Young women build skills and careers at Seghe Market

Three young Solomon Islands women are putting their technical training into practice at the new Seghe Market, gaining hands-on construction skills and experience to support their future careers.

Egah Kapaqole, Priscillar Fakai'a and Delmah Motui recently completed a six-week internship with local contractor Hatanga, which is building the Australian-supported market redevelopment.

Beyond the delivery of a new Seghe Market, Australia’s infrastructure projects are helping young women and men build skills and a career in construction.

Their internship is part of a broader effort to make infrastructure projects places of learning as well as construction. Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach said on-the-job experience helps Solomon Islanders move from education into employment.

For Priscillar Fakai'a, Egah Kapaqole, and Delmah Motui, the Seghe Market project has been a chance to gain skills and confidence, and see what a future career in construction could look like.

“Work experience is the best way for Solomon Islanders to bridge the gap between education and employment,” High Commissioner Roach said.

“Our infrastructure investments not only deliver new infrastructure but also create skilled employment for Solomon Islanders.

“At the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre, and across market redevelopments in Malu’u, Buala and Seghe, we’ve seen young men and women build their skills and confidence before moving into permanent employment or setting up their own business.

“It’s encouraging to see the impact of Australia’s holistic approach to infrastructure open up a range of pathways for the next generation of local tradespeople.The three trainees are taking part in Australia’s women-focused construction and solar photovoltaic training program, which aims to increase the number of qualified women in the construction sector.

The women have undertaken Certificate III and IV Construction training at SINU TAFE, as well as solar photovoltaic systems installation training. At Seghe, they have been assisting with the tiling of the new amenity block.

The SINU TVET trainees have helped with tile laying and other practical construction skills on the amenities block of the Seghe Market redevelopment.

Working with the Hatanga team, they are developing practical skills in site measurements and calculations, tiling, and use of construction tools.

Ms Fakai'a said the practical experience had helped her better understand what she had been learning in class.

“When I started working on site, things made a lot more sense because I could see and do what we had learned in class,” Ms Fakai'a said.

“I really enjoy the hands-on work, and it’s made me even more interested in a career in construction.”

The 100 per cent locally built Seghe Market is now more than 75 per cent complete and will provide safe, accessible market facilities for 120 vendors, and support surrounding communities with 28,000 litres of bore water storage.

The project is part of Australia’s Provincial Markets Redevelopment Program, which is creating local jobs and supporting inclusive economic growth across Solomon Islands.