Kekoro Women's Association Coconut Oil Project

Women from central-west Ranongga visited Rarumana to see for themselves the direct micro expelling coconut oil operation.
© Vicki Kalgovas/ WWF Solomon Islands

Women are key players in rural development and users of natural resources in Solomon Islands. The objectives of the Kekoro Women's Association are to promote the economic and social interests of members of the communities - especially women, while respecting and valuing the natural environment and resources.

WWF is helping Kekoro Women's Association in learning about coconut oil production as a means for sustainable livelihood for Kekoro women.

What Kekoro women do
Currently, most women on Ranongga Island are primarily engaged in managing households

caring for children
cooking and cleaning
gardening
fishing and
collecting shellfish.

To earn income, women produce handicrafts, which are sold locally; also produce copra, and sell their garden surplus in markets or in Gizo town.

Kekoro Women's Association approach WWF
The Kekoro Women's Association, formed in 1998, brings together women from central-west Ranongga to address issues of resource management and income generation. They have approached WWF for logistical and capacity building support to help them meet their goals.

The Association aims to:

Promote income opportunities for women
Provide job opportunities for young school dropouts
Help women market their products
Maximize income opportunities by value-adding at the community level
Develop new product ideas
Offer training opportunities to rural women

WWF arranges visit to coconut oil project
In April 2000, WWF assisted some members of the Kekoro Women's Association to visit a Direct Micro Expelling Coconut Oil project in Rarumana village, Vona Vona Lagoon, Western Province.

During the visit, Kekoro women witnessed :

how oil is extracted and produced using simple, portable technology.
how the machine works,
how many people are needed to operate the project, and
how much the Rarumana community benefits

This experience encouraged them to decide setting up a similar project within their own communities.