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Showing posts from October 26, 2025

Reflection on My First Day Back at Work – Lessons in Project Risk and Management

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Today marked my return to work after the festive season and the beginning of 2026. I did not expect the day to bring such an eye-opening experience — one that made me smile, reflect, and learn. I was confronted by five frustrated workers from the appointed contractor for the JCPU Administration Building project. One of the workers had just been released from temporary detention at the police station after the contractor reported them. You can imagine the emotional state of someone who had just come out of detention — stressed, confused, and upset. I took time to talk with them and quickly noticed several failures in the current project management that contributed to this situation. I believe these setbacks are rooted in the early stages of the project, particularly in the following areas: 1. Procurement system of the project 2. Planning phase, including costing and scheduling 3. Lack of written agreements between the main contractor and subcontractors 4. Incompetence and poor leadershi...
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A Day in Town: Prices Rising, Struggles of women, High Cost Of Living

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
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Introduction   Today was the day I have set in the past days to go shopping for skirts and other new clothes. I was blessed enough to have been accepted as the new project manager for the JCPU ( St John Coleridge Patteson's University .  It is a new University built by the ACOM ( Anglican Church of Melanesia ). Monday will be my first day of work after almost two years of being unemployed due to family problems encountered. Thus, I am so full of excitement to purchase new clothes. It would be a new working environment and experience for me especially where the rules are quite strict for ladies.  Women must wear skirts in church areas like this in the Solomons . Wearing short and long pants in church areas like this is considered being disrespectful.  Hence, I am very much looking forward to this day to shop for decent clothes especially skirts. Inside Island's Clothing Outside Island's Clothing  Shopping: Rising Prices As I parked at Point Cruiz Honiara's CBD ...
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Early Thurs-day

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Introduction  Its 5Am in the morning, a loud bang on the door and suddenly it swings open, walking in the room, Ivory! Wake up and drop me off at the wharf, a stern command that arouse me like I was brought back to life from the world of dreams as my eyelids slowly opens to the reality of the moment another bright island morning and I am ready to share a piece of my Solomon island life with you. Honiara Wharf I left my uncle's house at Baranumba to drop off my Aunt ( Mum's Sister) at the wharf. She will be departing for Auki Malaita Province at 7am or 8am. She is boarding Auki Express a privately owned vessel by Franjti shipping a locally owned shipping company. It is the most luxurious and convenient vessel that people prefer much than other ships. Auki Express has proper seats inside where people can be seated comfortably during the voyage. It is also the fastest.  It only takes 3 hrs from Honiara to Auki. Other ships however, the bigger ones took 6 hours compared to Auk...
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Clash Between Tradition and Mordern Life: A reality for women in Malaita.

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
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When Culture and Modern Life Collide: The Women of Malaita In Malaita Province , women continue to walk a fine line between modern expectations and traditional customs . While modern life brings education, independence, and the freedom to choose, culture still defines how a woman should behave, speak, and live. This ongoing clash leaves many women caught in between — struggling to find balance and a sense of identity in a fast-changing world. The Traditional Role of Women Traditionally, Malaitan women have been the heart of the home. They cook, care for children, and support their husbands in gardens and communities. A good woman is expected to be humble, respectful, and quiet. In many areas, men make the major decisions, and women’s opinions are often left unheard. These customs have shaped communities for generations and remain strong today. The Arrival of Modern Influence Modernism has slowly entered Malaita through education, religion, and technology. Young women are now attend...
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