Mala I Tolo Guardianship Indigenous Trust Hosts Intergenerational Tok Stori at Newly Funded Malaita Youth Hub.

The Mala I Tolo Guardianship Indigenous Trust (MITIGT) held an Intergenerational Tok Stori yesterday in conjunction with the official opening of its newly funded Malaita Youth Hub center. The event aimed to explore ways to integrate cultural practices and traditions into regular school education.

Key representatives from the Malaita Provincial Government attended the talk, including Provincial Secretary Erick George, school principals, members of the Malaita Youth Division, and local youths from around Auki.

William Abuinao, Project Coordinator of MITIGT, explained that the theme for the 2024 Tok Stori focuses on "shaping education and learning with Indigenous practices, principles, and perspectives." He emphasized the guiding question of the discussion: “How can we integrate Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural perspectives to create more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable educational models?” This inquiry encourages educators to seek ways to honor and embed Indigenous learning practices into mainstream education.

The outcomes of the Tok Stori are set to influence the Mala-l-Tolo Education Initiative, promoting Indigenous values that have shaped the society for generations. Abuinao further stated, “The mission of Mala-I-Tolo Indigenous Guardianship Trust is to operationalize the Mala-I-Tolo Declaration and the notion of the restorative economy in Malaita's high places.” He outlined that the MITIGT will serve as a vehicle to own this agenda in collaboration with the Malaita Provincial Government. 

A key aspect of MITIGT's mission is to provide educational support for high school students through Tolo learning hubs, emphasizing Indigenous values in conjunction with modern technological tools. This initiative aims to cultivate a capable workforce grounded in culture while preparing them to lead in the emerging restorative economy of the Solomon Islands. Ongoing engagement with schools, high school students, the Malaita Youth Council, provincial government, and community leaders will be prioritised .

In his remarks, Provincial Secretary Erick George praised MITIGT for their support of educational initiatives across Malaita Province, particularly highlighting their assistance to the Malaita Youth Council with the new youth hub designed to enhance digital learning opportunities for local School students, and youths around Malaita.

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