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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Dying hours before the New Year.

By Ivory waki / Solvoice

Every time we go home, it is our time to be with our parents. I have three sisters, with one adopted, making us five daughters. It has always been our tradition that our father leads us in prayer before midnight.

This New Year was the same. We gathered and talked as a family. My firstborn sister could not join us as she is very ill with cancer, and as a family we are going through one of the toughest seasons of our lives.

We grew up with simple farmer parents. Today, we are fortunate to live right in the heart of Auki Town in Malaita, on a piece of land acquired through their hard work. Yet the setting still feels like village life—something very special. I am deeply grateful to my parents for keeping us grounded. It gives us the feeling that we are still in the village where we grew up—carefree, close to gardens and rivers.

Though we miss many things about village life, my parents have managed to carry that way of living with us to where we are now.

As usual, we gathered to discuss our plans for 2026, the challenges we face as a family living in Solomon Islands, to confess, forgive, and pray together. I believe this is one of the most sacred and blessed practices, and I am grateful to my father and to God for it.


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