Seattle Middle School Students and Holland America Collaborate to Support Education in the Solomon Islands

Odyssey Middle School has been working with Melanesian Women Today, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women and girls across the Melanesian region through education, health, and leadership initiatives, since 2019.

Through the Melanesian Women Today’s student-led service-learning project, students at Odyssey Middle School are leading a charge to drive meaningful change.

“I am always impressed by these students and how eager they are to help, and especially how they understand and appreciate that getting an education is not as accessible in other places as it is here,” said Colleen Huck, Melanesian Women Today’s organizing committee lead for Bainbridge Island. “They feel connected to the students across the world and proud of their successful efforts to make a difference.”

After researching the costs of delivering their collected resources to the Solomon Islands, the students and organizers reached out to Holland America Line to seek support for the transportation. With Holland America’s ship, Noordam, slated to travel south from Seattle to Sydney, Australia, with a stop in Honiara, the opportunity was perfect. Having Noordam facilitate the transport is saving thousands of dollars in shipping costs.

Holland America Line previously partnered with students from Odyssey Middle School to deliver books to Papua New Guinea in 2022 on its Westerdam ship.

On Sunday, October 12, students and their chaperones visited Noordam and assisted the ship’s crew in loading the boxes onto the ship. Following a successful handoff, the students received a tour of the ship and met with officers on deck.

Safely secured in the Hotel General Manager’s office, the books will sail until January 16, 2026, when Noordam calls on Honiara, Guadalcanal, as part of Holland America’s 28-day Islands of the South Pacific itinerary. 

“They are not just sending books and lab equipment; they are building a bridge of understanding and solidarity,” said Mere Tari Sovick, founder and executive director of Melanesian Women Today. “My greatest hope for this collaboration is that it accomplishes two things: it provides crucial educational tools for students in Malaita, and it teaches our Odyssey students that their compassion and effort can create tangible, lasting ripples of positive change.”

In Honiara, the boxes will be transferred to local volunteers where they will continue their journey to the Laulana Community High School in Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province, Solomon Islands. 

“The students are so excited, and they look forward to the books and especially the science equipment because it will be their first time to have access to any science equipment – ever!” said Lilly, principal of Laulana Community High School.

Holland America Line is proud to play a role in helping this student-led initiative come to life.