My plan for the Solomons later this year
I have a trip booked for six weeks from early August. After seeing the family in Arosi, Makira I’m planning to speak to women, both rural and urban working in many different fields.
Through contacts’ including my son Brian and Linked In, I’ve noticed an increasing number of successful businesswomen and women farmers exporting niche products such as ginger, noni juice, dried fruit, cacao, and coconut.
Some women are working with the Ministry of Lands recording customary land boundaries, while others are becoming accountants and providing online advice.
There is a lot to catch up with in health too, with more emphasis on Chronic Diseases including the appointment of Chronic Disease Nurse Coordinators. Nurses are also now trained to care for the feet of diabetic patients to reduce the number of amputations. As well as treatment for these diseases are messages about the dangers of the western diet, particularly sugar, reaching the rural areas? Are Church Women’s groups a part of this.
Following the introduction of DV legislation it would interesting too, to speak with counsellors, child safety practitioners and female police.
In education female teachers in rural training centres are being upskilled. Are there computers in these centres and are they available to the villagers. Are there computers in rural primary as well as secondary schools? Do village children have access to reading material from an early age, including in their local language?
How are women engaged in climate change and preparing for the growing intensity and number of cyclones, floods, and droughts? How is the problem of decreasing land availability and declining fertility being addressed? How are women in environmental NGOs supporting village women who oppose logging or would like to form protected areas.
There are lots of questions and maybe there will be stories, not only for me, but the local media, including the media company run by a woman.
On the boat to Kira Kira from Tawatana with Henry and Ida
Pounding nuts for cassava pudding
Baking the cassava pudding