Monday, April 15, 2013

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


Sunday, April 7, 2013

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 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

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





Tuesday, March 12, 2013

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

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

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.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

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.