COMMUNITIES in Honiara are in for some roadshow entertainment with Oxfam’s Side By Side campaign that is scheduled to hit three locations around the capital.
The Side By Side roadshow 2018 is held in celebration of the 16 Days of Activism and is set to be staged at; White River today, at Kukum Field on Thursday December 6 and at the Honiara City Council compound on Sunday, December 9.
From live band performances to theatre acts and hip-hop dance crew action, the roadshow is driven by inspiring young agents under Oxfam’s Gender Justice Programme with an aim to rally young people to spread the key messages of equality, respect and non-violence between men and women.
Oxfam Side By Side Campaign Coordinator, Emmanuel Oti says this year’s roadshow is organised similar to last year’s event with the campaign reaching directly to communities, but with a more creative campaign message delivery.
“Sixty-four percent of women in Solomon Islands suffer from gender-based violence and this does not reflect our moral and christen values. This is an issue we can no longer ignore as lives have been lost to it and childhoods being destroyed.
“Side By Side strives to address this grave social injustice by providing this platform and rally young people to speak out against gender-based violence through art, music, theatre, freestyle dance and awareness raising.
“Youth Agents for Change, who happens to be key influencers in youth sub-cultures, were recruited this year and underwent series of workshops and training to deliver effective social norms campaigning.”
Emmanuel urges the public to come out and support the campaign as we say enough to family violence and help create social change through activism and changing hearts and minds.
The events are ‘pop-up’ youth concerts featuring some of Solomon Islands upcoming musicians and performers including Lipi, Bibao, Headrush, Pita and some guest artists. The roadshow will also feature theatre group Gee Vee Cast and local hip-hop dance crew Hazard Dance Crew.
The campaign uses social media, print, radio, as well as creative and engaging live events to mobilise youth to support equality between men and women and take a stand against violence against women and girls in the home.
The Side by Side Campaign is initiated by Oxfam and implemented with the support of a number of partners; Ministry of Women, Youth, Children & Family Affairs (MWYCFA), Youth@Work, Seif Ples, Family Support Centre, Empower Pacific and People with Disabilities Solomon Islands.
–OXFAM SI PRESS
