoda Primary School staff and Kolomola community members and youth for their hospitality, assistance and kind cooperation.

Extending our gratitude to the Pacific Island Forum’s Secretary General’s Pacific Young Climate Leaders Alliance initiative for their support and confidence in Pacific youth in driving forward climate action in the region.

Last but not least, to Kastom Garden Association for providing the seed packets for the program.

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