Tiensten: Pomio women must take their place in society

By ISAAC NICHOLAS
WOMEN can now take their rightful place in society in the once male-dominated society of Pomio district, East New Britain, with the opening of a resource centre last week.
Pomio MP Paul Tiensten opened the new Pomio Women’s Association Resource Centre at Toll.
More than 100 women groups danced to welcome Tiensten and his delegation.
Women’s leader Maria Nonoi said this was a special occasion as it was the first resource centre for the women of East Pomio and Sinivit areas.
The resource centre is part of the association’s objectives to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), social development through the district and the local level government.
The women’s resource centre, which was built at a cost of more than K300,000, is to promote gender equality and empowerment of women.
The centre has been equipped with 10 sewing machines, sinks, kitchenware and a conference room for training.
Tiensten said the Pomio Women’s Association aimed to empower women through training workshops to educate them to rise, take part in and benefit from development projects in their communities.
“In time, women should come to accept that being a woman is not being limited to bearing children, the kitchen and the garden,” he said.
“They should be able to learn to balance their time and commitments for themselves, their families and their communities.
“They are an integral part of their communities and this means they must be a proactive part of it, that anything that happens in their communities affects their families, themselves and vice versa.”
Tiensten said women must be able to embrace their roles in their
homes and to make a difference in their environment.
“My late mother and my grandmother did not enjoy this opportunity given to Pomio women under PWA. My dream is for the women of Pomio to take their rightful place in the socio-economic development of the district,” Tiensten said.
Investment Promotion Authority senior manager Clarence Hoot, who accompanied Tiensten, made a commitment for the first training which will cover basic business and bookkeeping for mothers in the district.