BY TONY IROGA
The Kaloka Youth Association of Isabel province yesterday officially acknowledged the efforts of software engineering student Mr. Adrian Obadiah, whose dedication and commitment led to the development of the association’s new website.
In an interview with Island Sun, Mr Obadiah shared his story about developing the website for the association.
Mr. Obadiah, who hails from Isabel Province is currently in his final year of Software Engineering studies at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji.
He said the project was driven by a desire to give back to his community rather than to make money.
“This website came from the heart.
“It’s one thing to build something for financial gain, but it’s another to build something without expecting payment because you genuinely want to contribute to your community,” he said.
Mr. Obadiah said the inspiration behind the project came after the passing of his mother last year, when members of the Kaloka community united to support his family during their time of grief.
“When my mum passed away, the people of Kaloka came together and supported us from the very first night. Their kindness touched my heart and made me realise I should also give back to my community.
“As part of the community myself, this is my way of saying thank you,” he said.
Developing the website was not without challenges. Mr. Obadiah said balancing his university studies, internship and the website project required strong time management and determination.
“I was studying in Fiji, completing my internship and preparing for exams while building the website from scratch. Time management was my biggest challenge, but I stayed motivated because this project was special to me,” he said.
Unlike many software projects that involve teams of developers, Mr. Obadiah completed the entire website on his own.
“I developed everything from scratch right through to the production stage. It was a solo project, and I’m grateful I was able to complete it,” he said.
He also acknowledged the support provided by the Kaloka Youth Association, particularly in helping to cover infrastructure costs such as web hosting, servers, domain registration and custom email services.
“I didn’t charge the association for developing the website because this was my contribution to the community. The association supported me with the infrastructure needed to keep the website online, while I personally invested in the software tools and subscriptions used throughout the development” he said.
Mr. Obadiah said the website will continue to be updated with information about the association’s activities, missions and vision as it works to create more opportunities for young people.
He encourages Solomon Islands students studying overseas to return home and use their skills to serve their communities.
“My message to students is to make the most of your education overseas and come back to give back to your communities. Don’t just come home and take a selfie—use what you’ve learned to make a difference,” he said.
Mr. Obadiah also expressed gratitude to his family, friends, his partner and the Kaloka community for their encouragement throughout the project.
“I would like to thank my family, loved ones, friends and my partner for standing by me through every challenge. Above all, I thank God for giving me the knowledge, wisdom and understanding to reach this point,” he said.
Photo credit: Tony Iroga
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