Congratulations White River class!!

The White River class celebrated their achievements as they graduated from the Sistas Savve programme last Friday. The sunny afternoon ceremony was held outside at the YWCA Kindergarten, and was packed with family and friends of the twenty graduates. Several guests of honour were present, including the West Honiara Constituency Development Officer, Mr Brian Taupiri and New Zealand High Commissioner Mark Ramsden. Mr Taupiri announced that West Honiara MP Namson Tran is donating SBD$20,000 to the White River Sistas Savve group to ensure their future endeavours as a group are a success. Mr Ramsden spoke about the importance of women’s work in Honiara, and acknowledged the role of Sistas Savve in empowering women in Honiara.

Each woman received a certificate, and President Weena Brechtefeld made a speech on behalf of the group, thanking everyone for their support over the past ten weeks. After the ceremony closed, everyone enjoyed the party, which included great food cooked by the Mbkonavera 4 graduates, and lots of dancing!

Now that the women have completed their ten weeks of training, they are looking forward to sharing their knowledge with other women in their community while setting up a small business collective making products taught by Sistas Savve.

The Sistas Savve staff are preparing to welcome twenty women from Feraladoa as the fourth community to participate in the programme, and are due to start classes next week. 

Solomon Island Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) Director Michael Salini
welcoming the guests to the Sistas Savve graduation

White River class President Weena making a speech following the certificate ceremony

The White River graduates after their ceremony