Mission Opportunities

As a mission community of Christ-centered people SWIM will provide effective, practical, compassionate support and Bible based teaching and equipping ministries to build up Christians and establish self-reliant communities in Solomon Islands using their base facilities, resources, and the talents of our long and short term team members. Currently there are three full time team members:

RON AND TANYA PIRINI (Deed Missionaries)

The SWIM Deed Missionary oversees the maintenance of all SWIM buildings and property, the supervision of construction of new buildings as required, the maintenance of SWIM vehicles, mechanical and other equipment, and the preparation of and ordering of supplies for SWIM Team projects. The Deed Missionary works alongside other SWIM base staff.

There is nothing short about God’s call to missions. In fact, all of our missions — however long we’re physically in the country — is long-term mission. From time to time groups from Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere travel to Solomon Islands to engage with God’s mission through SWIM. Training resources are provided for teams that come over. To find out more about the mission opportunities or sending a team to Solomon Islands through SWIM.

The need for support is great, as the Government education system in the Solomon Islands is under resourced, schooling is not free, nor is it compulsory. Less than 50% of children attend primary school with only 30% of children enrolling for secondary school and only a ‘lucky’ few going on to Tertiary / University study. The literacy rate is only 18%. S.W.I.M. has contact with many Primary and Secondary schools and seeks to resource children in obtaining their education as much as possible. Your donation will help us provide tuition fees, school supplies and school uniforms.

Days for Girls International is a grassroots non-profit creating a more dignified, humane and sustainable world for girls through advocacy, reproductive health awareness, education and sustainable feminine hygiene — because no girl should go without. Women and girls discover their potential and self-value, are equal participants and agents of social change and are given opportunities to thrive, grow and contribute to their community’s betterment while ensuring quality sustainable feminine hygiene. SWIM staff and volunteers serve through the SWIM base to ensure access to culturally, physically and environmentally hygiene solutions around the globe.
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Crossroad Bible Institute (CBI) equips the church to disciple people in prison with the Word of God, free of charge, wherever they are incarcerated. It is a personal, in-depth and long-term program that is uniquely designed to help incarcerated persons to grow dramatically in a life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, preparing them for and assisting them in successful re-entry upon release. Scientific research indicates a significant reduction in re-offending rates for those who receive Bible instruction during their time of incarceration. Jack Bana meets with prison inmates and coordinates the Crossroads Prison Ministry in partnership with SWIM.
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For some years now SWIM partners in Australia have been planning to build a High School in Samasodu Village. This continues the relationship this team has had with Samasodu Village over the last twelve years where a Rural Health Centre was constructed as well housing for Health Centre staff. Improved sanitation and a water supply was provided to the village. Many community programs have been run which have involved over 160 team members participating in 7 separate projects.
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Bethesda is being developed by SWIM in conjunction with other stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and People With Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI) to meet some of the needs of people with disabilities by teaching life skills and helping individuals achieve their full potential. Since 2010, Bethesda has been running 3 eight week residential courses each year for people with disabilities. During the residential course, students receive training in Christianity, personal healthcare and skills such as gardening, woodwork and sewing. Students can graduate from the course with the skills and understanding to be more self-sufficient in their communities. Construction of the project began in April, 2008. The base has accommodation for students, administration building and classrooms, ablution blocks for students and four staff houses. Bethesda Disability Centre has a poultry farm that provides income for the running of the centre. The long term plan is for the base to be fully self-sufficient, using income from eggs and other agricultural products grown onsite. The base still needs some staff houses. If you are interested in joining a building team to help complete this project

Over the years dozens of teams from Australia and New Zealand have come over to the SWIM base to engage in a mission trip. It might last several weeks or even longer. Sometimes individuals come over to join in what SWIM is doing in Solomon Islands. But what does it mean to serve in Solomon Islands. Is it about service, tourism, personal pilgrimage, or something else completely? Are short-term missions even missions at all? How do these trips affect people culturally and even challenge them to think about their own faith. SWIM is committed to resource all those who come over to serve so that the short term missions supports the long term mission, is culturally relevant, and works toward establishing self-reliant communities in Solomon Islands.