"Every team takes ownership of its own street." – Inside CAUSE II's Community Street Cleaning Initiative

"Each team looks after one segment, and together we're keeping Honiara's streets clean."

THAT'S how Community Liaison Officer Aloysio Penny Siliako describes the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement Project Phase II (CAUSE II) Waste Collection and Cleaning (WCC) initiative, which brings communities together to help maintain cleaner public spaces across Honiara.

The initiative currently covers 13 street-cleaning segments, stretching from Alligator Bridge to Poha Bridge. Each segment is managed by a community-based team of seven members, including women, youth, and men from nearby communities who work together to collect litter and keep their assigned areas clean.

Teams work up to six hours each day, either in one shift or split between morning and evening to suit their schedules. Collected rubbish is placed in designated collection points for collection by the Honiara City Council's waste management team.

For Penny, the programme is about more than just cleaning streets. It gives communities an opportunity to take ownership of their surroundings while providing participants with practical work experience and short-term employment.

Communities interested in joining the initiative can submit a group of seven members to the CAUSE II office. Groups will first complete the project's seven-day Redi4Waka training programme before becoming eligible to participate in the Waste Collection and Cleaning initiative.

Through the WCC programme, CAUSE II continues to support cleaner urban communities while creating opportunities for local people to contribute to a healthier and more welcoming Honiara.

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