I read reports when the undersea cable was brought to the Solomon Islands that the future would herald many job opportunities once broadband internet services brought about the online connectivity to see businesses spring up and facilitate the work of government, private businesses and entrepreneurial activity.
From where I write in Thailand, I don’t know exactly how far broadband services have changed things for the better in the Solomon Islands and to what extent, if any, jobs have been created and business work improved.
I guess that with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic whatever advances in communications might have evolved the creation of new business has been put on hold.
It is certainly evident from what the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday that young people need jobs and are finding it very hard without earnings. The same must be true of families too.
I truly feel for all those facing hardships and when the immediate and longer term prospects for jobs and opportunity seem remote.
There is no question in my mind, however, that the future lies in job opportunities in the communications field and I learn of technological advances every day. What I do not see is help from any quarter for Solomon Islands youths to be given any help by way of instruction, training and practical guidance in communications those broadband services if now fully available at home could aid.
I wish there was such a thing as a communications skills training centre in the Solomon Islands that one or more of the government’s diplomatic partners would establish by way of funding, equipment supply and training. Ideally, too, leading to recognised qualifications to aid job search and employment opportunities post Covid.
I write what I have today because of my concern, particularly over youth employment, but also because I have confidence in the opportunities that having communication experience and qualifications will bring in the future.
At this point I would like to share with you a true story which might serve to illustrate what I have been writing about.
Some 10 years ago I met online a young Indian tele-marketing staff member working for what I call a B to B merchandising company based in the Indian capital New Delhi. In the course of our online chats this young man told me he had a personal idea to leave his then company and start up his own website design business, but he confided he was unsure whether is dream would work out.
Over a period of time I came to know of his communication skills and his professional attitude to work and his ethics.
I encouraged the young man, that I had never met in person, to take the initiative by starting small to develop his own business.
Today, the same person is the proud Managing Director and Founder of the top web designing company in India with many awards for design and achievements.
But the story does not end there. Now a successful business owner he has announced that he will give free communications and network training to over 30,000 unemployed Indian youths in the village where he grew up. There is a good chance too that the provincial government will step in to support the initiative.
If only I could learn of a similar scheme occurring in the Solomon Islands.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
