July Newsletter 2023

Aug 22, 2023 | Newsletters | 0

Vanuatu’s Independence month was bustling with positive energy, and it showed in the tremendous work Sista carried out in July 2023!

While we were busy juggling different projects, meeting different people, there were also wonderful events happening at the Melanesian Arts & Culture Festival (MACFEST)!

The Projects team powered through many more interviews with the women candidates selected for the second edition of Nation Builders, wrapped up the Strong Mama Program with a wholesome Women’s Circle and spent the first two weeks carrying out two sessions with CARE in the Young Leaders Workshop Program in Port Vila AND Tanna.

Sista was very fortunate to have been able to work with and support Melanesian Women Today (MWT) with two workshops this month! It was an honour for the team to work with the founder and Executive Director of MWT, Mere Tari Sovick, and we hope we get to work with her again in future.

We were also fortunate to have Rose Ephraim Lekal join the team in the month of July! She re-organised the Vanuatu Feminist Library, updated the library’s catalogue and supported the Sista team! Thank you Rose, we hope to work with you again in future.

Our online platforms were filled with posts celebrating World Youth Skills Day, Childrens Day, MACFEST activities and of course, Vanuatu’s 43^rd Independence Celebration!

The Communications team supported VPride with a one-day event where they hosted a panel discussion in the morning and ended the evening with a soft launch of their new documentary. Watch their space as they will be releasing their documentary in the coming months!

Sista’s Executive Director (ED) spent the month planning and preparing for upcoming projects and partnerships as we started the New Financial Year.

After many different challenges, as well as accomplishments, the team finally wrapped up the Round Table Podcast! We were able to release 8 episodes this year, where we explored the different issues affecting young women and girls in Vanuatu today. Listen to them all HERE.

A very big THANK YOU to everyone who supported Sista, to the guests who made time to be part of the episodes and to We Rise for their patience and continuous support.

And keep your eye out as we are already planning for the next 10 episodes!

Projects

Jennifer Kalpokas Doan – Sista Gat Style, Vanuatu Daily Post

In July we are featuring the incredible style icon, Jennifer Kalpokas Doan.
Hailing from the offshore island of Lelepa, Jennifer is a mother of three sons and the Executive Director at Balance of Power (BOP), a social norm change program that uses an innovative approach to support islands across the Pacific to achieve inclusive and effective leadership.

Balancing her roles as a wife, mother, community leader and high-profile career woman whose work calls to serve Vanuatu, this committed Christian lives her life appreciating every moment, knowing the best is yet to come, as she believes that with age, there is always a milestone to be achieved.

As we celebrate Vanuatu’s 43rd year of Independence, we also celebrate Jennifer, the daughter of one of Vanuatu’s founding fathers and second Prime Minister of Vanuatu – Mr Donald Kalpokas, and honor her as she follows in his footsteps with her passion to continue to build and develop the nation.

#SistaGatStyle #WomanLelepa #Mother #Beautiful #Passionate

Nation Builders II: Celebrating Women in the Private Sector – Balance of Power

This month, the project team continued reaching out to the selected candidates for the second edition of Nation Builder Booklet. We scheduled interviews and photography sessions, transcriptions, editing photos, writing, and editing stories.

On 12^th July 2023, the Project Coordinator met with the Project Team leader, Editor, and the Writers. This meeting was to check-in where the writers were with their stories and what their challenges and highlights were. It was also an opportunity to meet with the Editor, Rebecca Olul, in person, and get to know more about each other.

Strong Mama Program supported by FRIDA Fund – Women’s Circle with Tehya Skye

To end this empowering program, Tehya Skye Vanuatu facilitated a Women’s Circle on Saturday 8th July, 2023.

The Women’s Circle was new to a few participants who joined later in the program, but it was a powerful and much needed activity. A lot of emotions were felt, and it created a safe space for the ladies to reflect on their personal journeys so far and how they can rely on each other for support should they need it.

Sista is happy to have been able to bring these Strong Mamas together to be part of this program. We hope the women leave feeling like they’ve built long lasting connections with each other.

Thank you to Port Vila City Council of Women for providing space for your members to be part of this! And a big shout out to FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund for their continuous support, and to Penpena Mouri for collaborating with Sista.

VPride Panel Discussion and Documentary Launch

On Friday 7th August, the team at Sista attended a panel discussion and the soft launch of a documentary created by VPride!

The panel discussion was based on the hate speech that was seen online last month during Pride Month, but it also focused on how we, as partnering organisations and key stakeholders, can support and provide an allyship to Vpride and overall, the SOGIE community.

Later, Vpride hosted a lovely evening where they gave us a sneak peek of their NEW documentary. It showcased their journey as an organisation and community. It was very moving and inspirational, we can’t wait for them to officially launch it on their platforms!

Young Women’s Leadership Program with CARE

The Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) began in May this year and on Thursday 6th July and Friday 7th July, Sista facilitated the Feminism workshop which was followed by the Social Media and Advocacy Workshop on the Friday.

The Feminism workshop focused on the definition of Feminism, clarifying what feminism is not, and what feminism looks like in Vanuatu.

The Social Media and Advocacy Workshop focused on understanding what social media is and the positive and negative impacts it can have on our lives, but most importantly, how to navigate the cyber world safely and what referrals there are in Vanuatu if you have been violated.

Later, on the 17th and 18th July 2023, Sista’s Project Coordinator and Communications & Advocacy Officer, facilitated the same workshops with the YWLP participants living in Lenakel, Tanna.

The Sista team also had a meeting with the Voes Blong Mi (VBM) team at CARE’s Office on the 21^st of July 2023. During the meeting the VBM team did a presentation about the Participatory Action Research (PAR) material which was carried out in 2019 to 2022 in Tafea Province.

The Sista team are excited as we will be supporting the VBM team to convey the issues raised during the workshops into videos. Watch this space as the videos will be released in coming months!

YWLP Internship Placement with CARE

In early July, Sista shared on their platforms the opportunity for businesses and organisations to take on an intern as part of the YWLP this year.

The purpose of the internship is to increase participants learning and allow them to experience a work environment. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for the organisation and workplace to bring in fresh perspectives, discover new ideas from young women, enhance the supervisory skills of your staff and have an extra pair of hands to support their work.

Watch this space as the team updates you on the opportunities given to the young women!

Melanesian Sisterhood Creed Workshop with Melanesian Women Today and Haus Storian supported by We Rise

On Friday 28 July 2023, Sista, through the We Rise Coalition, supported Melanesian Women Today (MWT) and Haus Storian in facilitating the first ever Melanesian Women’s Creed Writers Workshop!

20 women from different countries, with different interests and writing experiences were invited to a safe space to explore how contemporary Melanesian women express their life experiences through literature.

It was empowering to see all the women share their own stories and wisdom gained from navigating life in Melanesia.

Dr Mere Sovick from Melanesian Women Today, and the wonderful Anna Naupa, facilitated the workshop by using techniques of sharing, creating and weaving to collaboratively craft a Melanesian Sisterhood Creed that can be referenced to provide strength and inspiration to all our Melanesian sisters in everyday life.

Read the Creed HERE!

Other News

Sista’s Business Cards

These business cards have been on our wish list for a while now, so we are super excited that we finally have them in office. As we continue to learn and grow in our journey, we are especially proud of this little win as it shows we are stepping up and strengthening as an organisation.

Partnership meeting with World Vision

Sista meti with World Vision on July 5^th to discuss a strategic partnership that will include skill and knowledge sharing, and begin with an advocacy campaign for the second phase of the Inclusive Climate Resilient WASH project. We are so excited to work with World Vision, a leading humanitatrian organisation in Vanuatu, that has local knowledge and expertise that we can’t wait to learn from!

Engagement with Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

The ED was thrilled to sit with the VCCI team to discuss each other’s work on July 11th. We are grateful for Joanna and Esta to make time to visit our office and assist Sista to secure intern placements at host organisations through the Young Women’s Leadership Program. The placements commence in August and we look forward to hearing how the young women’s journies will go!

Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival (MACFEST) SYMPOSIUM

The ED attended the MACFEST symposium organised by National University of Vanuatu at the Convention Centre on July 26^th. She had the pleasure of listening to different subjects, including a poem by West Papuan artist Esther Haluk, the powerhouse Solomon Islander Millicent Barty speaking about her gamechanging organisation Kastom Keepers, a sweet poem dedicated to her grandmother by Vanuatu’s very own Telstar Jimmy and an interesting panel called ‘Life Writing in Melanesia’ that featured Rebecca Olul, Anna Naupa, Sethy Regenvanu, Dame Carol Kidu and Therese Miku. Thank you to the organisers, it was an inspiring event filled with rich discussions.

MACFEST Spoken Word and Dinner

Sista’s Communications & Advocacy Coordinator and the We Rise Coalition’s Communications & Advocacy Coordinator, took part in a Haus Storian event where they each presented their own poems.

This event was then followed by a lovely dinner organised and paid for by Haus Storian! The dinner was an opportunity to bring together all the creative writers, especially those who traveled in from countries around the region to be part of Haus Storian and the Melanesian Arts & Culture Festival (MACFEST). It provided an opportunity to network, speak about each other’s work and draw inspiration from the different experiences and stories.

Tankio tumas (thank you very much) to Haus Storian for organising this dinner and the other literature events during MACFEST.

Women Deliver Conference, Kigali, Africa

The ED was supposed to attend the Women Deliver Conference in Kigali Africa, but unfortunately did not go. We are thrilled our partners from We Rise Coalition attended and you can see more information HERE.

Finance training

On July 12^th, the ED and Finance team went through the previously named ‘Finance Manual’ which is now going to be called the ‘Operational Manual’ and diligently went through roles, responsibilities, finance calender, asset management, appendixes and templates with work continuing to progress to ensure we can create a manual appropriate to our small organisation. We are very grateful for our finance consultant, Marilou, for her patience and training, and never knew finance could be so satisfying, thank you.

Beginning of a New Financial Year

This month is the beginning of the new Financial Year with our Partner We Rise Coalition and the beginning of the fourth and last quarter with our other partner Care International.

The finance team started off the month by preparing and submitting the finance acquittal report for both our partners. In the last few months, we have had a lot of help from our Finance Consultant, Marilou Cajot, to support Sista’s finance team and strengthen Sista’s overall finance procedures. We are very happy to see that our donors are satisfied with the submitted reports.

Focus Group Discussion with Annie Douglas

On 21st July, the Sista team spent the morning in a focus group discussion with Ms Annie Bayly Douglas, a student from the University of Melbourne. She is doing her PHD research on work with young women to understand their ideas of empowerment and their visions for themselves and their communities. Thank you, Annie, for spending time with the Sista team! We look forward to reading the outcome of your research and hope to work with you again in future.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Follow Sista

Port Vila, VU

22°

Fair

TueWedThu

28°C / 22°C
28°C / 22°C
28°C / 21°C

NEWS

Mother shares premature birth experience during COVID-19 November 20, 2023
As part of the commemoration of the 2023 Prematurity Day in Port Vila yesterday, Miss Debbie Melsul, the mother of a premature baby shared her experience about her tough journey as a parent of a baby born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2022. The baby came early at just 32 weeks, weighing only 0.89 grams. She shared how they had to be separated because of COVID-19, making it a challenging time. The baby had to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and the mother had to wait at home until she tested negative for COVID-19 before she could see her child again after a week. For eight weeks in the NICU, “it was hard and challenging. I was flooded with thoughts of what I could have done as a preemie mum to prevent this. I was terrified. I cried for my son. I’m sure other mothers present today had felt the same thing,” she shared. Ms Melsul continued, “I cried seeing my son had tubes all over him. I was anxious. It was a roller coaster experience. Some days you think everything is going well, and the others, there may be complications.” The journey had its share of problems like an infection in the baby’s umbilical cord, which lasted for a week, and trouble with feeding. But the mom stayed strong. She stayed at the NICU, where days became weeks, which turned into months. Melsul said she and other preemie mothers had to wake up every three hours to feed their babies. She found comfort in a special kind of care called kangaroo care, commonly known as skin-to-skin care, where she held her baby close against her skin. “I found myself singing to my son during kangaroo care. Talking, laughing, and above all, feeling his heartbeat against my chest. That was all that mattered during my journey,” she said. Even when things got tough, a team of doctors and nurses, were supportive. She acknowledged that teamwork was displayed by a dynamic team of nurses and doctors working together and looking after their babies. The mom is thankful for their hard work and also appreciates the help from her family. Her son is currently one year and eight months old, wearing extra-large diapers, and weighs over 17 kilograms. Ms Melsul expressed her utmost gratitude to the nurses and doctors. The mother’s message to others in similar situations is full of hope. “To mothers out there going through the same situation, you will get through this. Those little humans are fearless fighters. The courage and strength that a tiny little human holds is phenomenal and amazing. Just as the banners read, ‘Small actions, big impact’. For each day that passes, be optimistic. Be faithful in the small things. “Believe in small actions of care provided to our little humans, because that makes progress.” A young father who is also a first-time father, also shared his experience of having premature twin-baby girls. The twins were discharged from the hospital on Thursday this week. Junior Pakoa mentioned that he learned a lot from the experienced nurses in the NICU. According to Pakoa, his babies spent three weeks at the NICU before they left for home. He said it was a challenging time because one of the twins was really sick. The young father stood by his partner, the mother of the babies, and together they took care of their little ones. He pointed out how important it is for both parents to be there for their newborns. He also thanked the nurses and doctors who supported them during their stay at the NICU. ________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
1,816 sign petition as effort to end political instability November 17, 2023
Over 1,816 citizens representing different sectors and voices, going under the Movement Red, have signed a petition urging parliamentarians to urgently discuss and pass Bills addressing political integrity. Yesterday 164 people took to the streets with signs expressing concerns about instability, with messages like “Stopem Instabiliti tede”, “Stop the Nonsense”, “Tede yu kosem instabiliti, tumoro mi vot”, “Yumi Taet” and “We deserve better”. The petition reflects the worries of Vanuatu’s people about ongoing political instability, especially important post-cyclone recovery. The petition reads; “Political instability is disrupting Vanuatu’s development and service delivery to our communities across all islands. It fuels policy inconsistencies, interrupts development projects, hinders economic development and planning, discourages foreign investment, affects employment opportunities, and wastes the Vanuatu Government’s limited funds. “Political instability reduces confidence in national leadership, divides communities, and diverts resources away from essential services: healthcare, education, infrastructure, social welfare and emergency relief efforts. Political instability harms Vanuatu’s international reputation and credibility. “Achieving the goals of the National Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2030 is essential for our nation’s development and prosperity. Vanuatu needs to ensure that no one is left behind, but political instability hinders this path for us all. “The package of Bills in support of enhanced political integrity in Vanuatu is an important foundation for fostering a stable, transparent, and accountable political system that facilitates our country’s sustainable development objectives. “We, undersigned, concerned voters of the Republic of Vanuatu call upon Parliament to re-table and prioritize the implementation of the political integrity Bills and legal reforms as listed for the Second Ordinary Session of Parliament for 2023: Bill for the Political Parties Registration Act of 2023, Bill for the Electoral Act of 2023, Bill for the Decentralization (Amendment) Act of 2023, Bill for the Municipalities (Amendment) Act of 2023, Bill for the Referendum Act of 2023, Bill for the Right to Information (Amendment) Act of 2023, Bill for the Charitable Associations (Incorporations) (Amendment) Act of 2023.” In response, Prime Minister (PM) Charlot Salwai commended the citizens for delivering the petition personally, emphasising the importance of the Parliament as the place where laws are passed. He thanked the protesters for their efforts and stressed that elections are everyone’s responsibility, urging citizens, chiefs, churches, and women leaders to contribute to peace and stability. PM Salwai acknowledged the challenge of increased candidates and population, leading to competition and division. Political instability affects development, diverting attention from the government’s role. He noted that despite listing important bills in the recent Ordinary Session, they were withdrawn due to a lack of support. The inability of the 52 MPs to work together led to the recommendation by the Council of Ministers (COM) to the Head of State to dissolve Parliament. Salwai admitted that that the approach taken by the Head of State reflected the culture and traditional values, Christian values on which the country is founded which led to the withdrawal of the Motion of No Confidence in him as the PM. The head of the government stressed the MPs’ responsibility to debate and pass these important Bills. Non-compliance with the Political Registration Bill will have consequences. He further noted that the government’s commitment to stability and legislative amendments if necessary. He urged voters to choose candidates based on vision rather than “pots and rice”, emphasising the duty of everyone to vote for the right people. The Minister of Climate Change who also serves as the President of Graon mo Jastis Pati (GJP) Ralph Regenvanu and Andrew Napuat, Tanna’s GJP MP were also present to receive the petition. _____________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
Ni-Vanuatu Women’s voices echo far at 3rd regional Community-Based Fisheries Dialogue November 16, 2023
Mrs. Rose Jimmy (left) and Mrs. Leisavi Joel during their Talanoa session yesterday. Photo: VFD Representatives from community groups and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from across the region, gathered in Nouméa to take part in the 3rd regional Community-Based Fisheries Dialogue on November 14-15, 2023. This occurred as part the 6th Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture (RTMCFA), hosted by the Pacific Community (SPC). The dialogue provides a space for communities from across the region to share their views on issues relating to their coastal fisheries. During the second day of this meeting, Mrs. Leisavi Joel and Mrs. Rose Jimmy from the Havana Tasivanua Environment and Climate Action Network held a ‘Talanoa’ (shared their experience) session in front of an audience of over 100 participants from the Pacific. Mrs. Joel and Mrs. Jimmy were part of a special session organised by SPC and the University of Wollongong that discussed the importance of including voices from women alongside men in Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM). The growing collaboration between the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) and Vanua-Tai Resource Monitors Network was critical to making their participation possible. Following a panel of four speakers from Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, Mrs. Joel shared, with passion and emotion, her personal experience and journey as a woman representative from her community working on sustainable fisheries management. “It is hard work for a woman to be actively involved in a male dominated area in the community, when it comes down to decision-making in our community, at the end of the day we have to look at the chief for his support,” she said. In regard to getting recognition from the community leaders, she added, “Sometimes the chief just sees us as a sister, aunty, mother or grandmother and nothing more, even though I am involved actively with our coastal and environmental activities inside the community.” Mrs. Joel and Mrs. Jimmy are the first women to hold a ‘Talanoa’ session during such a regional meeting and were widely appreciated. The session has demonstrated its value as a way to bring community voices to the regional leaders in coastal fisheries. The duo continued to actively participate during the 2-day discussion and want their experiences to set an example for other women in Vanuatu to become active members of CBFM committees in their community, with the support of men leaders. ________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
Civil Society organises protest against political instability November 14, 2023
Concerned citizens representing the civil society in Vanuatu, going under the name “Movement Red,” are planning to stage a protest this Thursday to voice their concerns about the ongoing political instability in the country. The Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC) and chiefs have also expressed their support for this initiative. Residents who want to be part of this stand are encouraged to wear anything red this week to show their support towards this call. Citizens living overseas have been rallying behind this call, offering their support. They clarified that their aim is not to support or oppose the dissolution of the government, instead to put an end to political instability. They have initiated a petition urging the public to join them in discouraging instability and demanding a more stable political environment. The petition is not directed against any specific leader, political party, or supporter of Members of Parliament; it is a collective effort to advocate for stability, recognising the widespread impact of instability on everyone. As part of the civil society, the Movement Red representatives met with the Head of State over the weekend, who expressed support for their cause. A Facebook page, The “Voes Blong Yumi” has become a hub for discussions and frustrations, reflecting how political instability has personally affected citizens and their communities. A statement issued by the movement, stated, “It is imperative to prioritise the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Lola, ensuring that the affected communities receive the necessary support. “Through these concentrated efforts, Vanuatu can pave the way for a brighter future with influential young leaders, demanding, and promoting stability, prosperity, and a better quality of life for its people and children.” _________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
174 seasonal workers blacklisted November 6, 2023
Vanuatu’s Department of Labour (DoL) has revealed that they receive weekly complaints from the families of seasonal workers, particularly partners who request that their spouses be placed on the DoL’s blacklist for engaging in extramarital affairs. This year alone, the total number of Vanuatu workers blacklisted overseas has risen to 174, including seasonal workers from both Australia and New Zealand. Senior Labour Mobility Officer of Policy, Welfare and Compliance, Minnie Bani, reminds all seasonal workers that their overseas journey is intended for family purposes and not for personal endeavors. “Even if you are single, it’s your father and mother who sent you, not for you to go and disengage from the program,” Mrs. Bani stressed. “The family journey is the primary reason, and the family also includes children. Most of them have seemingly forgotten their children, and they do not know the pressure on the children when there is a conflict in the relationship.” She confirmed the DoL has encountered numerous spouses coming forward with their children in tears, seeking assistance with issues they have with their husbands. However, they expressed their limitations, stating they are not licensed counsellors. She further stated that the Department has introduced an initiative known as the “Community of Care Model,” created by the Australian Government for Vanuatu seasonal workers. This model involves team leaders, employers, and country liaison officers to assist the workers. They also aim to establish a referral pathway, similar to what the Department of Women is doing, to finalise the protocol of a safety net. “In cases of gender-based violence or traumatised children needing counseling, the Department of Labour acts as a vital point of contact. They guide individuals on where to seek counselling,” Mrs. Bani stated. The Senior Labour Mobility Officer mentioned that another goal of the DoL is to provide an actual counselling service. They have identified ADRA Vanuatu’s “Blossom Project,” which focuses on family life education covering topics such as reproductive health, incest, and domestic violence, as a potential resource. According to the Department of Pacific Affairs, reasons for blacklisting can vary, including alcohol abuse, property damage, personality differences, and power struggles between workers and their employers or supervisors. Some cases involve supervisors using power dynamics to threaten workers, leading to blacklisting. However, Mrs. Bani said the most common reason for blacklisting Vanuatu workers is alcohol consumption, which result in fighting, car accidents, and other alcohol-related behaviors. The Department of Pacific Affairs clarifies that blacklisting serves as a punitive measure against workers who violate program rules or exhibit inappropriate behavior. While some cases are justified, there are instances where workers are blacklisted without clear evidence of wrongdoing. The Department of Pacific Affairs further reported the issue of blacklisting affects employers and labour sending units as well. When workers are blacklisted from one program, they may attempt to enter another. “There is a trend of long-term workers being blacklisted, raising questions about whether complacency, multiple visits, or other factors contribute to this issue. It is important to understand and address the underlying reasons behind blacklisting,” the Department of Pacific Affairs reported. The DoL adds that since the scheme’s primary goal is to help individuals economically, a worker placed on Australia’s blacklist may have the opportunity to migrate to New Zealand. However, they may be subject to a two-to five-year stand-down period first. ______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...

Join Us