The Australian High Commissioner’s International Women’s Day award was presented to the Christian Care Centre yesterday for their work in helping women and children affected by gender based violence in Solomon Islands.
The annual Australian High Commissioner’s International Women’s Day Award recognises inspirational and pioneering Solomon Islands groups and individuals who show leadership, innovation and courage, and whose achievements have contributed to the empowerment of women in Solomon Islands.
“By recognising role models this way, we hope we can inspire others to support gender equity across the country,” said High Commissioner Byrne.
“This year, we’ve chosen to honour the Christian Care Centre – a group of sisters from the Church of Melanesia, who have made a significant contribution to the fight against gender based violence by providing shelter and crucial services to vulnerable women and children in the Solomon Islands.
Established in 2005, and operated by two orders of Anglican nuns, the Sisters of the Church and the Sisters of Melanesia, the Christian Care Centre (CCC) plays a unique role in the Solomon Islands as the only key provider of shelter for women and children affected by gender based violence.
Christian Care Centre has a well-earned reputation in delivering, under difficult circumstances, a crucial service to vulnerable women and children. The Centre assists about 170 women and children per year with emergency accommodation, and also operate a mini health clinic at the center.
The Centre’s services include counselling, mediation, referrals to the police and courts, life skills and sewing for women. They receive funding from Church of Melanesia, World Vision, SIG, Australian High Commission through the Channels of Hope Program.
Receiving the award on behalf of the members of the Christian Care Centre, the Centre’s Coordinator, Sister Phyllis Margret Sau, said it was an honour to receive such an esteemed award.
“The Centre is humbled to be receiving such a prestigious award, recognizing our work in helping the women and children of Solomon Islands. I would also like to say ‘tangio tumas’ to our stakeholders who have helped us, without them, we would not have come this far.
As part of the entertainment at the breakfast, international sensation Rosie Delmah performed Adele’s number, Hello.
