FOR the first time in the history of Gizo Market Vendors Association (GMVA) in Western Province, members of the association will be hosting a one-day program to mark Mother’s Day this coming Friday.
Mothers’ day normally falls on every second Sunday during May to honour mothers and grandmothers for their contributions to many families, communities and society.
However, GMVA members endorsed and agreed to celebrate it on Friday 5th May at the Gizo market.
Under the association there are about eight sectors, namely;
- Cooked Food Sector
- Fruits and Vegetable
- Root Crops Sector
- Fish Sector
- Coconut Sector
- Arts&Crafts
- Seaweed
- Firewood
Thus, the ‘Cooked Food’ group will be the host.
Cooked Food Sector Team Leader Jamaica Tanito told the paper in an interview that the program is aimed at bringing all the mothers, female vendors who make up the association and their families together to celebrate and mark this important day.
“Members of the public are also welcome to join,” he said.
He said Friday 5th May was appointed by the executive to allow all the mothers and market vendors from the surrounding islands to come together to celebrate the event.
“Friday is normally a busy day in Gizo, where the town is packed with members of the public and the market.
“Therefore, we see it as an opportunity to host the event for all our mothers, market vendors, families and the public to come together and witness this event,” he said.
He said preparation is now underway for this milestone program.
During the day there are plans to invite speakers from some of the organisations that deal with women’s issues to speak to all the mothers.
Some of them include the Family Support Centre (FSC) and others.
He said there will also be demonstrations of cooked food, baking of cakes and sewing, where members can learn from experts.
He said Mother’s day would also be sold during the day and those interested can also buy the cakes at an affordable price during the day. Early bookings are now welcomed.
Entertainment will also be staged.
He encourages all residents of Gizo to come out in numbers to participate in the family event.
The theme for the event is ‘Market for Change’, which is the main motto of the association.
The thirty-one year old who took over the leadership role as the sector boss this year said he wants to see changes happening in the market.
Mr Tanito said the program was endorsed by the sector to bring changes to the market and help improve the livelihood of the market vendors.
He said, during the event, a small fee will be collected from members who turned up to showcase their products and participate in the occasion.
He said fees and contributions will be collected and used for the improvement of services and facilities at Gizo market.
And there are a total of 76 registered members. Of the total, 16 of them are executive members.
Each of them paid a fee of $50 per year. Funds collected are managed by the association, which helps to conduct training and organise other activities.
Last month, the arts and crafts sector hosted an event as part of their program where members showcased flowers, arts, crafts and other non-food products.
Other sectors will have their turn to host similar programs in the coming weeks.
Such a public event is part of a lead up to a vendors conference next month in Honiara where all the market officials, vendor executives and sector leaders will attend.
By MOFFAT MAMU
