RAMSI’s engagement in Solomon Islands is wide-reaching. Beyond their work to strengthen law and order, the economy and the machinery of government, RAMSI advisers enjoy contributing to many aspects of Solomon Islands life, working with community organisations and sporting groups as well as supporting some of the country’s biggest community events.
In the community
RAMSI takes part in many of the events held throughout Solomon Islands, including provincial celebration days, fundraising events and internationally-recognised days such as White Ribbon Day which calls for an end to domestic violence, World Anti-Corruption Day and World Press Freedom Day.
Some of RAMSI’s largest contributions include the following events:
RAMSI Community Fun Days
Each July, as part of the celebrations to mark the anniversary of RAMSI’s arrival in Solomon Islands on 24 July 2003, the Mission hosts a series of Community Fun Days throughout Solomon Islands. These events, hosted at many of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force police provincial posts, supported by RAMSI’s Participating Police Force, are designed to give as many people in the community as possible a day of fun and games and a chance to celebrate together the peaceful environment enjoyed in the country since RAMSI’s arrival.
Activities at RAMSI Community Fun Days in the past have included soccer, volleyball and tug-of-war tournaments, karaoke festivals, coconut husking competitions, lime and spoon races, as well as BBQs and community feasts of roasted pigs. RAMSI Community Fun Days are always a time of celebration – and see thousands of people getting involved across Solomon Islands.
Carols in the Islands
Held at Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium each December, Carols in the islands is arguably the biggest public event of the year in Solomon Islands, attended by well over 10,000 people.
Musicians and performers from throughout Solomon Islands and across the Pacific come together for a night of celebration, including the RAMSI Pacific Choir, made up of representatives from RAMSI’s Pacific Islands contingent.
RAMSI is the co-host of the event with local business, DJ Graphics, and plays an integral role in the Carols, including making sure Santa arrives on time in the 'RAMSI train'.
Sport
RAMSI staff volunteer as coaches, referees and players for a range of sports throughout Solomon Islands including rugby, netball, taekwondo, triathlon, ultimate frisbee and weightlifting. Other sports played in Solomon Islands have also seen contributions from RAMSI including:
Soccer
Solomon Islanders are as passionate about their soccer as any nation on earth. The country’s indoor soccer (futsal) team has, for many years, been the leading team in the Pacific region, and the international Solomon Islands soccer squad’s 2-2 draw with Australia in 2004 sent much of the country into hysteria on the team’s return to Solomon Islands, less than a year after the end of the ethnic tensions.
Many RAMSI members are involved in soccer development as coaches of junior teams, and RAMSI continues to support the growth of ‘the world game’ throughout the country.
Support has included the participation in fundraising matches for local teams to travel internationally. In 2008, RAMSI published Soccer in Solomon Islands: A goalkeeper’s guide, written by former national goalkeeper Francis Aruwafu. The book is the first recorded history of the game of soccer in Solomon Islands, as well as a guide for budding goalkeepers across the country. RAMSI funded the printing of the book, and has assisted with its distribution throughout the country.
Australian Rules Football: ‘Solkick’
The popularity of Australian Rules football has been growing in recent years in Solomon Islands.
Members of RAMSI’s police, military and civilian contingents, including the Special Coordinator, Graeme Wilson, himself a former player for the Sydney – formerly the South Melbourne – Swans, have been organising training clinics in Honiara for a number of years, with the focus on giving as many Solomon Islands youngsters as possible a chance to play Australian Rules Football.
The clinics, held every Saturday at Honiara High School, are designed to give girls and boys the chance to hone their kicking and handpassing skills before taking part in a competitive game.
Solomon Islands now represents a new growth area for the Australian Football League (AFL), with the first ever Solomon Islands player, 17-year old Freddie Una -Felix recently being selected to take part in an international competition in Australia.
Netball
Netball is popular throughout the Pacific, and Solomon Islands is no exception.
RAMSI staff and their families are actively involved in netball competitions throughout Solomon Islands, with a RAMSI Participating Police Force officers providing support to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force’s netball teams.
This support includes coaching and facilities, together with a range of programs designed to improve women’s overall health and well being. These programs cover areas such as health information and life skills, with the focus on encouraging women to build self confidence, leadership and teamwork.
Cricket
Once a popular sport, cricket had all but disappeared from Solomon Islands in recent years, until it was revived in 2009 with the creation of a four-team, Honiara-based competition, instigated through the joint efforts of Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Dr Derek Sikua and RAMSI Special Coordinator Graeme Wilson and other members of the community.
It is hoped that the new competition, combined with a series of planned ‘kanga cricket’ clinics held in schools and communities around Honiara, will revive cricket as a popular sport once again.
Rugby Union
Rugby Union is played proudly and fiercely throughout the Pacific, and Solomon Islands is no different. Honiara’s rugby competition has grown strongly in recent years, with the sport now attracting hundreds of spectators to matches every weekend.
RAMSI members have been involved in the growth of the game throughout the country as coaches, trainers and referees. In doing so they have helped to further entrench ‘the game they play in heaven’ as an integral part of Solomon Islands sporting life.