Children's Voices Echo Across Malaita: A Call for Change

December 2024 proved a pivotal month for child protection initiatives in Malaita, Solomon Islands, with two key activities implemented across ten targeted communities. A monitoring team assessed Child Protection and Advocacy (CP&A) committees in eight communities, while six Eastern Malaita communities celebrated a landmark children's day, amplifying the voices of children and advocating for change.

Monitoring CP&A Committees: Assessing Impact and Understanding

A dedicated team visited eight communities – Kwene, Diula, and Fouia in North Malaita, and Aekafo, Nazareth, Kwai, Uatae, and Anofiu in East Malaita. Their mission: to evaluate the effectiveness of CP&A training and its impact on families and communities. Through carefully crafted questions, the team gauged participants' understanding of child protection principles and how they were applying this knowledge to drive positive change. This monitoring process provided valuable insights into the strengths and areas for improvement in local child protection mechanisms.

A Landmark Celebration: Children's Day in East Malaita

For six communities in Eastern Malaita, December brought a momentous occasion: their first-ever Children's Day celebration. The event, a powerful testament to the importance of child rights, was attended by a distinguished group of guests, including the headmaster of Nazareth School, Ellen Siale (Manager for the SIEVAP Coalition), Samson Kwasi (former World Vision employee), pastors, teachers, and other key stakeholders.

Children from the participating communities took center stage, using speeches and dramatic performances to advocate for change. Their powerful presentations brought crucial issues to the forefront:

• Aekafo: A young speaker delivered a compelling speech highlighting the pervasive influence of mobile phones on young lives, echoing Rhoda Kwasi's earlier call for regulations on phone usage in homes, schools, and communities.
• Uatae: Children from Uatae community used their voices to once again bring attention to the ongoing water crisis in the community. They spoke about the burden and the dangers of collecting water, reiterating the urgent need for a safe and accessible water supply.
• Kwai: The children of Kwai performed a touching drama depicting the devastating effects of rising sea levels on their island home. Their performance was followed by a moving speech that highlighted the loss of land, impacting access to education, playgrounds, and essential services.
• Nazareth: A powerful drama by the children of Nazareth addressed the detrimental effects of smoking on children's education and well-being, reinforcing their community’s commitment to combating this harmful habit.
• Anofiu: The children of Anofiu presented a dramatic portrayal of the negative impacts of alcohol brewing and consumption on families and the community, showcasing their community's proactive efforts to address this issue.

Amplifying Children's Voices: Objectives and Outcomes

The Children's Day celebration served several critical objectives:

• Raising Awareness: The event shone a spotlight on the issue of violence against children, bringing it to the forefront of community consciousness.
• Advocating for Change: Children were empowered to become agents of change, using their voices to advocate for their rights and needs.
• Amplifying Children's Voices: The celebration provided a platform for children to express their concerns, hopes, and aspirations.
• Strengthening Local Capacity: The event supported and empowered CP&A committees and Child Action Committees (CACs) in their vital work within their communities.
• Celebrating Childhood: Most importantly, the day served as a celebration of children, a time to reflect on the responsibilities of adults towards their well-being and how best to protect them from abuse and violence.

The combined impact of the CP&A monitoring visits and the Children's Day celebration underscores the growing momentum for child protection in Malaita. These initiatives, driven by community participation and the powerful voices of children themselves, are paving the way for a brighter future for the children of the Solomon Islands.