6th anniversary of Hako Women's Collective

On 26 June, Hako Women's Collective celebrated their 6th anniversary with a memorable event that combined several activities. We began a very full program late in the afternoon after an impressive thunderstorm that held everyone indoors until the PMV (public transport truck) began picking up women, youth and community supporters from Lontis to Elutupan. Due to a timely cancellation of the Health Departments' training afternoon, our numbers swelled to accommodate several extra youth and visitors from other Bougainville centres.

Special VIP guest was Hon. James Lenga Biani, MHR - our Constituency member of Parliament for the Autonomous Bougainville Government. Other guests included our outgoing President Hona Holan who spoke as the Bougainville Women's Federation President for North Bougainville. Another guest speaker was Fred Tegoen, Vice President Bougainville Youth Council and he was accompanied by other ABG Youth Council representatives.

Activities included:

• Dedication of the Hako Women's Collective FLAG - a banner painted by Marilyn Havini from the vision given to Pastor Sawa in September 2011 during the UNDP funded Reconciliation Workshop.
• HWC Reflection of achievements and dedication of the future for HWC, 
• Election of the Hako Youth Council Executive and launch of the Youth umbrella group for Hako COE,
• Guest Speaker address by Hon Biani with encouragement to future programs
• An evening celebration meal and viewing of COLOUR conference DVD spiritual program

In the moving ceremony of reflection where eleven separate initiatives were placed on placards that were 'planted' on stakes into the floor of the Tsuhana in the pattern of a traditional taro garden. On each of these placards were posted some of the outcomes, activities, programs, projects and memorable achievements associated with each initiative or 'seed' planted into the ground. See the placards here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4zf9cz2exk10bkj/achievements.docx.

A two-day forum on 25-26 June was held in 2006 with 750 women, 150 young girls, chiefs and the then sitting member of ABG, the Honourable Member Januarius Tenevi, to discuss the 12 focal issues from the Beijing Platform for Action. The forum was officially opened by the late President Kabui and closed by the late Administrator, Peter Tsamalili. From this forum the HWC was born, in association with the Bougainville Women for Peace and Freedom from mainland Bougainville, to work together as women in the development of Hako. Our community development infrastructure work (CDI) was born from this event. Our commitment for finding land to build a resource centre to serve all of Hako has been supported by the chiefs of Tanamalo, where a site has been surveyed and is now ready for development. Meanwhile, the original land granted by the chiefs of Kohea will be developed by the EEA team for women in agriculture and environmental programs.