BY JOY OFASIA
Local entrepreneurship, Molly Marita, founder of Rotoi Development Enterprise, received a final grant of SBD 5,000 from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 2024 cohort.
The handover ceremony took place yesterday at the John Tom & Sons Building at Chinatown in Honiara.
The grant marks a significant milestone for Molly, who has been steadily building her enterprise with a vision of empowering young Solomon Islanders through business and leadership.
“Last year I attended the AWE program. I applied for a small grant under AWE and am very happy and feel privileged to receive this grant award,” Molly told SOLOMON WOMEN.
The awarded funds will support a key initiative under her company—Growth Revolution Solomon Islands (GRSI), a business arm of Rotoi Development Enterprise. GRSI is designed to help aspiring young entrepreneurs develop business skills, personal branding, and leadership values, while also offering mentorship on startup strategies and business management.
“This grant will help us grow GRSI, which is one of our big visions. We started this last year and managed to secure a space at the John Tom & Sons building. It’s exciting to see this idea taking shape,” Molly shared.
GRSI’s mission is not just about business, she stressed, but about planting values of leadership and resilience among young Solomon Islanders. “This is the first support we’ve received for the initiative, and it’s a major encouragement,” she said.
Molly expressed heartfelt thanks to the AWE program and its Solomon Islands coordinator, Dr. Donna Marie Wate, for their belief in her vision.
Dr. Wate congratulated Molly, acknowledging the impact such grassroots projects can have on local communities. “This grant marks the closing of a special short-term partnership project, and we are proud to support women like Molly who are creating real change,” she said.
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a U.S. Department of State initiative, supports women worldwide in creating sustainable businesses through practical training, mentorship, and seed funding.
As Molly and her team at GRSI move forward, the support from AWE represents not just funding—but faith in a movement that could redefine business for youth in Solomon Islands.
