Gudfala Binisi - Solomon Soap

The Sistas Savve training this week has focused on starting a small business. Solomon Soap has learnt that there is a lot that goes into running a ‘gudfala binisi’.

Joel from the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) has covered a range of topics with the ladies:

-          Income generation

-          Saving/banking

-          Budgeting

-          Book keeping

-          Planning

-          Management

-          Profits and markups…

Solomon Soap has been busy brainstorming their business ideas. We can’t wait to see what they come up with – watch this space!

Women discuss their business ideas

Joel, trainer from SBEC

Morning tea break

Meet Florence from Feraladoa...

I met Florence this morning as she was busy preparing a delicious lunch of chicken and rice for the Solomon Soap community.

Florence graduated from the Sistas Savve training last year with the Feraladoa community. However, she continues to be involved with Sistas Savve by using her cooking skills to feed the hungry mouths of the women currently undergoing the training.

Florence was very excited to share with me about all the new skills and knowledge that she had gained from Sistas Savve: 

"We make baskets, learn business, health, hygiene, meet with the Ministry of Heath and SIPPA ...  I'm very happy because I learn more, more, more".

Florence with Solomon Soap's afternoon tea - fresh fruit

Welkam to Solomons Soap!

Solomons Soap is the fifth community to receive Sistas Savve training! The twenty young women started training on February 4th, and will for the next ten weeks be trained in livelihood, life and health skills and knowledge.

We'll be sure to keep you posted!

Solomons Soap will be joining these Sistas Savve graduates from White River in producing beautiful products.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Sistas Savve!

Moving up the value chain - Sistas Savve takes the reins of jewellery business

Ellen and Margareth from Mbkonavera 4 are taking over the reins with the Sistas Savve jewellery business, and they are learning fast. 

Here they are at the Lime Lounge, doing everything from stocking the shelves with beautiful Sistas Savve jewellery to calculating how much money all the graduates are owed for their sales.

Razzle dazzling Samoan business leaders

With paper bead necklaces more in demand than ever, the Sistas Savve women were visited last week by Adimaimalaga Tafuna'i from Women in Business Development Inc. 

Adi is here visiting to discuss how we can improve opportunities for women in the Solomon Islands to create small businesses. She made sure to take back a sample of our wares to Samoa!

Adi admiring the Sistas Savve paper bead necklaces

Sistas Savve Briefing at the Ministry of Women

In October 2012, SIPPA, YWCA and FPI conducted a briefing at the Solomon Islands Ministry of Women, Youth and Children’s Affairs. The focus was on sharing the Sistas Savve curriculum and initial findings, one year into the project. About 15 key staffers from various divisions within the Ministry took part, including the Deputy Permanent Secretary and two directors.

SIPPA Executive Director Michael Salini and YWCA General Secretary Jenta Tau briefed the staff on how integrating SRHR education with financial literacy training has been an effective way of empowering the young women. The Ministry of Women has recently been awarded a grant to the Sistas Savve graduates for supplies that will enable the women to scale up their small businesses.     

YWCA General Secretary Jenta Tau and SIPPA Executive Director Michael Salini briefing the staff

Sistas Savve Programme Coordinator Doris Dakei and Sistas Savve graduate Drusheilla Pongi 

Edward Anistitolo, Director of the the MoW's Youth Division and Evans Tuhagenga, Deputy Permanent Secretary 

Ministry of Women staffers at the briefing