Sparking sustainable change in the Solomon Islands

For experienced designer and communications professional Dianne Hambrook, volunteering with Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tūao Tāwāhi (VSA) has become a deeply fulfilling chapter in her life. After completing three volunteer assignments in Vanuatu between 2010 and 2016, she and her husband Keith took on new roles in the Solomon Islands as an Operators Tourism Development Advisor in Munda, and in tourism events development, respectively.

Dianne’s motivation to volunteer again came from a desire to stay engaged and to put her skills to use. “This is my fourth volunteer assignment,” she explains. “All my previous roles drew on my skill set, which is communications, specifically graphic design and marketing. The experience I had with the Department of Tourism in Vanuatu meant I was a good fit for this role, it felt as though it had been written for me.”

With experience living and working overseas, Dianne and Keith have quickly adapted to island life, embracing the slow rhythm and tight-knit spirit of life in the Solomon Islands. Living in Munda, Western Province, the couple has become part of the community. Each day begins with a two-kilometre walk to the provincial office, greeted by cheerful calls of “Munmun Leana!” which translates to “good morning” in the Roviana language. There in Munda, Dianne focuses on building a website for Western Province Tourism while Keith helps to develop event resources and signage for the town centre. Together with their local counterparts, they collaborate closely with tourism operators, accommodation owners and local agencies to strengthen Munda’s tourism identity.

Dianne and Keith's two kilometre walk to work

One project in particular has left a lasting mark on both Dianne and the community. With no formal waste-management system, Munda has struggled with litter which accumulates very quickly. “During our first week, we picked up all the litter in the main street,” she recalls. “It looked amazing – for a day. Then the rubbish was back.” Drawing on a project she worked on in Vanuatu, she adapted and co-presented a waste management workshop for local women and tailored it to suit the community and environment in Munda. “The response was heartening. Everyone was engaged, informed and motivated to make changes. My counterpart’s confidence soared.”

Dianne ran a waste-management workshop for a group of twelve women

The shared learning quickly took root and became a catalyst for change. When the couple returned from a short work trip away, they were delighted to discover that Dianne’s counterpart had gone on to organise more waste-management workshops with an NGO that provided practical solutions including composting organic waste and upcycling and reusing inorganic waste. “This is the dream of every VSA volunteer – that your counterpart is empowered to continue the work without you, that you become redundant. I’m so proud of her.”

Reflecting on the experience, Dianne says that volunteering has reaffirmed her sense of purpose. “Personally, it keeps me flexible and curious. Professionally, it reminds me that my skills still have value.” Her advice to others considering volunteering is simple – “Be open and adaptable. You won’t change the world – but volunteering will certainly change you.”

You can read more about Dianne’s volunteer adventures on her personal blog at: https://diannehambrook.substack.com