Women and girls are crucial contributors and potent agents of change to a society. Real change can only be achieved when all genders are included, working hand in hand to foster an environment that is inspiring to everyone. Despite the fact that they’re not always recognized - women’s contributions have changed the world in every imaginable way possible and continue to do so.

At Melanesian Women Today, we value women’s role and potential in becoming champion change agents and leaders of their communities and environments. We believe that the contribution of women to a society's transition from preliterate to literate and from a relatively autonomous community to a member of a nation contributing to the world’s economy, and having equality is crucial in creating inclusive, open and prosperous societies in order to have lasting change. As a consequence, families who can adjust to new conditions or changes will fare the best when the economy and political landscape of a country and society changes. For women are the primary caretakers of young children and the environment. They play a pivotal role in encouraging or hindering change in family life and in society as a whole.

WHAT ABOUT MEN?

We believe that engaging men as agents of change is imperative in advancing gender equality. Gender equality can only be achieved if men and boys are part of working together with women and girls, to amend the dynamics that prohibits progress. The idea of engaging men and boys for gender equality is based on the belief that achieving gender equality is about altering unequal power relations between men and women. This involves challenging the status quo - the notions of masculinity and traditional perceptions of manhood. It means men have to take the responsibility to change by questioning the power dynamics in regards to their actions or their words on a personal, interpersonal, and on a societal level.

Melanesian Women Today supports and encourages working with men as gender advocates - speaking out as active agents for change and stakeholders who can change social norms, behaviors, and gender stereotypes that promote discrimination and inequality.

A Pacific region where every Woman, Girl and Child in their respective communities in Melanesia leads a productive, healthy, and fulfilling life.

To improve the well-being and quality of life and also to promote leadership in Women and Girls in their communities.

In the attempt to improve the well-being and quality of life of women, girls, and families wherever we work, all our programs have at their foundation 3 essential pillars.

Empower Women and Girls as Key change agents.

Empower Women and Girls as Key agents to activate and mobilize individuals in their communities to build self reliance.

Empower women and girls as key agents to engage and forge effective partnerships with their local government and community leaders.

Our projects throughout Melanesia are based on innovative holistic approaches, which empower women and girls living in rural villages to become the agents of change to achieve productive, healthy, and fulfilling lives through access to Education, Health, and Entrepreneurship.

Education and Literacy:

- Prioritizing enhanced literacy rates through targeted programs focusing on reading and writing skills.

Library Initiatives:

- Establishing community libraries to promote a culture of reading, learning, and knowledge-sharing, fostering intellectual development.

STEM Education:

- Advocating for STEM education to equip individuals, particularly women and girls, with skills for the modern world.

Healthcare Initiatives:

- Improving the Quality of Rural Health Care through enhanced infrastructure and services in rural areas.

Preventative Healthcare for Women and Children:

- Focusing on preventive healthcare measures, particularly for women and children, emphasizing maternal and child health to reduce mortality rates.

HIV and AIDS :

- Implementing awareness and support programs to address the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS, fostering a healthier community.

Climate Change and Healthcare:

- Recognizing the impact of climate change on health, working towards building resilience and adapting healthcare strategies to mitigate environmental effects.

Empowering Women Through Social Entrepreneurship:

- Supporting and promoting social entrepreneurship initiatives, providing women with tools and resources to start and sustain their ventures.

Community Entrepreneurship Programs:

- Focused on contributing to overall community well-being, creating economic opportunities, and fostering self-sufficiency.

Examples of Community Entrepreneurship:

- Community Gardens and Agriculture Projects

- Health and Wellness Initiatives

- Community-Owned Businesses

- Cooperative Enterprises

Indigenous and Local Community Entrepreneurship:

- Supporting initiatives that draw from traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, celebrating the region's rich and diverse cultures and traditions. Aimed at strengthening identity and belonging, creating job opportunities, and generating income within the Melanesian context. Empowering women and communities to maintain their identity while revitalizing traditions.

Melanesian Women Today prioritizes the well-being and empowerment of women in the Melanesian region. Inspired by the Vanuatu development framework, they employ a set of well-being indicators rooted in Melanesian values. These indicators cover areas like education, health, and economic opportunities, aiming to address unique challenges faced by Melanesian women. The organization advocates for improved healthcare, social resilience, and community support. By utilizing their well-being indicators toolkit, they assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and collaborate to address gender inequalities. Their goal is to create a future where every Melanesian woman can achieve her potential and contribute meaningfully to her community. The indicators span categories such as access, knowledge, physical health, social resilience, gender equality, safety, and traditional governance.

Click here for a more detailed explanation and precise well being indicators.

We are proud to serve the vibrant communities of Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Each of these regions holds a unique cultural tapestry, and our organization is committed to working in close collaboration with the local communities to address specific challenges and promote well-being. Explore this page to gain insights into our projects, partnerships, and the positive impact we strive to achieve in these diverse and culturally rich areas of the Pacific. Together, we are building a better future for the individuals and communities we proudly serve.

Melanesian Women Today seeks out existing programs in communities that want to grow into an organization but do not know how to formally create a non profit organization. Programs can take advantage of being part of Melanesian Women today by receiving fundraising and grant help, banking, accounting and record keeping, legal advice, reporting, and consulting as well as professional development which are all offered because of MWT’s non profit status.

All programs are designed and contextualized from a Melanesian approach. The programs retain full ownership and operate autonomously. Program solutions to local issues need to be innovative, sustainable, and impactful at the systemic and root levels of social and cultural issues.

1. WHAT IS YOUR PROGRAM ABOUT?

Tell us what your program is about and how long it has existed.

2. DO YOU HAVE 10-20 MEMBERS?

All programs have to have at least 10 or more members to be considered a program under MWT.

3. DO YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE AND A CHAIRPERSON?

Each program needs to have a committee and a chairperson.

4. WHAT IS YOUR MISSION AND GOALS?

Tell us your program’s mission and goals.

5. HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER?

Each program will have an MOU (memorandum of understanding) which is a formal agreement for how the program and Melanesian Women Today can work together.

Interested in bringing your program to Melanesian Women Today?

Fill out the form today!

Our Program Partnership Policies

ALL PROGRAMS UNDER MELANESIAN WOMEN TODAY MUST ADHERE TO THE EIGHT CORE PRINCIPLES:

AGENT OF CHANGE:

MWT supports the right of women, girls/youth in Melanesia and recognize their efforts to become key agents of change and opportunities of being stewards of resources in their own respective communities and country.

SOLIDARITY:

We practice solidarity with the women and girls in Melanesia by ensuring anatomy and assisting with their right to self-determination based on their needs, priorities and visions for the future.

RECIPROCITY:

We heed to the Melanesian value of reciprocity that everything and everyone is interconnected, interdependent and interrelated. We believe that identity comes from connections, therefore putting an emphasis on “we” and “us”, and less on”I” and “me”.

Our work with the women and girls is strongly rooted in the Melanesian value of reciprocity. Thus building relationships is important to MWT and is the foundation of our work, governed by an understanding of mutual respect; honest exchange, recognition of different roles and the shared responsibility of strengths and benefits.

SELF-DETERMINATION:

MWT values the rights of women and girls to self-determination as well as their right to determine their livelihood from a political, socially, culturally, and economic standpoint.

Self-determination in our work in Melanesia is valued by working with the women and girl youth to determine their own economic, social, and cultural development as an agent of change and leaders in their communities. We provide a platform for them to exercise their rights and allow them to have full autonomy over their programs and provide resources to help them be successful.

INCLUSIVENESS:

We embrace diversity, equity and inclusion in our nonprofit’s operations, as well as model our three core values as we advance our mission. We believe that embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work is a way to intentionally make room for positive outcomes to thrive, whether in the nonprofit capacity building or public policy spheres.

We adopt practices that promote inclusiveness, diversity, and equity for all and by being transparent in our internal dialogue and encouraging our staff and board members to reflect, listen to each other, and learn from each other’s experiences.

NETWORKS, COLLABORATION AND ALLIANCES:

At MWT, we believe in the power of strategic alliances; we advocate for healthy and effective inter-cultural collaborations, and encourage meaningful networks between the women, youth, island nations, other NGOs, and affiliated individuals and groups to be a force for change in enabling the women and girls of Melanesia to lead a productive, healthy, and fulfilling life in these three areas:

Empower Women and Girls as Key change agents.

Empower Women and Girls as Key agents to activate and mobilize individuals in their communities to build self reliance.

Empower women and girls as key agents to engage and forge effective partnerships with their local government and community leaders.

We do networking, collaboration, and alliances in our work by taking on the responsibility of being a grant driven organization. We host networks and spaces that embody cross cultural, supportive connections between Melanesian women, youth, and their potential allies.

TRUST:

We work to build positive, respectful relationships with the women and girls in Melanesia and their local communities as well as allies by investing in processes that foster lifetime relationships.

Trust in our work is exhibited by entrusting the women and youth as the key agent of change in having full autonomy of the programs that are under the organization.

TRANSPARENCY:

We commit to being transparent to our values and programs by promising accountability and demonstrating excellence in our actions.

Transparency in our work is practiced through self evaluation, continuous learning, and being strategic in our planning and collaboration on a regular basis while sharing our outcomes.

Click here for the Melanesian Women Today Constitution.