BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CATHOLIC’S Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru Northwest Choiseul under the strong leadership of Parish Priest Fr Henry Paroi is ready to kick start its new Parish Church building project soon.

According to report provided by the Parish, there are already enough timbers and gravel to start building the church being prepared on the mission ground while continuous supply of timbers will arrive from the four zones of Voruvoru parish.

“The building contractor Mr Sebastian Ngingiribatu was called upon to come down from Honiara and kick start the church building foundation profile while supply of building materials will be transported to Voruvoru from Gizo by the Mission vessel MV Galilee,” said report.

“Parishioners of Christ the King Parish Zones are prepared to give hand in their communities’ contributions towards their new Parish Church project in which as soon as the building contractor arrives from Honiara, work will start.”

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

HONIARA celebrated the International Youth Day under theme: Safe Spaces for Youth in a small scale yesterday.

This year’s theme signified the need for youth’s safe spaces where they can come together, engage in activities related to their diverse needs and interests, participate in decision making processes and freely express themselves.

Yesterday, the Youth, Sports and Women Division of the Honiara City Council celebrated the International Youth Day in a smaller scale particularly in training and workshop.

HCC Youth Development Officer Mrs Mary Tuhaika said young people in Honiara celebrate the International Youth Day yesterday with a discussion about mental health with the Child Fund New Zealand.

She said this activity is part of celebrating the International Youth Day as it was celebrated globally yesterday.

Tuhaika said this is a small event, but bigger one is scheduled for September this year which will be during the Honiara Youth Week.

While there are many types of spaces, safe spaces ensure the dignity and safety of youth.

Safe spaces such as civic spaces enable youth to engage in governance issues.

Public spaces afford youth the opportunity to participate in sports and other leisure activities in the community.

Digital spaces help youth interact virtually across borders with everyone; and well planned physical spaces can help accommodate the needs of diverse youth especially those vulnerable to marginalization or violence.

Ensuring that safe spaces are inclusive, youth from diverse backgrounds especially those from outside the local community, need to be assured of respect and self-worth.

According to the United Nation, in humanitarian or conflict prone settings for example, youth may lack the space to fully express them without feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome.

UN also adds similarly, without the existence of safe space, youth from different race or ethnicity, gender, religious affiliation or cultural background may feel intimidated to freely contribute to the community.

When youth have safe spaces to engage, they can effectively contribute to development, including peace and social cohesion, the UN said.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically Goal 11, emphasizes the need for the provision of space towards inclusive and sustainable urbanization.

Furthermore, the New Urban Agenda (NUA) reiterates the need for public spaces for youth to enable them to interact with family and have constructive inter-generational dialogue.

Additionally, the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) which is the UN framework for youth development prioritizes the provision of “leisure activities” as essential to the psychological, cognitive and physical development of young people.

As more and more youth grow in a technologically connected world, they aspire to engage deeper in political, civic and social matters and the availability and accessibility of safe spaces becomes even more crucial to make this a reality.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

VORUVORU Cultural group at Northwest Choiseul is preparing well to showcase their traditional cultures in the upcoming National Educational Authorities Conference (NEAC) to be held at Taro Station.

According to Hon Nerio Ulemiki the MPA for Ward 12 at Varisi Lavata reporting, Voruvoru’s Cultural group comprises of male pan pipers, female dancers and Riko’s traditional Bamboo Band who will showcase the true ethnic cultures of Lauru.

“They will also highlight during the conference their traditional entertainment songs flavoured with traditional styles of dancing which will be including doing the famous qoqala style dance of Lauru adding a Kaqe ceremonial feast,” said Hon Ulemiki.

The upcoming National Educational Authorities Conference to be held at Taro will start on the 24th of this month August, 2018.