“WHERE HOPE MEETS OPPORTUNITY” CAUSE II Project: Transforming Lives in Gizo

AS the sun slowly sinks beneath the horizon, casting golden reflections across the tranquil waters of Western Province, the islands glow with a beauty that has earned this region its reputation as the Sunset Jewel of the Solomon Islands. Beyond the postcard-perfect lagoons and palm-fringed shores, however, many families continue to face the daily challenge of finding stable income and opportunities to build a better future.

For two residents of Gizo, that future once seemed uncertain.

Today, their stories stand as powerful reminders that sometimes a single opportunity can change the course of a person's life.

For Fulton Golton, a father of four and grandfather to thirteen grandchildren, the responsibility of providing for a large family weighed heavily on his shoulders. Like many in Western Province, finding steady employment was a constant struggle.

Working as a part-time security officer at Gizo Hospital, Fulton did what he could to support his family. Yet the income from occasional shifts was never enough to meet the growing needs of his children and grandchildren.

"I wanted to do more for my family," Fulton recalls.

In October 2025, he joined Batch 7 of the Redi4Waka training program – one of the flagship initiatives of Component 3: Enhanced Urban Productivity delivered under the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement II (CAUSE II) Project.

This initiative aims to provide work-readiness and life-skills development, support literacy and numeracy training, deliver short-term employment opportunities through community based-activities, offer wellbeing and support services for unemployed and out-of-school urban residents and improve access to labour-market opportunities and income-generating activities.

During the seven-days training held at the CAUSE II Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in Gizo Western Province, Fulton learned practical skills that many job seekers take for granted—how to identify his strengths, prepare a professional résumé, write job applications, and confidently face interviews.

The lessons soon paid off.

When a vacancy opened for a security guard at the newly established Zaru Hotel in Gizo, Fulton applied using the skills he had gained through the training. He was initially offered a three-month probation period.

Determined to prove himself, Fulton worked diligently. At the end of the probation, he received the news he had hoped for: he was offered a permanent position.

Today, Fulton is employed full-time and is able to provide greater support for his children and grandchildren.

"I am happy because I can now help my family much better than before," he says.

Just a few kilometres away, another life was being transformed.

For Judith Malasa, a mother of one, the journey toward financial stability began at the local market.

For years, Judith earned an income by selling cooked food. Although she worked hard, managing her earnings and planning for the future remained a challenge. Like many small-scale vendors, she often struggled to track her profits and make the most of the income she generated.

Everything changed when she enrolled in the same Redi4Waka Batch 7 training.

Through the programme, Judith learned financial management skills, including how to calculate mark-ups, manage business income, prepare application letters, build a strong CV based on informal work experience, and answer common interview questions with confidence.

Those new skills inspired her to pursue opportunities she had never imagined possible.

When the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) advertised a vacancy for a cleaner in Gizo, Judith decided to apply. With support and guidance from the Social Service Coach at the Gizo PIU, she prepared her application and attended the interview.

To her surprise and delight, she was selected for the position.

"I didn't expect to get the job," Judith says with a smile. 

"I was just trying my best, and now I am very thankful for the support that helped me succeed."

Today, Judith has secured formal employment and is helping to provide a more stable future for her family.

While Fulton and Judith come from different backgrounds, their stories share a common thread: the courage to embrace new opportunities and the determination to improve their lives.

CAUSE II, implemented by the Solomon Islands Government with support from the World Bank and the Australian Government through the PNG and Pacific Islands Umbrella Facility Multi-Donor Trust Fund, is doing more than only delivering training in Gizo, Munda and Noro. It is actually helping people discover their potential, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward employment and economic independence.

The success of Fulton and Judith reflects a broader vision behind the CAUSE II Project. Through the Redi4Waka Training, participants are equipped with practical life and employability skills that help them compete for jobs, improve household income, and build confidence in their own abilities. The training focuses on areas such as financial literacy, job readiness, communication skills, curriculum vitae preparation, and interview techniques – tools that can open doors to opportunity that many participants once considered out of reach.

For Fulton, it means the ability to better support a family that spans generations. For Judith, it means turning hard work and determination into a career opportunity she once thought was beyond reach.

As another evening settles over the islands of Western Province and the last rays of sunlight fade into the vast blue Pacific, these stories remind us that real development is not measured only in roads built or infrastructure completed.

It is measured in people.

People who gain confidence. People who find opportunity. People who discover that with the right support, a brighter future is possible.

And in communities across Western Province, that future is already beginning to take shape.

Meanwhile, CAUSE II this week completed batch 12 of the Redi4Waka Training in Gizo, with a total of 35 participants successfully completing the seven-days training and graduated with certificates.

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