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Rural women in micro-business recognised

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The five women award winners in micro-business with their certificates.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

The five women award winners in micro business with their certificates.

“SOMETIMES I feel that I have been neglecting my children and I try to balance work with family and it is quite difficult trying to maintain that balance. But when I won this award, I feel as if my hard work had paid off.”

Mrs Jesca Theokheranga was the woman who won the Gold plaque or first prize of the CBSI award for Women in micro-business 2018 that also includes a cash of $10,000.

Initiated in 2015, the Women in Micro-business awards was endorsed by the National Financial Inclusion Taskforce (NFIT) to support the financial inclusion of rural women’s participation in financial services. NFIT consists of representatives from the government, private sector, non-government, civil societies, women’s groups and donors and is chaired by the Governor of CBSI.

The awards this year is the second biennial award ceremony for women in micro-business.

Held yesterday in a simple ceremony in Honiara, the micro-business award recognises women micro businesses that have potential to impact lives and contribute to economic growth in the Solomon Islands.

Speaking to Island Sun, Financial Inclusion Manager of CBSI, Linda Folia says the process to select the awardees had not been easy. She says the process began in October 2017 and includes site visits to the businesses establishment.

“It had been grueling but full filling.”

She says for the women, this award will assist them in gaining recognition from businesses and stakeholders which will be a boost for them.

Also speaking to Island Sun, first prize winner, Mrs Theokheranga, says the win was quite a surprise for her.

“I am really encouraged and it has given me a reason to continue to work hard in my business. I encourage young girls and women not to give up but must continue to work hard. We must be determined, disciplined and must be willing to work and be honest in order for us to be successful,” Theokheranga says.

Meanwhile, third prize award winner, Esther Tali Suti, a honey producer from Simbo says it only comes back to people’s attitude. She says everyone alike need to change how they portray government’s assistance.

“So many times we think that government has not been supportive. But for me, I believe government has been supportive. Most times we rely on government for handouts. This is not the only support from government,” Mrs Suti says.

She says women should make use of the constituency funds available and not only ask for handout assistance. She says government play a crucial role in ensuring programs like the one witnessed now benefitted people in rural areas.

The five award winners for the CBSI Women in micro business 2018 are selected from 112 nominations.

They are Mrs Ruth Lolo, poultry producer from Guadalcanal, Mrs Jemimah Ellen, Cocoa producer from Guadalcanal, Mrs Esther Tali Suti, honey producer from Simbo, Mrs Lucy Kasimwane, cocoa producer from Makira and Mrs Jesca Theokheranga, copra and cocoa producer from Vella la Vella.

LEAP training for EOs successfully ends in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Education Officers (EOs), representatives from Malaita Education Authority and LEAP who attending the LEAP training which successfully ends in Auki on Thursday.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Education Officers (EOs), representatives from Malaita Education Authority and LEAP who attending the LEAP training which successfully ends in Auki on Thursday.

A three-day training under LEAP project for education officers from the four regions of Malaita province successfully ended in Auki yesterday.

The training covered an introductory to the LEAP project, seeking solutions to challenges faced by literacy in the province and creation of an improvement plan on the programme in the education authority Level.

LEAP Malaita Provincial Education Authority Mentor, Mr Fred Ramoli said the first day of the workshop helped participants to have a clear understanding on the programme.

He said it enclosed the reason for LEAP in Malaita, the importance of the programme and areas requiring work to be implemented under the project.

Ramoli said the second component of the workshop looked at challenges Malaita province faced that affects the literacy or the learning of school pupils.

He said under the component they did what known as “sense making” which looked at seeking solutions or alternatives to challenges faced in schools in the province.

Ramoli said LEAP referred to sense making as “talk stories” which looked at consultation among community elders to seek solution to issues in communities affecting schools.

He said the other area the training also focussed on is core creation or improvement plan that looks at improving situations in the Education Authority (EA) level.

Ramoli said that mainly refer to improving plans on administration and management of EA level that affects schools leaders and also learning of school pupils.

Meanwhile, he said one of the highlights during the training was the inception of a vision and mission statement for Malaita province.

“It is a milestone since the province doesn’t have any statement and work is currently on it as it will forward to provincial level for approval.

“Once it approved the vision will be the directive of thoughts for all education stakeholders in the province to work closely towards it,” he said.

Ramoli said the Leadership Education Authority Programme (LEAP) is a programme under MEHRD which focusses on working in a holistic approach of literacy for schools in the country

He said LEAP operates under a joint venture of Auckland University, USP and Institute of Education (IOE) under MEHRD.

Youth groups make milestone visit to MWYCFA

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Group photo of the community youth groups during their visit to the MWYCFA

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Group photo of the community youth groups during their visit to the MWYCFA

COMMUNITY youth groups within Honiara were given insights to the national government framework for youth development in a visit to the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA).

On Wednesday May 16, community youth groups registered under the Honiara City Council as part of their HCC Community Youth Orientation workshop visited the MWYCFA.

The trip was designed for youth groups in Honiara to be educated about the government’s framework targeting youth development programmes in Solomon Islands.

MWYCFA’s Youth Development Officer for Honiara and Renbel, Mr Alfred Kiva said young people need to understand the role of MWYCFA and HCC as agents of the national government youth development framework.

He said the learning trip was successful with young people clearly understanding government’s concern for youth and the position of community youth groups in the legal framework.

During the visit, Director for Youth Development Division, MWYCFA Mr Andrew Tipoki explained young people are part of the legal framework to youth development in Solomon Islands.

He said the Ministry has worked with other legal partners and stakeholders to implement its priority areas related to the national government policy goals.

Tipoki said at the moment National Youth Council is still in transition period.

He also explained the Ministry has been working a youth strategy to address high unemployment youth rate in the Solomon Islands.

The look and learn trip was organised by Honiara City Council-Youth Division, Youth Development Division-MWYCFA and Honiara Youth Council (HYC).

HCC-YD, YDD-MWYCFA particularly Youth Desk for Honiara and Renbel and HYC has been a close partner since 2012.

West Kwara’ae chief calls for understanding

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

A call was made by a concerned chief from Central Kwara’ae for chiefs who attended a consultation meeting on land reform draft held at Buma in West Kwara’ae earlier this week.

Chief Ashley Mae said the consultation meeting on draft land reform conducted on Tuesday this week is very important for tribes and people in their communities.

“But I appeal to our local chiefs that attended the consultation to understand well the draft so that we may implement it in a rightful and a proper way.

“I notice that some of the chiefs that attended the consultation this week were so calm and silenced when the draft has been tabled.

“In my observation most land issues has been ruled unfairly by our chiefs when it comes to corruption dealing.

“We need chiefs with wisdom mindsets when dealing with land settlements.

“I understand that only chiefs from ward 29 in central Kwara’ae, west Kwara’ae and Langalanga attended the consultation.”

The meeting was conducted by the ministry of national unity reconciliation and peace (MNURP) including Peter Boyers and Francis Waleanisia.

The same consultation was also conducted at Malu’u on Wednesday this week.

Fiji thanks Nazareth for cyclone Winston help

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

Gizo

A representative of the Fijian community in Honiara, Matai Vave, has conveyed Fiji’s appreciation to the people of Nazareth village, Marovo lagoon, in the Western province for lending a hand during Fiji’s darkest time.

This was during the cyclone Winston disaster that hit Fiji in 2016. Nazareth village had organised a fundraising to raise money towards Fiji’s recovery effort.

Nazareth village was able to raise about $15,000. The village gave the money to the former moderator of the United Church, Philemon Riti. He handed the money to Matai Vave in Honiara.

Vave also attended Nazareth village’s celebration to mark the 100th year since the gospel reached them.

He broke down in tears when he presented the token of love from the Fiji community in Honiara to the Nazareth church on its special occasion.

Vave said the token they want to present to the village is small but it comes from their heart.

He said they are very thankful for the love and concern shown by the people of Nazareth.

Cyclone Winston, the worst storm recorded in the southern hemisphere, left 42 people dead in Fiji.

Congratulatory messages, gifts for Nazareth

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

Gizo

NAZARETH village in the Western province’s Marovo lagoon received a lot of congratulatory messages and gifts when it celebrated the 100th years since the United Church mission reached its people on Sunday.

The messages and gifts come from representatives of the United Church in the province and in Choiseul province and Honiara circuits.

Nazareth’s sister churches conveyed and presented messages and tokens of love to the village during its centenary celebration.

Member of Parliament for Marovo Constituency, Snyder Rini, conveyed his acknowledgement to the community and send a token of love worth about $30,000 to the village.

The provincial government also handed cash as token of love to the church.

Circuit ministers, assistant ministers and superintendents from other region and circuits also presented congratulatory messages and token of love to the church.

Former moderator of the United Church of Solomon Islands and current moderator, Philemone Riti and David Garanu, graced the occasion.

This is the first huge occasion held in Nazareth village to mark the arrival of the gospel since May 13, 1918. In fact, civilisation reached the people of Nazareth first before the gospel.

Paul Chite, a 73-year-old from Nazareth village, said they are lucky to have been born at the time the gospel had already arrived to their people.

Chite said had they been born during the heathen times, they would have died already.

He said this is because head hunting and fighting between different tribes and even within tribes was the way of life in the past.

Chite provided a glimpse of the important emphasis the people of Nazareth village place on the church in its role in saving the people of the village and tribe.

Western province thanks United Church for contribution

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

Gizo

THE Deputy Premier of Western Province, Maloney Lopoto, acknowledges the United Church mission for its contribution to the province.

Among other things, Lopoto said the United Church mission has contributed a lot to the province in the areas of education, health and so forth.

Lopoto uttered these statements when conveying the province’s congratulation to the church when it celebrated the mission’s 100th year since its arrival to the people of Choe tribe in the Marovo lagoon.

The people of Choe tribe who now settle in Nazareth village celebrated the arrival of the gospel on Sunday.

The village invited members of United Churches from regions and circuits in the province and in Choiseul Province and Honiara to witness the four-day centenary celebration.

Lopoto, who was a guest at the event, said the United Church has made significant contribution to the development of the province and country.

And, he added, it has also produced fine human resources.

Other senior government official like the Deputy Mayor of the Honiara City Council, Eddie Ngava, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Communication, Moses Virivolomo, and the former moderator of the United Church of Solomon Islands, Rev Philemon Riti, who is from Nazareth Village, also witnessed the occasion.

PM welcomes Japan’s technology and innovation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Pacific Island Leaders at the Forum

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO IN JAPAN

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has made an official invitation seeking interested Japanese companies to explore and invest in Solomon Islands.

He made the announcement when addressing the Economic Forum in Tokyo on Thursday.

Houenipwela said Solomon Islands has diverse resources that Japanese investors can tap into.

He adds that Japanese expert in technology, health and education are some of the benefits that Solomon Islands can enjoy.

Houenipwela stressed that there are various sectors such as health and education that Solomon Islands and Japan would work on to further strengthen economic ties.

He said such partnership will encourage Solomon Islands the opportunities to contribute to global value chains through involvement of Japanese companies and products.

“We welcome Japanese companies to explore the possibility of investing in Solomon Islands in these sectors.

“Additionally, Solomon Islands welcomed the technological innovations Japan has in the field of educational and health to boost accessibility in the rural areas,” Prime Minister Houenipwela said.

He said Japanese multinational companies continue to be at the forefront of Solomon Islands development ambitions and that his government is ready to welcome interested Japanese companies with open arms.

Local artists called to produce nationally inspired artwork

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Mr Kalamani poses with some of his works.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

Mr Kalamani poses with some of his works.

A renowned local artist has spoken out on the trend of increasing duplicity in the country’s art industry.

“Today’s (on Thursday) local artwork seems to imitate each other, even the use of colour looks the same,” said the former Art lecturer of Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) now known as SINU (Solomon Islands National University).

Mr Henry Kalamani of Malaita province expressed that nowadays local artists produce work that looks similar to another artist’s work.

He stressed that as artists, they should produce artwork that is individually creative but embody our country’s symbols like Western province’s famous nguzu nguzu and Malaita province’s gorgeous shell money.

With the Melanesian arts and culture festival approaching, Kalamani urges local artists to show real art, art that is individually inspired but created to illustrate something that depicts the country distinctively.

“As an artist, stick to what you have because through your art you are showing your identity and your identity is your country. I want us to show real art that belongs to us,” he said.

Cultural artefact sellers must be pro-active

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Cultural artefacts from carvers from Marovo lagoon, Western province.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Cultural artefacts from carvers from Marovo lagoon, Western province.

LOCAL carvers in Solomon Islands continue to face challenges in selling their cultural artefacts. Carvers from Marovo lagoon, Western province told Island Sun that in order for them to sell their artefacts they have to be pro-active.

All the way from Gatokae village, Dennis Pelobule had been selling his products at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) complex during regional gatherings.

Pelobule told Island Sun that since they have no space to sell their artefacts, they have to find places where they can be able to sell.

He said it is an issue for them but with the support they have from the Regional organisation, they can be able to sell their artefacts during regional gatherings at the Secretariat.

Also selling his artefacts at the FFA complex, another carver from Marovo who reside at Titinge says in times like this, he will have to travel from Titinge to Kolaridge to sell his products.

Mr Willie Posala is a carver who had lost a part of his hand in a dispute way back in the late ‘70s. No matter being disabled from the loss of his hand, he had defied the odds by using his feet to make carvings. “I use my feet,” he says.

Posala said he has no problem using his feet to carve object he wants and with the support from his wife together they sell cultural artefacts. His wife specialises in making local hand fans and baskets and he does the selling apart from making carvings.

“I go from door to door, visit expat homes, offices in order to sell our products including exhibiting our products at art gallery.” He says it is difficult to get people to buy their products thus they need to be pro-active in how they do their selling.

Posala says as a local carver, he wish the government will provide a big gallery for them, divided into the different provinces so that it is more orderly for people to visit them.

“In our belief as craftsmen, we believe that we bring in more money into our country but government doesn’t recognise our contribution.”

Currently local craftsmen and women are allocated a space outside and inside the National Art Gallery to sell their artefacts. However most of their bulk customers are tourists and not so much from the domestic market.

The local carvers said they are most grateful to the FFA Executive management to allow them access to sell their products in the complex during regional gatherings.

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