13th March 2026
Students of Betivatu Community High School in Malango Ward, Central Guadalcanal participated in a special programme yesterday to mark International Women’s Day 2026, celebrated globally under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
The event was organized through a collaboration between the Tina River Hydropower Development Project and UNICEF, bringing together Form 4 to Form 6 students for a half-day programme focused on rights awareness, equality, and youth empowerment.
The programme began with interactive discussions facilitated by UNICEF on human rights and justice. Students explored the meaning of fairness, respect, and dignity, and reflected on how young people can contribute to building positive and inclusive communities. The session emphasized that achieving gender equality requires both girls and boys to work together, encouraging young boys to act as allies in promoting respect, fairness, and equal opportunities. UNICEF also facilitated a session on safe spaces and protection awareness, focusing on respectful relationships, speaking up about violence or harassment, and the importance of creating safe and supportive environments in schools and communities.
The Tina River Hydropower Development Project team led a session on education and leadership, where women working in the energy and infrastructure sector shared their personal education journeys and professional experiences. The discussion highlighted the importance of staying committed to education and encouraged students to consider future career opportunities not only in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but also in social science field that help ensure development projects benefit communities. Speakers emphasized that while women have the right to participate in male-dominated spaces, and those rights also come with responsibilities. Young girls aspiring to excel in fields where women are underrepresented must be prepared to meet the challenges that come with leadership and technical roles. The session reinforced the importance of creating opportunities for girls to envision themselves in positions of influence, whether as future leaders, technical experts or community practitioners, and helping to inspire the next generation to break barriers.
The programme also highlighted the importance of celebrating International Women’s Day through actions that empower the next generation. Encouraging young girls to pursue their ambitions while supporting young boys to become allies in promoting equality is key to building more inclusive and respectful communities. The programme forms part of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project’s broader gender commitment to support gender equality and community awareness initiatives alongside infrastructure development.
Fig. 1: Students of Betivatu Community High School together with representatives from UNICEF and the Tina River Hydropower Development Project during the International Women’s Day programme held at the school.
Fig. 2: UNICEF’s Child Protection Officer engages with students during an interactive session at the International Women’s Day programme held at Betivatu Community High School.
Fig. 3: Ivory Solomate, Environment and Social Officer with Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC), speaks to students about her role in the Tina River Hydropower Development Project during the International Women’s Day programme at Betivatu Community High School.
Fig. 4: Karen Murray, Mechanical Engineer with Tina Hydropower Limited, engages with students during a discussion session at Betivatu Community High School as part of the International Women’s Day programme.
Fig. 5: Students of Betivatu Community High School actively participate in the discussion session