PWDSI was established in 1990s to advocate and promote disability issues. It also worked towards the establishment of a national body to represent people with disabilities. The pioneers who began this journey have built the platform for the future generation. Much of the hard work has been done by our pioneers. In 2004, after the “ethnic tension”, a new executive was voted into office. This execut
ive began its work in difficult situations. There were no assets or bank accounts for the organization and no office. The new executive then based its operations in the home of the president. Whilst there was no office, DPASI thrived both nationally and regionally: DPASI became a member of Pacific Disability Forum. In 2006, DPASI, through the CBR Coordinator Ms Diana Yates, received a container of quality bags which when sold, brought in funds to meet the costs of its operational costs. In 2007, APIDS (Australian Pacific Islands Disability Support) became the first partner to give small funds to this organization. These funds enabled the organization to keep up with advocacy activities and changes in the regional and international regions. In 2008, in its Annual General Meeting, DPASI became People With Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI). The previous executive was re-elected. The advocacy work then shifted from using a “charity model” to the rights-based approach. This also brought new ideas and thus the changing of the name signifies that change where people with disabilities are seen as people first. APIDS again channelled funds to meet the operations of the organization. In 2009, PWDSI personnel participated in its first Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship (ALAF) training program. Three participants from PWDSI travelled to Australia for a six week training focussing on advocacy skills and leadership development. This training was for DPOs in the Pacific and Asia region. This opportunity was timely for capacity building and training for PWDSI. Participants gained an insight into the range of opportunities available for people with disabilities. In 2009, Disability Rights Fund called for funding applications and PWDSI submitted its first project proposal. In November 2009, a partnership between Pacific Disability Forum (PDF), People With Disabilities Australia (PWDA), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Australian Human Rights Commission held a week long training program on Human Rights and Disability in Honiara. This was attended by our members from the provinces and it was very successful. At the end of 2009, a partnership with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) & CBM (Christian Blind Mission) was established for the ALAF Program; a proposal for ALAF was submitted. In 2010, PWDSI received its first major funding from Disability Rights Fund (DRF). This funding enabled PWDSI to visit rural and remote areas to conduct workshops and training. CRPD was taken to rural communities and villages for the first time, and the text of CRPD was also translated into pidgin. Four provinces were targeted for this project. In 2010 PWDSI also established its office in the DSE Building and employed a Project Officer (funded by DRF). The staff continue to be assisted by volunteers, who have always played a key role. In February 2010, through the successful partnership with QUT and CBM, PWDSI sent eleven participants for a six weeks training on the ALAF Program. Most participants were young people with disabilities. A second successful funding proposal to DRF was accepted in December 2010. The first DRF project was successfully completed in 2010. In 2011, PWDSI again secured funding for 2012 activities from Disability Rights Fund; funding also came from ABILIS, Commonwealth Foundation, APIDS and PDF under the Internal Capacity Building Project. All projects lapse in December 2012. Also in 2011, PWDSI entered into partnership with Monash University for a research. The research looked at the socio-cultural context of disability and identifying cultural appropriate solution to these issues.
