BY JOY OFASIA
Thirty-two women from Guadalcanal province gathered in Honiara this week for a two-day training on Gender, Leadership, and Weather Watch. The event, held at New Hope Academy Hall, was organised by the Guadalcanal Council of Women (GCW).
GCW President Alice Hou said the training focused on women’s leadership roles during times of crisis. “It’s about preparing, protecting, and recovering – and understanding how gender plays a part in all stages,” she explained.
The participants came from different wards across Guadalcanal and are part of the GCW’s Weather Watch Network. They learned how to respond to emergencies while promoting strong female leadership in their communities.
The training was supported by the Australia-Solomon Islands Partnership through the Civil Society Strengthening Program.
Victoria Alai, from the remote Weather Coast area, said the training was eye-opening. “Where I come from, women don’t often get access to this kind of information. Now I can go back and help other women understand their roles as leaders in crisis,” she said.
Hansol Wane, a University of South Pacific (USP) graduate, shared that the workshop helped her as a young woman understand the power of leadership during difficult times. “It has inspired me to support my community more,” she said.
As part of the program, each participant received a radio to improve weather awareness and tuna cans to support food security.
