Wutmi report 6

Realizing that this year’s election marked a historical achievement in female accomplishment with a recorded number of three women were running for the Majuro Senator seat beating last election’s record of two; WUTMI in Collaboration with JoJiKuM (A youth based Environmental NGO), hosted an Open Forum on November 7th 2011 for all Majuro Senator Candidates in support of achieving a component of Millenium Development Goal #3 Good Governance. The entitled event was known as “Jodrikidrik nan Kien Emman” loosely translated “Youth for Good Governance.” It was an event entirely catered to Youths.

The program which was aired live was executed in a Q&A Format with Candidates taking questions from the Youths. Each candidate was randomly selected and was given a particular question from the audience to answer. Each question was timed and each candidate was given an opportunity to add on to selected Candidates answer or provide a different answer.

The main objective for this event was not only aimed at providing a space for female Candidates running for office to showcase Good Governance from a female perspective but it was also aimed at identifying and inspiring young female youths to become young leaders in their own country. The event itself showcased young female leadership. It was led by a young woman named Tamera Heine who is the current president for Jo-JiKuM (Jodrikdrik in Jipan ene eo e Kutok Maroro) and was chaired by Sulita Sualau, another a young woman who is the current Student Body President for the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI).

Although all sixteen Candidates were invited, only seven of them showed up, one of which was female. According to a young CMI Nursing Student named Rose in Ean Kabua, she states that the female candidate at the Open Forum was the only one she connected with the most. Rose in Ean says that she “appreciated how she brought a unique perspective to the table that we don’t see much in Marshallese Politics nowadays.

‘She’ especially liked how she said that Women are leaders almost everywhere such as in churches, homes, and even in our communities.” The female candidate’s words were echoed and taken to heart by many of the attendees. One female attendee by the name of Malia Heine also sums up her appreciation for the female candidate by saying that “the female candidate understood the issues of this country very well because she has worked in all of the problem areas that need to be prioritized. It’s very rare to have a politician with this kind of vast experience.” If this weren’t enough, a majority of the attendees were mostly women.

In summary, this event proved successful in achieving public awareness on female leadership in Governance. It displayed to the public that women just like men are capable leaders and deserve just as much votes as their male counterparts. This Open Forum provided a rare opportunity for young women to showcase their leadership skills all whilst inspiring young female youths to become more politically active.