BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
BULK shop Human Resource Manager Mr. David Emry on Saturday said that the five new solar street lights would be erected within the zone one community of Green Valley, East Honiara to ensure the safety and security of women and girls.
He was speaking at the official handing over ceremony of five new street solar lights funded by the Bartlett Foundation.
Speaking about the first-ever solar street light project funded by the Bartlett Foundation, Mr. David Emry said that Green Valley Community is the first recipient of such a project in the City of Honiara.
“The project is the continuing vision of the Bulk shop initiative for the safety and security of women, girls, and children in the community.
“With the installation of the new solar lights, parents will also have the assurance of their girls who studied at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Honiara campus, and Solomon Islands National University (SINU) who sometimes have late classes, so that they will get home safely at night.
“I urge the community of Green Valley Zone One, especially young people to take full responsibility by looking after these assets as they are now owned by the community,” he told attendees at the milestone handing over event.
The formal Handing over was witnessed by the executives of the Green Valley Zone One Committee, members of the community, and representatives from the Bartlett Foundation, Mr. David Emry, and Pastor Nathaniel Seru.
On a similar note, the Chaplain of Bulk Shop, Pastor Nathaniel Seru, said that giving is a way of showing light and that God has worked in the heart of women who cares for the safety of girls, woman, and children by donating the street lights.
“Bulk Shop has been serving many families for more than 40 years with the idea to empower women and girls by allowing them to earn income such as buying goods like popcorn or flour to bake and do vending,” Pastor Seru said.
Sunday Isles understands that the new street solar lighting will be an effective means of preventing crimes.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Green Valley Zone One Community, Billy Barodo acknowledged the Bartlett Foundation and Bulk shop for the recognizing the most important need of their community.
“The street lights will address the challenges of safety and security faced by the community and on behalf of the community, I like to thank the Bartlett family for such support and assistance.
“I also want to thank the team from Bulk Shop, who did the assembling of the Solar Street Lights,” he said.
He later called on all youths in Zone One and other Zones within the Green Valley Community to respect the gift of new solar street lights and to be a good custodians of such community assets.
Green Valley Zone One Association is a registered non-profit organization that aims at improving the livelihood of its residents.
