BY JOY OFASIA
RESILIENCE, Innovation, and Social Change Girls Club which consists of young girls based in the Tuvaruhu community, Central Honiara are now taking lead in addressing social, economic, and environmental issues in their community.
Founder of the Resilience, Innovation and Social Change – Girls Club (RISC-GC) Bobby Siarani told Solomon Women that the club was formed during this year’s COVID-19 pandemic’s declared extension of the State of Public Emergency in the Solomon Islands, which has forced schools in the country to shut down.
“The girls in our community have nothing to do and this inspires the co-founders to gather them and establish the club that would give them the opportunity and privilege to lead and make decisions.
“The club purposely aims for young girls in Tuvaruhu Community to take lead in addressing social issues in the community while empowering them to be confident, self-sustainable, resilient, and innovative.
The RISC- GC’s objectives, undertakings, and engagements are as follows:
1. Advocate for a clean Environment and recycling of plastic waste.
2. Girls’ empowerment – to be innovative, creative, and self-reliant (through providing catering services and savings club).
3. Addressing the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
4. Goal 9 – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation and
5. Goal 11 – make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
Meanwhile, she said as a newly established club, formed early this year, we are also welcoming young girls from other communities in Honiara to affiliate and be part of the club.
“Affiliate members will directly benefit through program participation, training, and other benefits of association with the club. Affiliation is free for interested young girls in the Tuvaruhu community,” she said.
The RISC-CG to date, is comprised of 15 members, five executive members, and 10 non-executive members.