Volunteer with VSA

Kia ora, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula, Talofa lava, Halo, Kia orana, Mauri and warm Pacific greetings,
  
Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is
Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora.  
Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū. 

Connecting People – Transforming Lives. 
Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.  
  
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role
This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and capacity build in the Solomon Islands. Work alongside our local partner organization to create a fair future for all.
  
VSA will support you by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.
  
If you’re an experienced Nursery professional or have the right level of transferrable skills; and you’re looking for an opportunity to build capability in the Pacific (while enjoying an extraordinary cultural experience), then please read on to find out more.

Our Partner Organisation - Solo Enviro Beautification (SEB) is a pioneering organisation dedicated to enhancing the environmental landscape of Honiara, Solomon Islands. As the only organisation in the country equipped to tackle the challenge of creating and maintaining a green city, SEB plays a critical role in beautifying the urban environment for both residents and tourists. SEB’s medium-sized nursery features a diverse range of plants and trees, supporting its large-scale landscaping projects, such as those undertaken to beautify Honiara for the 2023 Pacific Games.

With a team of approximately 30 gardeners and casual staff, along with seven administrative and security personnel, SEB is committed to delivering high-quality landscape designs and maintaining a well-managed nursery. By partnering with skilled professionals, SEB aims to further strengthen its operations, ensuring sustainable and impactful improvements to Honiara’s green spaces.

The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and Solo Enviro Beautification (SEB).

This assignment focuses on supporting Solo Enviro Beautification (SEB) to improve the management and operations of their nursery in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The volunteer will work closely with nursery staff to enhance their skills in plant care, transplanting, stock management, and daily upkeep of plants. Through mentoring, training, and capacity-building, the volunteer will help implement efficient nursery practices, ensuring SEB can consistently meet the demand for high-quality plants and trees for large-scale landscaping projects.

The role involves reviewing current nursery operations, identifying areas for improvement, and providing practical recommendations to optimise processes. By developing and delivering training materials and offering hands-on guidance, the volunteer will empower SEB staff to confidently manage the nursery. This support will contribute to SEB's mission of creating a greener, more beautiful Honiara for the benefit of both residents and visitors.


Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role
Are you someone who wants to make a difference, have a sense of adventure and like the challenge of being outside your comfort zone?  VSA Volunteers are technical experts who impart their skills and knowledge to the local community. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, resilient with a passion for Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community.

We're looking for a volunteer with the following:

• Qualification in agriculture, horticulture or similar field
• 3+ years' experience working as a nursery manager
• Experience in plant production, soil, fertilizers and growing techniques
• Excellent Communication Skills

Important note: Due to our VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.

The Country
The Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, 5,000 rural villages and 550,000 people. Between 1999 and 2003 it experienced a period of conflict which took a heavy toll on the country and left a need for reconciliation and on-going peace and security measures.

A request for assistance by the government in 2003 led Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries to form the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which restored peace and security.

VSA has established a strong presence in Solomon Islands through its ongoing partnerships with multiple in-country partners, including strong relationships with Solomon Islands Government. 

Te tono | How to apply:
Apply for this opportunity through our website.
For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.

Please note: The VSA office will be closed from midday on 20th December, and our recruitment team will be unavailable to review applications or respond to queries about this assignment until we reopen on 6th January 2025. You’re welcome to submit your application during this period, and we’ll review it as soon as we return.

To review the full assignment description please copy and paste the below link into your browser:


If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.

We are looking for a volunteer with:

• 12-month Volunteer service opportunity based in Honiara
• Flights, accommodation and living allowance provided by VSA
• Make a lasting impact by mentoring staff and enhancing nursery operations