Duchess to meet campaigner tackling domestic violence in Solomon Islands

Women in the Solomon Islands suffer some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world.  Two out of three women aged 15-49 who have ever been in a relationship, reporting experiencing physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner. That is 64 per cent.

The Duchess of Cambridge will attend a morning tea on Monday 17th September where she will meet Koisau Sade, World Vision’s Gender Coordinator. Koisau works with trusted church leaders on the islands to try to change men’s attitudes towards women.

The Royal couple will also be meeting World Vision youth advocates and have the chance to get a glimpse of island life in the Solomons during their tour of Asia and the South Pacific. The couple are representing Queen Elizabeth II and celebrating her 60 years on the throne.

“We are honoured to host such an influential pair of young leaders. Our goal is that they’ll walk away with an understanding about how we are empowering communities to overcome poverty in the Solomon Islands,” said World Vision’s Solomon Islands Country Program Director Andrew Catford.

During their two day stay, the Royal couple will meet with World Vision staff, youth leader Ellison Maitaifiri and young business owners Louise and Cain Whitney.

Ellison, Louise and Cain live in Burns Creek, a community that faces many challenges including high unemployment, limited educational opportunities and high instances of drug, alcohol and physical abuse.

World Vision has been working with the community for the past 18 months to change attitudes towards substance abuse and violence, and to create opportunities for youth through education and training.

Cain and Louise will share with William and Kate about how they are turning their lives around. Cain left school early and turned to drugs and alcohol and was unable to meet his family’s needs. After receiving training from World Vision, he started a small piggery business and now feels more confident because he can support his family.
His wife Louise attended training as well and now runs her own grocery store. Louise says they now have "peace in the home" and a bright future for their children.

The South Asia and Pacific region is home to a billion people who live on less than $2 a day. Levels of chronic child hunger and malnutrition are among the highest in the world and urban poverty is an increasing problem in many countries in the region.

World Vision is one of the largest and most experienced non-government agencies in the Solomon Islands. The organisation has been working there for more than three decades, with a special focus on children and empowering communities to shape their own development in areas like health, education and economic development.