THE West Are’are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) of Malaita Province on Wednesday officially launched two published books which focus on leadership and operating small business.
The launching took place at the Heritage Park Hotel.
The two books are: 1. Basic Leadership and Governance Manual and 2. Sisihora Rete-West Are’are Women Stories of Strengths and Challenges in Running Small Businesses.
The first book is divided into three sections: Power, Leadership and Governance.
- Power: discusses the existence of different power dynamics that exist in communities and the people women work with. It is important that women leaders have increased awareness of the power they have whether to do good, to do harm, to break or to build.
- Leadership: focuses of two leadership concepts which are Ethical and Servant leadership that are so important to the work women do as a team and at the community level.
- Governance: discusses the roles of WARA executive members and leaders to govern and manage the zones and the growth of WARA as an association-WARA stands on the pillars of governance principles, with management and leadership skills.
The second book titled Sisihora Rete which translates in Are’are language as “good stories” is a narrative book of 26 stories, which demonstrate how West Are’are women have leveraged small loans to address critical needs such as education, improved housing, and better sanitation for the families.
Their success underscores the significant impact of small-scale funding on enhancing the quality of the lives in their communities.
Speaking at the launching, a WARA Volunteer Rebekah Maeniuta said, these stories reveal both the strengths and challenges they face, highlighting their resilience in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting to climate change, coping with inflation, poor infrastructure, and the impacts of a fragile economy.
“There are more stories like these that are happening by women in WARA and its networks and these stories will assist WARA in its endeavour to promote women in Business Development.
“In the Are’are culture, information on relationship of people to learn from one another is passed on to generations through telling stories.”
She said WARA as an organization believes in preserving culture and traditions by recording these stories which will have an impact on the lives of other young women and girls.
Australian High Commission Counsellor-Governance and Stability, Nicole Smith acknowledged the WARA team for their hard work and dedication in serving their communities.
WARA Governance Chairlady Sharon Tohaimae thanked the Australian High Commission, Pasifiki HR and other Partner Stakeholders for their support in the launch of the two books.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
