26/08/2026
๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ณ๐๐น๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ
A three-day intensive Disaster Preparedness and Evacuation Centre Management (DPECM) Training conducted by ADRA Solomon Islands has successfully concluded in Honiara.
The training was held at the White River Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Honiara from Sunday, 23 August, to Tuesday, 25 August 2026.
More than 60 members from four Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) churches in the West Honiara District attended the training. The participating churches were Varamata, White River, Forest Valley, and Reilonga SDA Churches.
During the opening, the ADRA Solomon Islands Country Director Mr. Leyn Eliezer Gantare expressed appreciation to all church members who participated in the training, describing it as an important opportunity to help individuals, families, and churches prepare for potential disasters.
The DPECM training was facilitated by ADRA Emergency Support Staff, Mr Raynick Jack, with support from Mr Duran Taupongi, Manager of the National Disaster Management Office for Honiara City Council, and Mr Alex Rilifia, Senior Weather Forecaster from the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service.
The training was fully funded by the South Pacific Division (SPD), Trans-Pacific Union Mission (TPUM), and Solomon Islands Mission (SIM) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church through the Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Project, coordinated by Denver Newter.
The aim of the training was to refresh and strengthen participants' knowledge and understanding of disaster preparedness and response. It also supported the participating churches to review and strengthen their church disaster committees and develop their own Church Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans.
Participants covered a range of important topics, including Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), understanding hazards and vulnerabilities, the disaster management cycle, community hazard and vulnerability mapping, disaster risk and response action planning, and local-level early warning systems.
Pastor Sammy Kaipua of Forest Valley and Wind Valley SDA Churches expressed his appreciation to the DRC Project for organising the three-day training.
โOur churches are located in high-risk areas that are vulnerable to natural disasters, so this training is very important for our preparedness,โ Pastor Kaipua said.
Solly Tegemoana, Minister of White River SDA Church, also thanked ADRA Solomon Islands and the DRC Project for organising the training.
โIt has been very helpful for us as we work towards establishing and strengthening our disaster committee within the church,โ he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Meteorological Service for providing important information about weather services and how communities can prepare during the cyclone and rainy seasons.
โWe are very happy and thankful that this training was organised for us. It has helped us to better understand disasters and the importance of being prepared,โ he added.
Meanwhile, ADRA Solomon Islands, through the Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Project, is currently carrying out retrofitting works at Forest Valley and Reilonga SDA Churches as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience.
The retrofitting works aim to improve the safety and accessibility of church facilities so they can better serve as evacuation centres during times of disaster. A follow-up Evacuation Centre Management Training will also be organised to help church leaders and members effectively manage and use their facilities during emergencies, including ensuring that the centres are accessible to people with special needs.
One of the main aims of the DRC Project is to support the TPUM for Christ initiative by equipping Seventh-day Adventist mission leaders, church members, and communities with the skills, structures, and resources needed to manage every stage of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Together, we are building safer, stronger, and more disaster-ready churches and communities.
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Seventh-Day Adventist Church - Solomon Islands
ADRA Australia
ADRA South Pacific
Ana Alburqueque