National Women’s Day 2013

Sistas Savve celebrated National Women’s Day yesterday. The day was celebrated by a march down the main road with many government and non-government groups followed by a program at the National Museum. The theme of the day was, ‘The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum’. The Solomon Island Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) report was launched at the event.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Doris Dakei (SS coordinator), Angela Lomasia (YWCA program's officer), Rose Burns (YWCA program & evaluation coordinator),  Masu ( SS community liaison officer)

Leadership, Gender & Human Rights

The first Sistas Savve module that the women from Ngalita’tae are focusing on covers leadership, gender issues, women’s rights and human rights. These sessions are run by Clarine Toki, a peer educator from the YWCA. Clarine is a passionate and energetic young woman who is part of the Ngalita’tae community. The sessions are very interactive- they involve group activities, games, drawings and discussions. The women are really engaging with the content.

Examples of questions covered in these sessions include:

•      What makes a good leader? What makes a bad leader?
•      What are human rights?
•      Is the right to feel safe in our communities and homes important? 
•      What is discrimination? 
•      What is gender?

Clarine Toki (YWCA peer educator) talks about human rights

Sharing of ideas

New Beginnings - Ngalita’tae

Ngalita'tae (formally known as Marble Street) began Sistas Savve training on Monday. The group of women come from a community that's located near Chinatown, Honiara.

It's been great to see the women's excitement for the training. We look forward to getting to know each of the women and sharing their journey through the training with you all.

Ngalita'tae Group Photo

Busy Tumas

We've had a super busy week here at Sistas Savve. The team has been out in the communities following up with the women that have completed the Sistas Savve training. It’s been so good to hear so many positive stories and changes from the women.

We’ve also been busy preparing for our new community to start Sistas Savve training. The community that the women come from is called Marble Street. These women begin their 10 weeks of Sistas Savve training on Monday. We are very excited for this new community!

On Wednesday, we had a visit from staff at the NZ Aid Programme. Jenta Tau (General Secretary of YWCA), Doris Dakai (Sistas Savve Coordinator) and past graduates shared about the Sistas Savve training with the staff. 

Women from the NZ Aid Programme check out Sistas Savve products with Doris Dakei (Sistas Savve Coordinator) and Jenta Tau (General Secretary of YWCA)

Congrats to Solomon Soap Graduates

Twenty women from the Solomon Soap community graduated from Sistas Savve training on Friday afternoon. It was a great time of celebrating the achievements of each of the participants.

Sarah Wong from the Office of the New Zealand High Commission delivered the keynote speech at the graduation. Sarah expressed her hope that the Sistas Savve training would empower the women to make good decisions for both themselves and their families.

Michael Salini, the director of the Solomon Island Planned Parenting Association (SIPPA) shared about the success of the Sistas Savve training by discussing the positive changes made by past graduates. He said that this training would change the lives of the Solomon Soap graduates too.

Sarah Wong presented the certificates to the women with Doris Dakai, the Sistas Savve coordinator.

The final part of the graduation was taken by the Solomon Soap graduates. The group presented an entertaining drama about some of the issues discussed during the training and shared a song which expressed their close friendship with each other.

Congratulations Solomon Soap, mifala barava impressed lo commitment lo Sistas Savve- iufala kam lo Sistas Savve on taem, iufala enthuastic about what iu learnm, iufala gud fo participate lo training. Iufala gud fo prepare lo future. Iufala barava top!

Sistas Savve graduates with Michael Salini and Sarah Wong

Sarah Wong presents certificate to Ileen Alina

The Final Countdown - Solomon Soap Graduate this Friday

The Solomon Soap Ranadi community are set to graduate this Friday from the Sistas Savve training. After 10 weeks of intensive training, the women are well equipped to live healthy lives, to develop their products and to create their own small businesses. 

On Friday, the women organised a group bank account and formalised their committee. They discussed the role of the committee and learnt about ways that they could use the committee to work through arising issues. 

We are all looking forward to the graduation and are very excited for the future of these women. 

Women sign forms for their group bank account

Solomon Soap discuss the role of their committee