WOMEN in the Lord Howe and Fulisango settlement areas are proud to receive basic training on gender issues in relation to substance abuse and domestic violence.
A week of practical training focusing on gender was conducted in March this year by World Vision Solomon Islands Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention Project.
The training was aimed at promoting gender equality as well as gender related activities by developing women skills that will in turn reduce violence against women.
The Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention Project funded by private Australian funds is implemented by World Vision Solomon Islands.
It was specifically designed to reduce incidence of domestic violence and substance abuse in the Lord Howe and Fulisango settlements with the overall aim of bringing peace and prosperity to families and communities in Honiara.
The practical training conducted both at the Lord Howe and Fulisango settlements saw a total of about 77 women (30 from Lord Howe and 47 from Fulisango) participating and learning different livelihood skills such as tye dyeing, screen printing, hand printing, flower arrangement and time management as well as refresher trainings on gender management, substance abuse and domestic violence.
Almost all of the women who participated said they were happy to learn such new skills as it really gives them options and the ability to participate in income generating activities to earn extra income for their family.
“This training has very much equipped me with the right knowledge and skills to deal with issues in life beginning right within my own family and extending out to the whole community,” says Mary Pako’o.
“Now I am able to put to practice the skills learned to earn some extra money to assist my husband.”
The Project has also conducted a number of other activities such as awareness raising, various practical trainings, sports and stakeholder strengthening in the two communities which has enabled community members to share and interact with each other in addressing issues of violence and abuse that exist in the community.
Such activities also build women’s capacity to make positive decisions about substance abuse and domestic violence in their community.
According to one of the women’s representative at Fulisango, people in the community used to live in fear and always see themselves fighting against each other but today after so many awareness messages received from World Vision’s project, our communities are becoming safe and there is no fear in the community.
“On behalf of the Lord Howe women’s group I would like to thank World Vision Solomon Islands for giving us such trainings as it has really changed the behaviors, attitudes and practices of women in Lord Howe Community,” says Jenny Apuri of Lord Howe settlement.
World Vision Solomon Islands is an international NGO committed to the reduction of substance abuse and domestic violence as well as poverty and its causes.
This project has sought to address violence as it manifests itself in Honiara particularly the incidence of family violence and the related issue of limited cash income.
In addition, the participants of the program now have the knowledge to make better choices concerning household spending and can now direct more income to improving their standard of living.
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