Youth of solomon islands (yosi) magazine issue 6

six

THE PEACE ISSUE

RIGHT TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE URARURU: THEIR WAR NOT OURS SAYING IT OUT LOUD STREET TOK: SECURITY THIS SPECIAL EDITION ON PEACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED NATIONS PEACE BUILDING FUND

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In this issue we see youths who are contributing to peace-building in their communities through activities and avocating their stories. Also in this issue we discover young people who make a living off their passions and those who embrace their cultural heritage.

14-15

16-17

6-7 Words from Programmes Coordinator Youth@Work Programme......................

View from the provinces........................

Kodili festival...........................................

UNDP photo competition.....................

Uraruru, their war not ours...................

Right to a brighter future.......................

National youth policy framework.........

Saying it out loud.....................................

Street tok: security...................................

24-25 4 5 5 6-7 8 9 10-11 11 12 13

Skating the edge...................................... 14-15 The message in the canvas..................... 16-17 Creative corner........................................ 18-20 Advertise with Yosi magazine............... 21 UN Women essay winners..................... 22-23 Entrepreneurs lane.................................. 24-25 Gizo youth contributes to Western Province’s blooming tourism industry 26 Youth of Solomon Islands photoblog.. 27

December 2016 YOSI 6 3

Words from Coordinator

Christmas Greetings & Welcome to Yosi Six

Welcome to the 6th issue of YOSI Magazine. In this issue we are partnering with UNDP and UN Women’s Peace Building Fund to encourage young people to tell stories of peace, and to highlight stories of young people working towards peace as activists and advocates. We are excited that this magazine will be distributed in all nine provinces, allowing us to reach more readers. We encourage all our young readers in the regions to send in their articles, artwork and photography to us.

At Youth@Work we believe that peace is tied to people’s economic empowerment, and their feelings of identity and belonging inside their country and culture. We have tried to do our best to reflect this in this issue, through telling stories of the economic empowerment of youth, but also their pride in youth culture from traditional and contemporary art to skate boarding. From young women using film to speak out about gender violence to young people like Nolan Salmon who are healing generational conflicts in their communities to activists like Harry James Olikwailafa who are educating youth about their rights, we have tried to showcase young people who are working to create a more peaceful future.

Meet the editors emmanuel oti- designer, editor and writer samantha ryan- editor, writer and designer ruth amos- writer and photographer regina lepping- contributing writer and photographer gino oti- contributing designer

Youth@Work has been going from strength to strength, with our programs up and running now in Gizo and Auki. We are also proud to have Youth@Work starting in Port Vila, Vanuatu and are excited to see the program blossoming across the Pacific.

COVER PHOTO

We hope that you enjoy this issue and continue working in your own way towards peace.

SUBMISSIONS

ARTIN R O SE M

YOSI IS THANKFUL TO ALL WHO MADE THIS ISSUE POSSIBLE UN Peace Building Fund through UNDP (SI), UN Women, bmobile-Vodafone, Rotary Int, Bamboozle, Frangipani, Allied Security Group, Trevor Malefoasi, Rally Dakei, Cynthia Houniuhi, Nolan Parairua, Edward Tadarea, Cecil Iegu from Kmaga, Tony Mansonia from Tatamba and Jessy Legu, Harry James, Shamgar Palmer, Beau Goddard, Maelyn Tako, Janet Samani, Ruth Mani, Danny Aihunu, Kenny, Edward Fasi, Desmond Amasia, Luisa Alasia, Javen Lilivae, Alena Ramo, Don Kekegolo, Melinda Houhou, Danny (Binnie Man), Mirriam Ratu (1-Impact), Hika Gonne, Xievier Haro, Gladys Tangu, Mavis Iga, Dj Ozlam & Dj Chucki, Solomon Afu, Jayleen Kenny, UNDP Strengthening the Electoral Cycle in the Solomon Islands Project (SECSIP), MEHRD, SIEC

Isabel dancers by Edward Tadarea

yosi magazine welcomes photography, graphics and illustrations, poems, short stories and feature articles by young people. However, we do not guarantee that all submissions will be published. contact yosi for detailed submission guidelines.

CONTACT YOSI Youth@Work, Art Gallery, Honiara 25278 yosi@youth-at-work.org www.facebook.com/YOSIMagazine www.twitter.com/youthyosi yosi is FREE and comes out four times a year. all rights reserved © copyright 2016 by youth@work. reproduction in whole and in part without written permissions from the publisher is prohibited.

4 YOSI 6 December 2016

YOUTH@WORK URBAN MODEL 1. COMMUNITY SERVICE -Youth registered -Carried out 80 hours of community service

2. REGISTRATIONS & TRAINING -Job interview -Personal hygiene -Financial literacy -Peace building -Work ethics -CV writing

3 a. INTERNSHIP & PLACEMENTS -Liaise with employers to provide placements for prospective interns -15 weeks internship in the private and public sectors

3 b. YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAMME (YEP) -Small business training -Develop business plans -SPC gives seed materials to start-up businesses -Young entrepreneurs sell their products/services at Youth Market

YOUTH@WORK RURAL MODEL 2. TRAININGS ON COMMUNITY ISSUES -Climate change -Backyard gardening -Peace building -Self empowerment -Know yourself 1. COMMUNITY AWARENSS -Programme overview -Expectations from programme and youth -Application handouts -Selection

4. MENTORING -Group mentoring lead by adult and peer mentors -Career awareness -Resource centre

3. COMMUNITY SERVICE -Climate change resilient activities -Coastal based resource management -Agro-forestry 4. YOUNG ENTREPRENEURSHIPS -Business training -Provide materials for business start-ups -Mentoring & monitoring

View from the Provinces Youth@Work was recently launched in Santo, Vanuatu. The programme successfully recruited youth and have completed their community service and training on community issues.

Youth@Work also opened a new office in Gizo, Western Province. 40 young people had signed up and started their trainings after a week of community service. Y@W Gizo also opened a Resource Centre for youth.

Y@W Auki now have more than 40 youth who are either placed in internships or finalising their business plans and getting ready to start their businesses.

  December 2016 YOSI 6  5

Tan

Kodili f e s t i v a l YOSI spoke to three young people; Cecil Iegu from Kmaga, Tony Mansonia from Tatamba and Jessy Legu about taking part in the Kodili Festival in Buala Isabel celebrating the culture of Isabel.

What is Kodili Festival and what part have you played in it so far? Kodili Festival is a traditional

festival that gathers people from all parts of Isabel province to showcase and share their cultural and traditional identity.

I have played my part by encouraging youth to absorb their cultural norms and beliefs.

What have you most enjoyed? The most enjoyable moment in this festival was seeing most young people and children participating in cultural dances and songs.

What does culture mean to you?It is people’s way of life in a particular place and time that is central to their identity. This can be seen in material things such as houses, dances and clothing or it can be unseen such as our ideas on how things ought to be.

6  YOSI 6 December 2016

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e e of th f i l f o the way cular place s n a e i “It m a part al to their n i tr people t is cen a h t een in s e m e i t b and is can Th houses, . s y a t i t h n c e u id hings s can be t t i l a r i r o e g mat clothin eas on how d n a s e d danc as our i be” h c u s unseen ngs ought to thi

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hy is culture important to you?

Culture is important to me because it enable people to live in harmony with each other and our environment.

hat are the ways that you are keeping your culture alive?

We keep our culture alive by our traditional foods, music, song, art, taboo sites and custom stories and organised

cultural shows.

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hat do want other youth in the Solomon Islands to see and know about your culture?

I want youths in Solomon Islands to see our culture traditional dances, songs, art and traditional costumes and I want them to know the differences or similarities compared to their own culture. This will breed tolerance and appreciation of other cultures.

-Thanks to Edward Tadarea and the Ministry of Community Affairs, Isabel Province.

December 2016 YOSI 6 7

Peace- what does it mean to you?

Make your contribution to peacebuilding Enter your images representing peace in our community Chosen entry will feature on the front cover of YOSI in 2017 Living together Respecting each other Being proud to be a Solomon Islander Youth joining together for peacebuilding

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Send your photos, drawings or images about what peace means to you to yosi@youth-at-work.org or drop it off to the Youth@Work office at the Art Gallery by 30 January 2017. The winner will be notified by phone, email and announced on the YOSI Magazine Facebook.

8  YOSI 6 December 2016

URARURU

their war not ours WORDS REGINA LEPPING

We all hear alot about peace, but what does peace mean to a new generation, how do we make peace with the past. Regina Lepping talks to Nolan Salmon about how he would made peace with his community.

A long time ago, somewhere in Are’Are, there were two brothers. These two brothers had many difference between them that caused them to be in conflict a lot with each other.

Until one day, when the other brother did something terrible.

He intentionally killed his brother.

The matter was left unsettled, somehow the brother who committed the murder got away with it. Years had gone by and the Generation Y came. People in the brother’s village knew about the stories of the two brother’s indifferences, because the two lines of the brothers’ families were not very close. They live in the same village but they treated each other like strangers. Little did they know, their children would do something that would change their lives forever.

In the new millennium, youths make up most of the population of Solomon Islands. They mix and mingle and come together with other youths from different ethnic backgrounds as long as there is music and soccer. Most of these youths are unaware of their father’s enemies - whose children they could be playing soccer with or sharing a beer together, but their parents would know. It was these thoughts that caused the parents of Nolan Salmon and other young people of Masihuro village, West Are’Are to settle their differences. Nolan was born from one of the brother’s lines.

He is good friends with the descendants of the other brother.

To them, the war between the brothers was not their war and they choose to treat each other with peace and love despite their line’s haunted history.

“We play soccer together, we eat, laugh and share together, and to us young people everything is ok. We are friends, brothers and sisters,” Nolan said. “We don’t know if anyone has ill feelings due to what happened in the past, you can still feel unsafe, like there’s a curse there. We don’t want what happened in the past to define us,” Nolan said.

“God sees the evil we do but he also gave us the power to make peace, after all love comes naturally unlike hate” However, it still did. Though they now shared peace, their past was still defined by the two enemy brothers. So reconciliation was needed between the two families to resolve any disagreements that were still unearthed. In 2014, the two lines reconciled.

“We reconciled with our father’s enemy, as part of promoting peace. We come together and pray for each other because we are all Christians and we know being in conflict is bad for the future generation.”

For Nolan and other young people in his village, it was a historical moment and a first time for them to see a reconciliation activity take place in their village in which they actively participated in. The ceremony was done on a small scale but was a big event for them.

“Firstly, two people from the two brother’s lines gave their speeches and exchanged shell money, and then everyone ate together in a big feast before the Mass took place,” Nolan recalled.

“This ceremony is called ‘Uraruru’ it means coming together to make peace with each other. I remember before the reconciliation was made, the young people in the village were already living in peace. What the brothers did long ago did not affect us, but we are tired of hearing it define who we are and we just wanted to get it out of the way and forget about it,” Nolan expressed.

This reminds me of the famous stories in the bible of Cain killing Abel over harvest, Isaac and Ishmael’s descendants and Jacob stealing his twin brother, Essau’s blessings just to name a few. In addition, the New Testament also stated the brothers will be against brothers or sisters against sisters also. These are lessons to us that tell us God sees the evil that we do but he also gave us the power to make peace, after all love comes naturally unlike hate as Nelson Mandela once said.

To Nolan and his young peace maker generation, the reconciliation was a milestone. Their descendants will surely remember them as the generation that initiate peace for a crime they did not commit, let alone see, a tormented history they did not make, or know much of, just painful stories nobody wants to talk about. Uraruru must be done for a safer community.

December 2016 YOSI 6 9

RIGHT TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE WORDS SAMANTHA RYAN

Samantha Ryan talks to youth advocate Harry James Olikwailafa about how he feels about peace, security, governance and working towards a brighter future.

Harry has been volunteering with youth and advocating for youth on a national and regional level for 8 years. He is now the Secretary for the Pacific Youth Council. He is studying a Diploma of Governance, Leadership and Human Rights, a partnership initiative between Pacific Community, the Pacific Leadership Programme and the University of South Pacific.

“I identify as a Malaitan first and honestly, that is the problem in Solomon Islands. I was born in Honiara but if you ask me where I am from I will say “Malaita”.”

“For us to start to talk about peace building and the healing process I think we need to talk to young people as peace builders. Because we were the ones getting the guns, they When I ask him if he thinks the ethnic tension could happen forced us to do things but when it comes to peace we were again Harry says, “If the ethnic tension were to happen again, the ones at the back of the line and now I see that they it would be because there is no inclusive engagement of the should put as at the front of the line and let us take the lead people concerned.” in peace building. Because to convince another young “My understanding is that for young “That’s why I think it is people to understand the likely to happen. It’s quite people to create a future that is peaceful, peace process, it has to be interesting, I spoke to one peer. If you want to young people need to understand their your of the people consulting talk to young people about with the Ministry of Peace. rights. You need to understand your peace, it has to be other He is a qualified trainer in people talking to rights to advocate to the government for young peacebuilding. He said what them about their experience he sees is that it is these a better future. If you don’t understand during the time of the commanders they are the Automatically he or your rights, corruption will continue and tension. change leaders now. But the she will become connected.” interesting thing is, where is we will never see a peaceful future for the big fish? I believe the big When I ask him what he can the Solomon Islands.” fish are still floating around. do to contribute to peace But the good thing is that the he says, “I’m not a peace big fish can’t influence those guys anymore. They’ve already builder or a trainer, but I can try and look the way of change fixed their mind, they want to move on…They see that they and how to influence the minds of the people. I’ve been made a big mistake…But that doesn’t mean that there is doing it with some of my young people in Honiara. Some of lasting peace. I know that the guns are not fully destroyed. I my uncles were involved in (the ethnic tension). And I said, believe that there are still guns around.”

I’m going to do things differently. So what I do, I engage with something that is inspirational, especially to my peers.”

“I feel safe in my community, because I don’t come across a major threat. But I know during the tensions there was “How I see it, young people in the village context, aren’t a real risk. Now I feel normal. I feel safe but as we know, if working for peace, they are working to better the condition something happened…we are all connected in a wantok. It of their lives. At the same time as you are enabling your will be like a wave.” own life you are achieving peace and harmony in their communities because you realise that your needs and “Peace is everyone’s business. If we want a really peaceful wants are there for you. I would argue that there is nothing society we should have inclusive participation across sectors that you can do that is discordant if you have your own of all people concerned. I believe that one section of our wants and needs met…They are spring boards for peace, society is involved in the peace process, and still another part reflecting peace, security and harmony back in their own are still gossiping and starting things up. But if everyone is communities.” involved we will see a real peace…that a healing process is happening. For us young people, we need to be involved in At a local level they are working towards meeting their that as well.” aspirations but they don’t know that they are also contributing towards peace and harmony in their own “The way forward for Solomon Islands is that we need society. It is quite rare to see young people purely working to tell young people that we are all Solomon Islanders towards peace in Solomon but they work towards their and to involve them in peace building initiatives. Because aspiration. Aspirations contribute to peace. You don’t really here ethnicity was really a big problem. I connect with the see young people taking peace initiatives.” different cultural groups. But usually all the ethnicities are separate- Malaitans here, people from West there.

“I work with young people to know which legal channels they can talk to government to meet their own aspirations is 10 YOSI 6 December 2016

to train young people to understand youth issues. All I do is capacity building young people, raising awareness in young people to reach their potential and learning to work with the government. I believe that this teaching that we give the youth it can contribute to nation building, society as a whole.

My focus in to help young people to realise their potential and how they can influence the government in the formation of policy, programs and activities to meet their aspirations.

I believe that if those policies and aspirations happen it will bring a better quality of life to young people and it will bring peace and prosperity in Solomon Islands. If young people access better services and feel that their aspirations are met, I believe that young people will become better citizens.

When they become better citizens they will become better peace builders in their communities. Because if I have my basic needs met I can look and see what else is needed in my community and what I can do. Get young people to realise their potential. Get them to talk to their government and influence policy. At the same time I know that I’m nation building as well, but I’m not really driving peace activities.

But I believe that what I am doing in contributing towards peace building.”

Things have not always gone smoothly for Harry. He says, “I was a drug addict. I was involved in selling drugs. I was involved in planting marijuana…I started to realise that I’m growing old and that other youth are getting involved in these activities through us. We were training them in illegal activities.”

“One thing that really saved me was the Duke of Edinburgh program. It gave me satisfaction and understanding of my own leadership potential... In the Duke of Edinburgh mentors work with you over a period of months, on your goals…That’s where I started to learn about character building, and trying to become a good person. I did it for six months, it helped me to understand my life.”

“It boosted our morale that we can do it on our own small scale. The impact that we create with these young people can contribute to the nation. That’s how I started working with young people.”

“I started joining other NGOs like Save the Children, World Vision, Honiara City Council. I joined those organisations to learn how to work with young people. I am a school drop-out, when you are a school drop-out you feel like you don’t have the confidence to drive change inside these communities.”

Currently Harry works towards raising youth issues at a regional level at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. He says, “One elder asked me, why do you have to bring youth issues up at a regional level? Why can’t you bring it up here? Our national platform is really weak. We find it hard to engage with national leaders. If we engage with a lot of channels, how if we bring it to the regional where our national leaders are there too. They attend those regional meetings. I think we can better address young people’s issues…When I write a letter to the Ministry, they take weeks to respond. But if anyone regionally sends a letter, the next day they respond. So you see if we use the regional platform to engage the leaders, they have to listen. But when you engage nationally the big man cultural system will come in again. Why are the children talking to me? At regionally meetings everyone is at the same level. They think that a young person of calibre must be there. It gives you the motivation and confidence that you can talk to leaders at their level…That’s why we engage in those regional spaces to get the government to listen to the youth issues back in our country.”

“My understanding is that for young people to create a future that is peaceful, young people need to understand their rights. You need to understand your rights to advocate to the government for a better future. If you don’t understand your rights, corruption will continue and we will never see a peaceful future for the Solomon Islands. I’ve started to train young people on their rights... There needs to be checks and balances on the government, but also subsidising of government services.”

“One thing that I want to say to young people is to start questioning government programs and policies and strategy. That is where you can contribute to the Big I inside parliament. When they pass a bill, you can contribute your ideas and you can influence leader towards policy, you can contribute to the big I inside parliament, when they say I you are also part of the I. Because that is how to have good laws, policy and legislation. That’s how we can contribute to a peaceful society. Because if you are not part of the big I, you will always blame leaders…When you blame leaders, you are disempowering yourself. You see, if I understand my right for better education, better services, better livelihood, if I understand those things it will motivate me to search for those better services. Most of these services are duty bearers, for the right holders, those who use those services.

So I can help the government to better meet my needs and wants.”

National Youth Policy Framework The government is embarking on reviewing its roadmap to addressing youth issues in the country, which will be in the form of a National Youth Policy, National Strategic Framework for Youth Development and a National Youth Employment Strategy. Consultations with young people and stakeholders took place to develop the priority outcomes of these plans.

Young people need to read and understand these documents to see how they can benefit, participate and contribute to improving their lives. These plans will also help our development partners to see what our priorities are and help us to implement programmes that will reduce our problems.

December 2016 YOSI 6 11

Saying it out louD! WORDS RUTH AMOS

“The aim is to let young people, especially young women, tell their story through film and thus responsibly use the media to positively advocate for the issue, and empower young men to see domestic violence as everyone’s concern.”

There’s a lot of things I am proud of as a Solomon islander, but seeing the statistics we have in terms of domestic violence does not make me proud. I for one have witnessed domestic violence in my short life span. Sometimes it would take days to get scene out of my head.

In a report compiled by the Ministry of Women, Youth and Family Affairs, it stated that in Solomon Islands, 64% of women aged 15-49 who have ever been in a relationship reported experiencing some form of physical and/ or sexual violence by an intimate partner. It’s sad to note that the majority of it happens at home.

There are many statistics about this type of violence, yet when discussing the topic of equality, how can a young person get access to resources? Being a young girl or woman can add to the difficulty of accessing resources and being able to voice these issues.

A few months back I was in a room full of young people who were part of a training session and one of their activities was to draw up pictures of what determines the status of a woman and a man according to the perspective of the community, and present it in front. He also made an emphasis to consider cultural bias as well.

A statement made by one of the facilitators after the presentations got me thinking.

He said, all your presentations proves the statement; hem kastom blo mi fo tijim woman (sista, or even gelfren) blo mi fo hem lane.” It is not true, not one of your pictures depicted that and we all knew it’s not right, but no one argued back or tried to defend it. I believe even if they did dare not even the oldest in the room would agree. This made me realise how hard discussing these issues honestly is and how much we need to break the cycle.

This is why young women, led by the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group, are finding a unique way to address genderbased violence (GBV) and contribute to the 16 Days of Activism.

The event comes with a theme; “Break the Silence.” When asked what is the main idea behind the event, the one of the team leaders of the organising committee, Miss Kyera Varnel 12 YOSI 6 December 2016

said, “the aim is to let young people, especially young women, tell their story through film and thus responsibly use the media to positively advocate for the issue, and empower young men to see domestic violence as everyone’s concern.”

She also mentioned that despite the awareness on ending gender based domestic violence, people have differing views on this. Thus we can say that ignorance and silence has developed a culture of letting these acts of violence go unnoticed.

The film festival encourages young people to become vocal and start influencing this and future generations about ending such acts. They will be showing short documentary films of 10-15 minutes and narrative films of 3-5 minutes, all by young Solomon Islanders.

The Say It Loud Film Festival will be held during the 16 Days of Activism from 25 November-10 December. For more information, join the Say It Out Loud Film Fest Facebook: www.facebook.com/siolfilmfest

Street Tok

I just want to feel

SAFE

Yosi travels to crime hot-spots around Honiara City and ask young women how they feel about security in their communities

Do you feel safe in your community?

In my community everyone especially, girls do not feel safe on the weekend, because this is when young men get drunk and walk around the dark road causing nuisance and preying on the weak and threaten to take their bags and phones.

The stretch of road from Burns Creek school bus stop to where I reside, close to Lunga power house, is very dark in the evenings and the SDA compound’s fence prevents people from escaping if being attacked by these sick individuals.

What do you think should happen to make your community safe?

I think there should be more street lights along the road so that people inside the SDA compound can see you if you cry for help and can come to your aid.

-Maelyn Tako, Burns Creek, East Honiara

Do you feel safe in your community?

I’m from Borderline and as you are aware there are a large number of thieves or beligas always loitering at the Borderline bus stop. For us girls we always make sure we reach home early to avoid being victims of the thieves, they can steal our phones and bags especially when they are intoxicated with kwaso and high on drugs.

What do you think should happen to make your community safe?

In my opinion, to help my community in Borderline, police must reinstate the Police Post at Borderline to increase their presence in this part of town and we can also easily get to them when such problems happen.

We also need the cooperation of all community member to stand up against criminal activities that is causing strife in borderline such as kwaso drinking and smoking weed. Furthermore, there is a need to engage this youth in productive activities and help them see there are opportunities to better their lives.

-Janet Koru Samani, Borderline, East Honiara

Do you feel safe in your community?

The Borderline bus stop is not safe for young people especially young girls, women and old people, and the situation is deteriorating by the day.

In late evenings is when beligas (thieves) are most active. They will threaten you in exchange for your carry bag or personal effects including mobile phones.

What do you think should happen to make your community safe?

I would like chiefs in the community to step up and reach out to these youth who are lost, to get them involved in programmes that will benefit them and show them another path to help them reach their own goals and dreams.

-Ruth Mani, Borderline, East Honiara December 2016 YOSI 6 13

SKATING THE

WORDS BY RUTH AMOS

Skating is an emerging sport in Honiara, with more and more youth taking it up and enjoying it. It has become the reason for them to be together for a good cause other than resorting to bad influence in the community. However, they have been struggling for space and often grapple to have others accept and respect the sport. Ruth Amos talks to the skaters and some of its supporters about the sport and its struggle for understanding in our society.

A skateboard made from hard maple wood, shaped like a duck’s body only it has a front and back with its kicktails curved up, is the new kind of fun on the block.

I try to absorb their fun by capturing it on camera, at the same time trying not to get hit by one of them.

I’m watching them push forward with their right foot while resting their left on the deck’s front kicktail. When accelerating to a potential speed the skater will jump with both their feet in the air, a few centimetres up and flip it using his feet and land back on the board, then continue skating.

When they don’t land properly, the fall is painful, with the board sliding of on a different direction or falling flipped over. Getting hit by that would really give you a scar but it is another chance for the skater to try again.

The warehouse is really noisy, like a builder building a mansion. There were cheers and laughter, walking into the room I saw piled up boxes pushed back to create space and two pallets in the middle and a few obstacles here and there, all an improvisation to make interesting spaces for the fun.

In the evenings where it is the high time to be involving in criminal activities, the warehouse and at times the streets is where these young people meet to skate, as it takes the best of their interest. While they are enjoying themselves, the struggle is obvious, there isn’t much space.

Shamgar Palmer tells me of the previous places where they have tried to skate, “Yeah, at ITA that’s where they chased us, when they just built the walkway we asked the owner if we could go there and he agreed.”

14 YOSI 6 December 2016

However due to misunderstanding by the caretaker, the skaters resorted to other venues. These also caused problems and they ended up relying on Beau Goddard, a young businessman from Scotland who runs a number of businesses in Honiara, including Honiara’s only skating store Bamboozle Boards, for the space he makes available for them, as well as transport to and from their homes.

Beau tells us how the boys started with a humble beginning with another fifteen or more others. “We only had one skateboard, my one. About three weeks, I end up noticing that they were actually really interested so I brought in ten skateboards from Australia and then just gave them out.

Eventually it just went and gone like that,” he said.

He adds, “Once they start pick them up, the skateboard started breaking and needed fixing and that’s when I started opening up the shop. Not to make any money but to just supply the skateboards and get kids doing that.”

Being out of the country and back with his peers for almost two years now, Shamgar expressed the need to have a skate park to cater for the new interest.

“If we had a skate park we would be able to improve our skills and maybe it will help change the mindset of people about other new sports out there,” he adds.

When I first met one of the skaters, Danny Aihunu at Bamboozle skateboard shop, one thing I asked him was to describe what skating is to him in one word, and he replied; “extreme.”

The 21 year old from Temotu and Malaita, said, “I like Tom Hawk, he’s also a skater, he’s older and a legend, I really wanted to do his tricks, and I am working on some of them, including street skating and heel flip.”

“There were days where we would go out skating on pavements and on just any strip of concrete in the streets,” he said.

I had noticed him before one evening when he came to skate at the Telekom car park.

I not only noticed the scruffy skateboard tucked under his arm and the “tricks” he did, or the courage to pick himself up when he fell, I also wondered who else is in for this extreme fun? Although it’s hard to see them on the streets of Honiara anymore, Honiara’s skating community is now around 30 people and counting.

I asked Kenny, a 21 year old from Malaita, what tricks he was working on.

He replied, “I am working on board slide, a trick I am trying to perfect.”

He continued on to say, “One of the people I look up to is Nyjah. He’s also a skater. He’s young, and the thing I liked about him is that he’s just started out, he’s not one like up there. But he was able to make it and become a champion.”

When Beau asked on what his projection is for skating in five years from now, he says, “In five years, I would see some of the boys, if there’s a play, like a skate park facilitated for it and be there every day, every day, every day there’s nothing that is going to stop these kids from going to Australia, going to America skating in competitions”.

“It will be good to see, the kids respecting it and get a bit more open up to everyone, girls getting into skating, for families to understand skateboarding, that it isn’t a bunch of drug taking youths just looking for trouble.”

“I’d love to build a place where kids can come and learn how to dance, like we could have a studio, they could do graffiti and have some progression, for everyone start to…have a bit more interaction.”

Resting my camera on one of the piled up boxes I watched them having fun.

“If we had a skate park we would be able to improve our skills and maybe it will help change the mindset of people about other new sports out there,”

Beau Goddard with the skaters. Photo by Ruth Amos.

December 2016 YOSI 6 15

The Message in the Canvas All over the world artists find themselves at the forefront of preserving kastom and tradition and at the same time merging old and new to create and reflect contemporary culture- from writers, to artists, musicians and dancers. Samantha Ryan speaks to two young artists from Santa Ana, Makira about what they are doing to preserve their kastom, cultural identity and their struggle to make their business and dreams happen.

I find the two artists at the very edges of the Art Gallery grounds, painting behind the stalls with their canvas leant up against trees and fences. Although they are facing away from each other a friendly silence pervades their concentration as they mix their colours and bend to their craft.

Edward Fasi, a 22 year-old artist from Makira, has been creating art since Grade 5, although he was drawing in pencil and biro then. He only just started painting with a brush in June of this year.

Although his medium has changed, his art still draws strong inspiration from his culture. He says, “This art that

I continue to draw. I learnt it at home. I saw all our kastom houses, where women cannot go inside, I would draw every carved beam. When I came and joined these artists, I had to remember back to everything inside our kastom house.”

His friend and fellow artist Desmond Amasina, a 29 yearold man also from Makira, learnt to create art when he was small. “My father was an artist too”, he explains. “I watched him paint, and I started to want to be an artist when I grew up. I started to paint for myself.”

Both artists paint and try to make a living selling their art to tourists and passers-by in the Art Gallery Ground in Honiara, where artists, carvers, weavers and tie dyers have begun to set up their market stalls, sometimes three rows deep.

Edward says that he paints here every day, morning and evening. He says that he has been selling a lot.

“At the moment I don’t have any paintings that I haven’t sold, just the one I just made.”

Still he says, “I find it a bit hard to meet all my needs. Some customers come and buy my art, but they won’t match the prices I would like.” He is currently completing his studies to be a mechanic, and so finds it hard to meet his school fees.

Desmond agrees that it can be tough saying, “All of us artists are doing it for ourselves. The Government only supports through the Art Gallery giving us this space to market.”

“I find it very difficult on the financial side of things. For me to paint and sell things, it doesn’t really meet the requirements I would like. It only really pays for materials.”

Edward paints in the Art Gallery grounds every day.

16 YOSI 6 December 2016

For both of them, culture is a very important aspect of their craft.

Edward says, “Why do I bring my culture into my art? My people are from Makira. We haven’t lost our kastom. I believe that the time we write our culture, then if people see our culture and have an

Desmond Amasina paints abstract as well as traditional art. Photo by Samantha Ryan interest, I can tell them our story, and they can understand our culture.” His art is very traditional in content and style.

about, to encourage them to embrace art so they know what art is all about it.”

When asks if Edward feels he has the support of others to keep his kastom strong he says, “No. It’s just us. I mean my village, in Santa Ana, all our leaders work together to keep our culture.”

“I think our leaders should really work on keeping our culture strong because to me I see some of our people start to lose our culture, we are losing leadership in our communities, people are following their own interests…But our chiefs are still standing strong in kastom and culture.”

“To keep my culture strong, as an artist, I have to have support to go to the provinces to strengthen my culture, to educate about what we need to do. Should we adapt western style or keep our culture? So I must be strong to go out and teach about culture with my art. In my province we must embrace art to leaders should really work on strengthen culture.”

“I think our keeping our culture strong because to me I see some of our people start to lose our culture, we are losing leadership in our communities, people are following their own interests…But our chiefs are still standing strong in kastom and culture.”

For Desmond, while he describes his art as more abstract and contemporary, he sees it as a way to connect to and learn about his culture. He says, “I take time to learn my culture and ask someone to teach me. I am taking my own time to do my own research when I paint. I still ask others what I should paint. It encourages me to go into my own culture.”

“I put the paint on the canvas and then I shade. I play around with the colours. The message and the story is there. When people ask it I can explain it. I put a message into the canvas.”

“I paint about my culture. Some youth don’t know their culture. So when they ask me, I can explain my culture to them. Because we must strengthen it.”

Desmond has dreams to use his art to teach others about culture. He says, “I would like to go back to my province to teach students to get into art, to tell them what art is all

“I’ve been researching art in the outside world. Other artists, like Matisse, paint their culture and where they are from. It encourages me when I read his book, he painted his own culture and place. I see that I should do the same as Matisse. Painting everything about my culture. So they know who I am, that I paint my culture.”

“I am a Solomon Islander. When I create my art I am a Solomon Islander. I reflect my culture and my style in my art.

If I become a famous artist I will be proud.”

When I ask him if he thinks we can keep all of the cultures of the Solomon Islanders strong together he says, “Yes we have nine provinces. There is no law to protect our culture and heritage. We don’t have that like other places overseas.

Other artists only have to paint their tribe. But Solomon Islands we can paint Central Province, Western Provincewe work together as a team. We don’t have laws that can protect and stop it. We can combine our styles.”

December 2016 YOSI 6 17

Creative Cornner This is a collection of poems written by youth in Solomon Islands and abroad about peace and what it means to them

Peacemaker

You and I were born to persevere in this life. Who are you? Who am I? We are everything the world needs, the only thing it needs. We are extraordinary, yes you are. Yes I am. Every day someone out there always desires love, a love that offers to last not to destroy or to end.

People occasionally overlook compassion, understanding, hope and joy. Feelings cannot speak themselves, nevertheless they do manifest.

That great power of expression, to discover hope in anything, that’s what keeps you and me going.

Striving for the value of life which is respect. Devouring respect and being generous is a gift of unity and harmony.

Unless we have love and respect you and I are survivors. Being a peacemaker as we grow older life seems to marvel faster and more furious than we thought.

In the essences of our being we were born purposely to give ourselves, our homes, our societies and the whole world. What we need is to share and receive love, which is prominent to peace, humbly to enrich peace from one beautiful soul to another.

Luisa Adibiu Alasia Lidimani, 27, is from West Kwara’ae Malaita Province. She is a student at the University of the South Pacific and enjoys painting, drawing and sometimes writing random poems.

Peace Peace be with you my brother For you deserve peace in your heart Peace be with you my sister May peace be your treasured art Seek first the prince of peace And all shall be well All the hate you must release Peacefully you will dwell Let us unite together my friends Let us share the peace with others Let the peace never end And we’ll stand strong together Peace to Solomon Islands Peace to its people Peace to its lands Peace to its hopeful Trevor Malefoasi St. Nicholas I come from: Malaita interested in: Poetry, rugby and music.

18 YOSI 6 December 2016

Young people uniting for a better future Zig zag strike the sky camera Boom, boom, boom goes the thunder Flooded the sky river It’s a storm Sudden appears, bow shape across the sky With its seven colours It’s a rainbow Calm the storm Coming together is a beginning Staying together is a progress and Working together is a success in teamwork For a better future.

By Ralley Dakai From Western Province

The following poems are written and compiled by Tia Cynthia Hou a.k.a Tia, 19. My interest are doing community work, riding my bike and being an active young woman.

Louise Aumae This is Louise She is Micro-Poly blend She has a vision She loves expressing herself creatively She is a talented sport person She is a talented hip hop dancer Be like Louise

Jaylene Malefoasi This is Jaylene She is a young leader She wants to be a politician one day She stands up for what she believes in She loves her community Her goal is to serve her community She does so through Rotaract Be more like Jaylene

Cynthia Sikwa’ae This is Cynthia She is a young leader She leads by example She is up for any challenges She smiles all the time Be more like Cynthia

Sharbatina Pauku This is Sharbatina She believes in action not words She is a talented guitar player She does printing and design She is a good tree climber Be more like Sharbatina

Morris and Ray These are good friends, Morris and Ray Ray is from Isabel and South Malaita Morris is from Makira and South Malaita They love serving their community They cook, sweep, clean and do dishes They like helping everyone around them Be more like them

Alison Ho’ota This is Alison She is from Makira and Isabel She loves Chemistry She is a calm person She observes and takes things in She doesn’t say much Her peaceful presence speaks for her Be like Alison

Elma Rizzu This is Elma She is a criminal lawyer She works at the Prosecutors Office She is from Isabel and Malaita She is very smart She is going to keep me out of jail Be more like Elma

December 2016 YOSI 6 19

YOUTH ROLES TOWARDS CORRUPTION FREE-SOCIETY WORDS BY NOLAN PURAIRUA Corruption is when a system starts out good but somehow goes wrong.

Corruption takes birth in a society when its citizens fail to believe that the nation is a common property of all its citizens and the generations yet to come. In every situation, where you leave truth, you are giving birth to corruption, no matter how simple or how complicated the matter is. If this is so, you and I would have been corrupt at least once.

Consider any segment or sector of our society. Be it education, health, politics, the law, media, economic, social, business, anything. Corruption occurs within all levels starting from national down to the grassroots. You will find the dark marks of corruption everywhere.

Education has become a money making business, where it has become a right of the rich. The number of self-financing institutes increases day by day. Where will the poor go?

In health the prices of the necessary drugs have gone up and the money allotted for basic health facilities is not properly utilised. The result is ill health. Where did the money go then?

If you have money, you can win any election here. If you have the influence of money and muscle power, has perpetual succession, everything has influenced our democracy so much. Any criminal can win his case if he has money. People have started losing their faith in democracy.

You can create news if you have money. The media has, to an extent, lost its sense and has become sensational.

Inflation affects only middle class and levels that come under.

Our businesses have forgotten the meaning of corporate social responsibility to an extent. These are all, in fact, true conditions of our society. And this is why our country is corrupt.

Since birth, the causes for man to become corrupt are plenty, starting from the very influence of the family and circumstances that bought him up to the enmity towards his own nation. The limitations of the legal framework within the country are some of major reasons that have resulted in large scale corruption.

The nation belongs to its youth. They are the makers of tomorrow. What they do today will reflect in the society

20  YOSI 6 December 2016

tomorrow. To live in a society that is corruption free, we need people with quality of mind and thoughts. If these people come forward to build a strong nation, our dream of a corruption free society is never far away.

In a country like Solomon Islands, where a majority of its population is youth, a large proportion of us, such as you and I, can contribute to our nation.

Corruption is one of the greatest evils that shakes the backbone of any society. More than a matter of need, corruption has become a subculture, a common practice, a necessary evil. Faced with this trouble people have grown used to it, it is part of everyday life. If this evil is eradicated from the society, the greatest threat to development is over.

Youth of Solomon Islands can do a great deal in this matter but we must be careful so that they do not take up misguided ideals because it is going to have the opposite effect. The main problem of the youth in Solomon Islands is that they are not a part of the society in its full sense they come under their parents, and are guided by parties, and age old ideas that have no relevance in today’s IT age.

They must fearlessly take up politics, to give new dimensions to it, give sense to it and they must provide what their society really needs. Law must ensure protection and rights to its citizens who believe in it. Given people who believe in the purity of knowledge to the young minds. They must be able to teach the values of life. Every profession comes with an ethic and the youth must not only be able to keep up the ethics but also influence the society to build a life oriented towards values and ethics. They must be able to uphold and bring truth to the people throughout the nation. They must be able to apply sense and act wisely. They must be courageous to stand for truth, raise their voice against injustice. The youth must strive to reach top positions who can then frame policies for the nation which would bring in development and prosperity, truth and justice, thereby lead a corruption free society.

The youth must be able to read the pulse of our nation. They must build a sense of patriotism towards our nation by the association motto: GIVE LIFE A CHANCE.

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PHOTO BY RUTH AMOS

2016 UNDP ESSAY COMPETITION WINNERS

Here are the excerpts from the essays of four young people who won the UNDP essay writing competition in the Senior and Junior categories.

What if decision making process in your community involved men and women equally?

If you look hard enough around the world today, you will see women who have proven themselves as leaders who are very capable of making good decisions in critical circumstances.

Many powerful countries have had, while others are currently having, women leaders who are involved in making decisions for the whole country. I look with admiration at countries like Brazil and Germany, who have female leaders as Presidents.

I wish to also equally acknowledge women leaders who have had terms in serving at the highest level of leadership in their countries like former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard, Margaret Thatcher of England and others who deserve similar sentiments throughout the world.

It is very reassuring to note that there is a woman leader in the USA who is contesting for the most powerful position in leadership in the world- the President of the USA. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 upheld rights for men and women on an equal basis. It is therefore equally important that we give women equal opportunity to participate in leadership and decision making.

After all, we are all humans made equal in the eyes of the creator.

Women’s leadership and political perticipation The focus of this essay will be the context of Uhu community and how families in Uhu make their decisions regarding their family’s education, community development and politics.

Uhu community is located in West Are’Are in Malaita Province and has a population of 655 people. It was established in 1947 during the Ma’asina Rule period. It consists of six tribal groups namely Aimaua, Oropei, Tawarao, Rohura, Maumarunaeke and Waraihanua tribes.

When making decisions on who they elect members of the household do not independently vote for their prospective candidate. For example, women, girls and young people often vote for the head of their household’s favourite candidate.

Hence, their right to vote for their intended candidate is neglected. This can be seen as hijacking their right to freedom of choice. In other situations, the participation in the decision making process in the family is superseded by the head of the household’s paternalistic mentality. This means the father of the home believe that he has the authority and power to decide on what is best for the family, therefore making the final decision, as it has always been practiced in every patrilineal society. In this context, Uhu is a patrilineal community advocating for patrilineal practices. This should be reformed in order to reflect democratic decision making in the home and to achieve fair justice.

Women in Uhu nowadays are becoming aware of their right to equal participation in decision making through media and community awareness programs.

Moreover they are becoming active

Javen Lilivae, 16, from Renbel and Western Province, studies at Mbokonovera Community High School. Senior category winner.

22 YOSI 6 December 2016

Alena Ramo, 18, from Malaita and Western Province, studies at Betikama Adventist College. Senior category winner.

What if we had a female prime minister?

What if we had a female prime minister?

We all know that this country has been ruled by all male Prime Ministers since its independence from the United Kingdom 38 years ago. The country will be 40 years old in 2018 when the next National General Election will be due. The notion of change is a very important one that needs a gender change in the leadership wheel of the country in order for the nation to move forward. A woman leader is needed to take up the position of Prime Minister after 38 years. Women possess very dramatic power in the area of leadership. There are four leadership styles that women are good at. Firstly, women are dominant or visionary leaders with a ‘vision for change’ with the desire to call others to follow and help in the process of change. This means they are team players who are not selfish.

This is the kind of leadership style most needed in our country today after 38 years of little or no change. For example, fifty years ago our main products for export- copra, palm oil and dried cocoa bean- are today still there. The old roads that our colonisers built are still being used and are being patched now and then.

Traditionally and culturally, Solomon Islanders have been brain-washed to believe that women are meant for domestic duties such as home care and child upbringing. Women are never encouraged to take up any leadership roles within the country. People fail to see that the home is where leadership starts. We do not realise that leadership is all about caring, sharing and loving which are exactly the best characteristics that mothers have. They have a heart to take good care of their children. They make sure that their children are fed, even with the very little that they have. They always prioritise their children’s health. I’m not saying that women are perfect and that they can become the best Prime Minister. My point is that, naturally women are born with these characteristics. The characteristics we expect to see from a Prime Minister.

The second leadership style that women possess is as influencers. That is ‘peace makers’ who transform not by pushing their own agenda but through bringing others together to be part of the whole picture in a very respectful manner of hearing everyone’s view, caring to understand and sympathize. We need a Prime Minister of such noble character today.

The third leadership style that women leaders possess is that they are ‘steady leaders’ in challenging times, which is evident in a woman’s resilience and the ability to handle stress while leading. Women endure criticism from men quietly and learn to forgive easily although they have every right to point the finger back.

The fourth style of leadership is that women are good at being ‘cooperative problem solvers’ which means they are leaders who are eager to solve the many problems facing our nation and our people.

We need a female leader who will address the issues facing our country head on and not leaders who serve the interests of their cronies and those who bribe them with huge amounts of money for personal gain at the expense of innocent citizens.

Don Creflo Kekegolo, 16, from Guadalcanal and Isabel, studies at Coronation Christian School. Junior category winner.

Women understand human development. They are the first teachers in life. They plan and organise their families well, which proves them to be the best managers. They are also both an architect and a builder in their little ways. So I can argue that women are not only planners but also implementers.

This only proves that females are also capable of becoming Prime Minister. In these ways, our country will become one of the fastest developing countries in the Pacific. Not with just temporary developments but with a lasting development that will sustain our future generations.

I must strongly state here that I see no reason why a female should not be the next Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.

Thirty years has passed, but yet we are still behaving like a child. We keep on asking and depending on other nations for assistance. This must be stopped. We are not poor. We just over eat our reserves. As good mothers make sure there is always something left for tomorrow, Prime Ministers must do likewise. So what if we have a female Prime Minister? Why not give it a try and feel the difference? You will be glad you did.

Melinda Houhou, 15, from South Malaita, studies at Bishop Epalle Catholic School. Junior category winner UNDP Strengthening the Electoral Cycle in the Solomon Islands Project (SECSIP) developed and organized the essay competition in partnership with MEHRD and SIEC. SECSIP is funded by DFAT Australia and the EU December 2016 YOSI 6 23

Entrepreneurs Lane

Made by

Youth

Young people nowadays are excited and easily catch on to the latest trends in fashion out there. In this YOSI exclusive we feature two of the young people behind the coolest, homemade products and collectables in Honiara City.

Danny

Beanies

BEANIE MAN Tell us about your products?

At Beanie Man my products include crochet hoods or beanie, mobile phone bags and ladies purses. My girlfriend, Ruby, and I learnt the basics of crocheting from the internet. Ruby is a good knitter and I learn most stuff from her. We made all the products together, and were involved in it from the start; designing our products, developing our patterns. The wool colours we usually work with are mainly red, yellow, blue and green. We want to make something that is different using the skills we have.

Who are your main customers?

For our crochet beanies we target mainly people with dreadlocks and afros. Recently we learnt about special wool which is quite durable and Ruby and I started using it to make lady’s purses.

What is your dream and how will you get there?

Most people don’t know about my products. Finding a way to promote them to my target customers is one of the difficulties we face. Attending the popular Youth@Work’s Youth Market is one way of getting the word out there.

My long term goal is that I want my products to be widely used and well known and everybody knows Beanie Man make great crochet hoods and collectables. I want to be seen as the go-to-man when it comes to beanies.

24 YOSI 6 December 2016

Hand bags

Lady’s purse

Mirriam Ratu

Lady’s tanks

one impact What is your feature product?

One Impact does t-shirt printing and crochet bangles. Our t-shirt design is extra special as we incorporate materials, such as black and white scarves which are popular among young people, making our products one of a kind. My bangles are made from wool therefore it is special and there are not a lot around. We want to create something a bit different from the fashion that is currently out there.

What motivates you?

My main motivating factor is that young people nowadays want to dress in a cool fashion. I want to create something that is attractive for young people.

My crochet bangles are made from wool and not many use this raw material for bangles so my product is outstanding.

Mens Tees

Who’s your main customer?

My main customers are young people, therefore my products are cool and also quiet affordable. We aimed our specials t-shirt for young people because they desire to put on attractive clothes and love the cool image.

What is your long term ambition?

Even though One Impact is still a small scale operation I do have dreams for it. I want my small business to grow, therefore I think managing it is important. I will save up profits, invest it back by purchasing more raw materials to increase production hence increase profits of the business and establish my own company and place for my operation.

Crochet bracelets

What is your advice and encouragement for other young business men and women out there?

My encouragement to young people who are into this same kind of T-shirt business is not to be weary if your business is still in its infant stage. Start small, work hard and it will grow bigger. Experiment along the way and see what works and what doesn’t. It is also important to save up your profits.

Saving the profits you make will ensure the growth of your business. Always search for information about how to improve your products and services. There is tonnes of info on the internet. Finally, be passionate about what you do.

December 2016 YOSI 6 25

Gizo youth contributes to Western Province’s blooming tourism industry WORDS BY RUTH AMOS & EMMANUEL OTI Western province is a favourite destination for tourists visiting Solomon Islands. The province is known for some of its best attractions Solomon Islands has to offer, from small humble home stay facilities for divers and backpackers to some of 3 star resorts and eco- lodges.

Over the years, Western province has recognised its potential in the tourism industry as a means for sustainable economic development hence, the Western Provincial Government and the Solomon Island Tourism Bureau has been working very hard to market and improve the major infrastructures that will help boost the growing number of tourist travelling to that destination.

The recent introduction of cruise liners into Western Province also contributes to boosting the industry. However, services required to meet the needs of the tourists must be in place to provide the best island experience. The province has embarked on several initiatives to cater for this such as sending a delegation to Fiji on a look and learn trip to mobilising communities to provide tourist related activities.

for young people who are part of the entrepreneurship component of the Youth@Work programme to establish small businesses that will cater for the needs of the tourism industry.

Youth@Work offers basic business training for youth who are interested to start their own small businesses and provides them with some materials to assist them in getting their business ideas off the ground.

The participation of young people in such industries is crucial to say the least, as they are the custodians of our environment and resources now and in the future. Their involvement at all levels will determine the sustainability and success of our current efforts.

The Youth@Work in Gizo, also contributed to these initiatives by mobilising thirty eight young people who are part of the Youth@Work Programme to undertake a number of activities.

These include cleaning up of public spaces and utilities, undertook Tour Guide training and customer service and volunteering during cruise visits.

Two tourist cruise boats visited Gizo in September with a total of 1007 passengers and in October the number has increased to 1300 tourists. This increasing trend also offers opportunities

(Left) Y@W youth cleaning up Gizo township as part of their community service. (Top) Y@W youth showing tourists around and youth selling products to tourists.

Photo by Hika Gonne

26  YOSI 6 December 2016

This is an extract of portraits and quotes from youth of Solomon Islands voicing their views and things that matter to them. You can read more about youth of Solomon Islands at www.facebook.com/youthofsolomonislands

“I have helped out in my mother’s kitchen almost all my life. Like other young people who are interested in music or dance, I have a passion for cooking, baking, making desserts and generally food preparation and presentation.”

-Xievier Haro

“I see myself as a Solomon Islander, because when I get I job I not only will help my family but will also contribute to the country’s economy as a whole.”

-Mavis Iga

“I live at Borderline and from my experience I see it has become unsafe to move around. I’ve witnessed an incident over the weekend of a gang of burglars who threatened a young boy took his shoes and the girl that came with him was dragged off and only God knows what they did to her. I want the Government to do something about this issue to ensure the safety of kids who go to school and people who live there.”

-Jayleen Kenny

“When the words Conflict and Peace building are being mentioned, the first thing that comes to my mind is the ethnic tension happening here, in Guadalcanal. Because it is the same, I was here at the time, during the crisis I was part of a group who helped people evacuate and have felt the tension at the time. Then there was peace building and peace is being restored again.”

-Gladys Tangu

Dj Chucki Juice (right): “Previously I was an artist and part of a band but then decided to quit singing.

Recently I linked up with Ozlam and explore dejaying and produce music alongside him.”

Dj Ozlam (left): “Since we linked up we agreed to work together. You know, in order to help the younger musicians we have to affiliate with them. So Chucki is with me, and I’ve seen his creativity and talent in dejaying grew and we both gain exposure nationally and regionally.”

-DJ Ozlam and DJ Chucki

“Many times, time management is not considered as important, but I think poor time management and or family violence is the cause of a lot of failures.”

-Solomon Afu December 2016 YOSI 6 27