Suena Community High School connects to the world

BY NED GAGAHE

The era of isolation has come to an end for Suena Community High School on Ugi Island, Makira Ulawa Province. Last week, the school celebrated a historic milestone with the launch of its internet connection, linking it to the rest of the world.

This significant achievement was made possible through the Connectivity Initiative, in collaboration with Kacific and its local partner, Island Tech Solomons.

For years, the northern side of Ugi Island has faced challenges with communication. While there are two telecom towers on the island, they only cover the eastern and western sides. Students and residents of Suena CHS and the surrounding village were previously forced to walk hours to access phone services.

Now, Principal Rency Ariki proudly declared, “Today marks a significant milestone for the school—we are now connected to the world.”

Ariki expressed his gratitude for the accomplishment, sharing his excitement about the positive impact this will have on both students and teachers. “Students no longer need to travel to Kirakira for research—they can now do it at school, saving time, money, and reducing the risks of traveling by sea,” he said.

The internet connection will enhance the learning experience for everyone at Suena CHS. Principal Ariki also highlighted the benefits for the community, noting that no longer will residents have to walk long distances just to make a phone call.

One of the exciting developments for the school is its access to the Klikpei.com platform, an e-commerce site that allows them to easily order school materials and stationery online. “This will save both time and money that would have been spent sending staff members to Honiara,” Ariki explained.

Klikpei is a B2B e-commerce platform designed to simplify online shopping for remote communities in the Solomon Islands.

Farhad James, Managing Director of Island Tech Solomons, noted that Suena is a community that has never had internet access until now. “This is the first time that the school, as well as the community, will have internet connectivity,” he said.

“The internet has profoundly impacted the world, changing the way we communicate and learn. We are proud to be part of this transformation, particularly in the education sector, by bringing connectivity to remote schools,” said Farhad James.

Suena CHS is one of the schools that has benefitted from the Connectivity Initiative, with the help of Kacific and Island Tech Solomons. With the installation of free satellite terminals, Suena CHS is now connected to the world, opening up new opportunities for the school and its community.

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