First Male Advocacy workshop

THE Male Advocacy Program of the Church which is men talking to men about stopping  violence in all its forms is now advancing further by preparing its fifty plus  team members to go out in the field to work for peace in families, homes and communities but more especially to talk to men about the negativity of violence.

Early October, the program, spear headed by the former Governor General of Solomon Islands Sir Nathaniel Waena, held two weeks workshop based on issues related to violence. The Workshop was facilitated by the Mission Secretary, Fr. Patteson Worek, Male Advocacy Coordinator Mrs. Judith Siota and Bresin Ruadi, Mrs. Tagolyn Kabekabe (Anglican Alliance Pacific Office) to build the capacity of its Advocators.

The participants that represented each Parishes and other organizations and Ministries of the church with in Honiara learned about the relationship between genders; identify issues around gender based violence as well as to equip participants with counseling basic skills.

At the opening of the workshop, Sir Nathaniel Waena highlighted the need of the church to bring peace to the broken families. “We are here to be used by God as his vessels to bring to others the message of peace” Sir Nathaniel said.

On that note, he urged them to become good listeners and be able to keep things confidential as the task deals with personal issues.

ACOM Mission Secretary Fr. Patteson Worek on behalf of the board expressed the Church’s gratitude to Sir Nathaniel Waena for availing himself to spear head the program.  The Male Advocacy is a program established under Christian Care Centre CCC that would work mainly with Male in relation to violence. This program aims to reduce the continuous flow of victimized woman and children to the CCC as well as targeting violence in general.

 The ACOM Justice, Reconciliation and Peace Commission fully endorses the program and has pledged that its office will work under the program in matters of violence.

The Anglican Church of Melanesia wishes to thank the European Union as the only external funding agency of this endeavor against violence.