Save the Children Launches New Projects

The working relationship between Save the Children, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and Burns Creek community has taken a step forward through the launching of a Crime Prevention Committee, under the Children and Youth in Conflict with the Law project.

The launching earlier this month involved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and Burns Creek Community.

The parties committed themselves to help prevent children and young people from getting into conflict with the law.

Superintendent Philip Kaukui signed the MOU on behalf of the Provincial Police Commander for Honiara City and Chairman of Burns Creek Crime Prevention Committee Peter Fafale signed on behalf of the community.

Witnessing the launching were the Head of Community Policing of Honiara City, Martin Haga, Save the Children's Provincial Coordinator for Honiara, Joe Haga and members of the Crime Prevention Committee, staff of Save the Children, elders, women, children and young people of Burns Creek.

Also in other Save the Children projects, the Youth Outreach Partnership Project has launched the third sports project for it's Honiara and Guadalcanal sites.

Called "YOPP Sports" the projects were launched at Komabulu Village in Tathimboko at Duidui and at Choviri community earlier this month. The launching at Choviri was officiated by Joe Haga, the Provincial Coordinator for Honiara City.

YOPP Sports is funded by the Australian Sports Commission, an Australian Government initiative that uses sports for development opportunities.

The project was piloted in Western Province in 2010 and following a review which proved beneficial for young people, it is currently being rolled out to six other provinces namely; Makira, Malaita, Isabel, Choiseul, Guadalcanal and Honiara.

Present during the launching at Duidui and Komabulu was Australian Sports Commission's Development Consultant, Amy Berson.

Berson encouraged the youths of Duidui and Komabulu to use sports as a tool to support development and to abstain from activities that could hinder their health and physical fitness.

Berson also handed over sports equipment to the communities, urging them to make good use of the equipment and to look after them, so that they can support their development plans.