ADRA Solomon Islands hands over an inclusive footpath at Reilonga SDA Church in Kakabona to improve access for worshippers with mobility challenges.
People with special needs and mobility challenges who would attend the worship services at Reilonga Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church at Kakabona in West Honiara, can now access the church more easily using wheelchairs, following the official handover of a newly constructed inclusive footpath.
The new footpath was designed to improve accessibility for all worshippers, including people with special needs. It was jointly funded by the South Pacific Division (SPD), Transpacific Union Mission (TPUM), and the Solomon Islands Mission (SIM) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church through the Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Project.
ADRA Solomon Islands Country Director Leyn Eliezer Gantare officially handed over the new footpath facility to Reilonga SDA Church’s Elders and Members on Sunday, 1 November 2026.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by members of Reilonga SDA Church, community representatives, and the Director of the West Honiara District, Minister Brian Solomon. The footpath was formally received on behalf of the church congregation by Mr Maesac Suia, Head Elder of Reilonga SDA Church who is also Provincial Secretary (PS) of the Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG).
The church construction work commenced in August and was completed at the end of October. The completed facility was then officially handed over to the church for its ownership and future maintenance.
Assessment for Reilonga SDA Church was carried out based on specific eligibility requirements that churches needed to meet to qualify for funding, particularly those with permanent buildings exposed to disaster risks.
Speaking during the official handover of the footpath, ADRA Solomon Islands Country Director, Leyn Eliezer Gantare, thanked Reilonga SDA Church for its partnership and contribution towards making the project possible.
“I would like to thank everyone for your coordination and partnership, which made the construction of this footpath possible”
“This facility will enable church members, worshippers and people with special needs to access the church more easily,” he said.
Mr Gantare also acknowledged the church for supporting the builders engaged by ADRA during the construction period, which contributed to the successful completion of the project.
“We thank the church for looking after the builders engaged by ADRA, enabling them to complete this facility. Today (Sunday 1st November) we are pleased to witness its completion and officially hand it over to the church for your use and ownership,” Mr Gantare said.
Head Elder of Reilonga SDA Church, Mr Maesac Suia, thanked ADRA for funding the construction of the footpath.
“I would like to thank ADRA for funding this footpath facility, which’ll add value to our church. More importantly, it’ll enable people with special needs to access the church and participate in worship services”
“I know there are many SDA churches around the country, but ADRA decided to come and partner with us by funding this footpath for our church. On behalf of the church and the people of Guadalcanal, I would like to thank ADRA Solomon Islands for this support”
“As this church is built on Guadalcanal land, and in my capacity as the Provincial Secretary of Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG), I sincerely appreciate ADRA SI for funding this facility for our people,” Mr Suia said.
West Honiara District Director, Mr Brian Solomon, also thanked ADRA for funding the Reilonga SDA Church footpath.
“Thank you, ADRA, for funding this footpath for our church here in West Honiara District. This facility will allow people with special needs to access the church more easily”
“Reilonga SDA Church has recently been organised under the West Honiara District, and this footpath facility will add further value to the church as it prepares for its upcoming church dedication”
“On behalf of the Solomon Islands Mission and West Honiara District, I would like to thank ADRA Solomon Islands for this wonderful support,” Mr Solomon said.
Meanwhile, ADRA Solomon Islands is expected to officially hand over another inclusive footpath to Forest Valley SDA Church in the coming weeks, while final retrofitting works at another SDA church in Honiara are scheduled to commence this week.
SOURCE// ADRA Solomon Islands
