Vois Blong Mere Solomon

28/09/2025

26/09/2025

🍀Women in Ngongoti and Nearby Villages Raise Health and Water Concerns During Consultation.☘️

Yesterday, Vois Blong Mere and Guadalcanal Council of Women conducted a women’s consultation in Ngongoti Village, Bahomea Region, one of the communities in the Tina Hydro catchment area. Women from Ngongoti and nearby villages including Marava, Horohotu, and Rate came together to share their experiences, challenges, and priorities for their communities.

During the dialogue, women highlighted the urgent need for a local clinic, as the nearest health facility is a long walking distance away, making access to essential health services difficult. They also emphasized that clean and safe water remains one of their major needs. Community members further raised environmental concerns, noting that swimming in the nearby river now leaves an oily residue on the skin.

Vois Blong Mere acknowledges the important voices of the women of Ngongoti and the surrounding villages, and will continue to amplify their concerns to ensure women’s perspectives are included in decision-making processes that affect health, water, and the environment in the Tina Hydro catchment.

28/08/2025

Hands that Plant, Holds the Power Campaign Update 🌱

Vois Blong Mere Solomon is excited to share that VBMS and Guadalcanal Council of Women have completed a survey with our hardworking local farmers.

At the same time, the Young Women in Parliamentary Group (YWPG) has also carried out a survey with the market resellers.

Together, these two surveys capture both sides of the story – the voices of those who plant and bring produce to market, and the perspectives of those who resell and help bring food to our communities.

The findings will be compiled into a joint report that will be shared with authorities and stakeholders to help identify inclusive and fair solutions for all.

This is an important step towards ensuring that the hands that plant are valued, respected, and empowered.

Stay tuned – the report will be out soon! 📑

18/08/2025

👥Join the Movement - Become a Member of Vois Blong Mere Solomon!
Are you passionate about women's empowerment, community storytelling, and creating positive change in Solomon Islands? 🌺
Now's your chance to be part of a powerful network of women who lead, uplift and inspire.
✨Register today to become a member of Vois Blong Mere Solomon! Whether you're in media, advocacy, community work or simply want to raise your voice - your contribution matters!
👉How to Register: Collect and fill out our Membership Registration Form by visiting VBMS Office at YWCA Building, Townground, Honiara or email: [email protected]
🌟Membership is open to all who believe in amplifying women's voices and standing for equality across our islands.
Together, we are stronger. Together, we are the voice. 💜

07/08/2025

📣 Supporting Change for Our Girls! 💪👧

Vois Blong Mere Solomon welcomes and fully supports the government’s proposed amendment to the Marriage Act 1945, which seeks to raise the legal marriage age from 15 to 18 years. 🙌

This is a long-overdue step to protect our girls, uphold their rights, and align our laws with international child protection standards. As highlighted by the Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini report, 1 in 5 girls in Solomon Islands are married before the age of 18 — a figure that jumps to 1 in 4 in rural areas. These are not just statistics. These are our daughters, sisters, and future leaders. 👩‍🏫👩‍⚕️👩‍🔧

We stand with leaders who are pushing this change, especially as it aligns with the legal voting age and other national laws. Let's ensure our girls grow up free from child marriage, with full access to education, health, and opportunity.

💬 Our children deserve better. Their future starts with the right to just be children.

29/07/2025

UPDATE – BIG NEWS! ✨🎥
The Hands That Plant, Holds The Power campaign is making moves!

After powerful voices were raised by our local farmers, we're excited to share that a multi-stakeholder Task Force has now been formed to address the issues raised at the Central Market.

This update highlights the first step in our journey to push for fair treatment, safer spaces, and recognition of women farmers’ rights.

🛠️ The Task Force includes:
✅ Vois Blong Mere Solomon
✅ Ministry of Home Affairs
✅ Ministry of Commerce
✅ Prime Minister’s Office
✅ RSIPF
✅ Honiara City Council

An Action Plan is now in motion to bring solutions that protect and empower our farmers – especially the women whose hands feed our homes and nation.

Together, we are creating change. 💪🏽🌽🍠

23/07/2025

🌱 Hands that Plant, Holds the Power – Campaign Update 🌱

Exciting News!
A Task Force has been formed to address the pressing concerns and challenges faced by local farmers at the Central Market.

The task force comprises key stakeholders including:
👉 Vois Blong Mere Solomon
👉 Ministry of Home Affairs
👉 Ministry of Commerce
👉 Prime Minister’s Office
👉 RSIPF
👉 Honiara City Council (HCC)

This collaborative team has developed a Terms of Reference and Action Plan and is actively working to resolve the issues raised by our hardworking farmers.

20/07/2025

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 No. 2

🌱𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧
🔄 Unfair Treatment by HCC Market Officers.
HCC market officers are helping the resellers get tables while ignoring or mistreating other vendors.

Rules are not applied equally – resellers break rules and still get support, while genuine farmers get penalized.

🚫 No Equal Access to Market Space
Women farmers who travel long distances are told to wait or go home, while market officers' reserves space for their own people.

Overnight stayers and resellers take up tables illegally but are protected by the market officers.

🧑‍🌾 Real Farmers Are Being Sidelined
Local produce growers — especially women — are forced to sit on the ground or left standing in the sun while resellers get tables.

When farmers complain, they are dismissed or ignored because they don’t know anyone in authority.

🚽 Toilet Locking & Humiliation
The market toilets are often locked, especially early in the morning or late in the day.

Women vendors, especially those outside, are forced to pay $5 to use the seaside area to relieve themselves.

If they can’t pay, they are shouted at and told not to use the seaside — no dignity, no compassion.

Despite paying market fees, these women are denied basic sanitation access, while others use their privilege to get by.

😡 Trust Is Breaking Down
Farmers are losing faith in HCC management — they feel disrespected and unwanted in a space meant for them.

The weak system is damaging transparency, fairness, and safety at the market.

Farmers are losing trust in the market system because rules apply only to some, not all.

Key Asks of the Campaign 🔈
👩‍🌾 1) Give Farmers a Dedicated Space at Central Market
👩‍🌾 2) Allow Famers to put their products on the table before paying - MUST pay at a reasonable price
👩‍🌾 3) Implement strong market rules to protect famers.