Sun, sandy beaches and palm trees. The Solomon Islands seem to be the quintessential pacific island dream. But some in the community don't feel they belong. People living with disability often face discrimination, especially when it comes to accessing education or employment opportunities. Nas Campanella travelled to Honiara to meet some of the locals forging their own path to success.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00But a very good morning once again if you just find Jarvis Maneka has made history in
00:13the Solomon Islands.
00:14We'll check out the weather it's a bit look like it's cloudy day today George.
00:18Yeah and also fine too so we never know yeah it's very unpredictable.
00:24He co-hosts the breakfast show for the country's national broadcaster.
00:29I'm super proud of it that I am now the first blind radio presenter in the country.
00:39Born on the remote island of Bologna Jarvis initially went to the local school but with
00:45his vision deteriorating the teachers could no longer support him.
00:49He was told not to come back.
00:52When you're hearing your classmates going out to the school and you recognise their
00:55voices that was really stressful and I thought what on earth that I have to be just like
01:02locked up this way.
01:03I look at myself as a failure.
01:10Years later in the capital Honiara Jarvis finally found a school that would enrol him.
01:17Education opportunities for students with disability across the Solomon Islands are
01:21limited.
01:22In its 47th year the specialist development centre remains one of the only schools in
01:26the country providing these students with a place to learn.
01:32Most students who transition into mainstream education end up back here where they learn
01:37hands-on skills as well as literacy and numeracy.
01:42But the centre is poorly resourced and the principal says parents have unrealistic expectations.
01:50They expect their child to be in the school for six months or for a year and then go to
01:58the mainstream school.
02:00He says stigma can be a major reason some children with disability don't go to school
02:05at all.
02:06There are some people in the society who still think that those people with disability cannot
02:14contribute to the development in our community.
02:20Eddie Babanissi believes that attitude has stopped him from fulfilling his dream of becoming
02:25a lawyer.
02:26He studied abroad but has struggled to find work after coming home.
02:31Applying to jobs that are not getting any place is really a disappointment.
02:39Eddie is still making use of his legal training, having started a blindness advocacy group.
02:45While the father of three's career hasn't turned out how he planned, he knows he's making
02:51a difference.
02:52I have a beautiful family who make me want to live each day to be able to help other
02:58blind people and not only blind people but other people with disabilities as well.
03:05Despite the obstacles many students with disability face here, there is a sense of hope in the
03:10community that the future will be brighter for the next generation.
03:18For my future I want to be a chef.
03:20I want to become a nurse when I grow up.
03:24I want to become a builder when I grow up.
03:29With role models like Jarvis Maneka, they're being shown anything is possible.
03:36I am really, really optimistic about what lies ahead of me.