Although primary schools are present in most villages, children wishing to attend high school, gain a trade/vocation or attend university usually need to travel to other areas and must pay school fees. Most Solomon Islanders live a subsistence lifestyle and so struggle to raise funds for these school fees. The result is that often only one child in the family will go on to high school with girls staying in the village to help grow food. The Tetepare Descendants’ Association (TDA) runs a scholarship program to help children from its communities attend school, offering both secondary and vocational/tertiary scholarships based on need and merit. Scholarships are awarded to girls and boys, and over 400 children have benefited since 2005. The program relies on donations, just $200 supports one child for a year. Donations are desperately needed to maintain and expand the program and support education and conservation efforts. Please consider donating to our scholarship program.
TDA educational scholarships are changing lives and providing opportunities for Solomon Islanders to obtain higher education and skilled employment. High school scholarships help Solomon Islanders finish their schooling and reach university whilst higher education scholarships enable them to obtain the skills needed to take jobs often filled by overseas expatriates.
Lokuru student Perensi Zirikolu received a 2024 TDA education scholarship. Perensi hopes to study teaching when he finishes high school.
Evin is a TDA member and lives in Viru in west Marovo. He is extremely grateful to TDA for the educational scholarships he received for his two daughters. Angylyn studied Conservation at the University of South Pacific with a TDA scholarship and after graduation was employed by Solomon Island Water Authority as an inspector. Her sister, Errinah also studied Conservation at USP and now works for the United Nations Development Program in Honiara
Simaema and Reuben have been Tetepare stalwarts from Lokuru and Simbo since the formation of TDA in 2002, attending most AGMs. Simaema is proud that her son, Reuben Junior , was the first Solomon Islander graduate of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at University of South Pacific. He was awarded a Form 7 scholarship from TDA which was instrumental in his qualifying for University. Reuben Junior is now employed as Solomon Airlines as their IT Manager, the first Solomon Islander to be awarded this role usually filled by expatriates. Another example of how TDA is supporting high school students and enabling them to gain access to higher education.