Page 17 - Islands Business October 2024 edition

Human Resources

Continued from page 15 increasing number of older children stepping into caregiving
roles, and the subsequent disruption to their schooling.
The report stresses the importance of digital tools to keep UNICEF observes that “Samoa has made some unique efforts
communication flowing between workers and their families, to include local pastors, chiefs, and elders in supporting
but notes that in remote areas, poor connectivity and high families left behind in villages, particularly regarding mental
telecommunications costs hamper this communication. health and well-being. However, youth participants report
“Communication challenges are particularly acute in significant concerns about marital breakdown and new
Solomon Islands’ villages, where families struggle with relationships formed overseas, noting the contrast between
nighttime communication due to safety concerns and poor material benefits (like houses and cars) and family stability.
connectivity. Parents working abroad must coordinate specific Some cases involve complex situations where children refuse
times to call through other villagers who are online,” the to attend school following parental separation.”
report’s authors note. Across all the countries examined, UNICEF notes the need
It recommends families be involved in pre-departure for better coordination amongst authorities, improved legal
training, so they are better prepared for long separation. frameworks to protect children’s interests, the need for
UNICEF says Vanuatu’s week-long ‘Famili i Redi’ program better money management training and improved counselling
run by World Vision and the International Office of Migration is services.
a good model, while acknowledging that: “While the program UNICEF says Pacific governments and development partners
receives positive feedback, its voluntary nature and longer should invest in monitoring and early intervention services
duration make attendance challenging compared to the for child protection and well-being, and that there “needs to
standard two-day ministry course.” be a collective effort in developing programmes focusing on
empowering women and providing skill development for the
Caregivers and children left behind elderly, due to the absence of male family members”.
The report says that the labour schemes can place Finally, it adds that in the case of family breakdown,
emotional strain on caregivers, who are often grandparents “social protection initiatives need to be made available in an
or other extended family members, and have seen some agile manner” so families left behind are not forced into
Sponsored Content gender roles shift, as more men migrate. They also note the poverty.

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Islands Business, October 2024 17