Nuku’alofa Times www.nukualofatimes.tbu.to April 15, 2015 Page 7
Westpac help in Art Space facelift
NUKU’ALOFA (Nuku’alofa Times): Staff of the Westpac Bank of Tonga helped in cleaning up, repair and renovate the Art Space in Fasi, here on Tongatapu on Saturday. It was a change from computers, pen and paper to paint brushes for the Westpac staff as they helped in painting up the walls of the Art Space. The Art Space is the headquarters of the On the Spot Arts Initiative Group, which works in developing and promoting local art and artists here in Tonga. Led by the bank’s management, staff joined in to give at least five hours of their time today in the community project. Westpac have been the major sponsor of On the Spot’s events here in Tonga. On the Spot director Ebonie Fifita said they were s grateful to Westpac for their assistance. Westpac staff and management with the On the Spot members at the Art Space on Saturday. Photo: ON THE SPOT
TYEE happy with first workshop
NUKU’ALOFA (TYEE): Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship; Project Pontifex are pleased to have successfully hosted and completed its first introduction workshop to its initial Youth Entrepreneur participants. The workshop was held at the Faith Seminary Building - Tonga Scripture Union Conference Room in Nuku’alofa on Wednesday, 8th April 2015. The workshop was made possible for TYEE and its Youth participants in collaboration with SocialFokus; an initiative that aims to bring skill-based education for entrepreneurs globally created by a group of Entrepreneurs from Spain, Hungary, New Zealand led by Mr Tamas Hovanyecz. TYEE are truly grateful to have received this wonderful opportunity in Tonga through sharing of global knowledge and experience within the Youth Sector with similar initiative serving the same purpose. Youth unemployment is a growing global problem. From the Pacific Islands to Spain young people struggle to find jobs and other opportunities once they’ve completed their education. With this workshop our local Tongan youth participants were presented with the opportunity they have to start their own business and create work places for themselves and others. The interactive workshop equipped our youth participants with the skills to understand local problems and come up with ideas on how to solve them. With the help of lean methodology and design thinking, our youth participants had a glimpse on how to understand the customer’s need and how to turn that information into profitable products and services. “The workshop was a fantastic kick-start to an important initiative in Tonga; Project Pontifex, in recognising the potential in our local youth participants which led them to opening their minds to new ideas and thinking outside the box for the purpose of creation,”
Workshop participants with their facilitators and TYEE executives. Photo: TYEE Ms Lusia Latu, Founder/ President of TYEE, said. “TYEE aim to bridge the gap by helping Tonga youths who have graduated from school into unemployment, ages 18 to 29, gaining access to training, economic opportunities and support in order for them to realise their full potential and achieve their goals. “Project Pontifex reinforced our belief that working with young people allows us to observe the world through a different lens.
“Being surrounded by the younger generation gives us the opportunity to understand their challenges and barriers, their future needs and to stay innovative. “It also opened our eyes towards the bigger picture of TYEE and made us realise that Tonga is the place where we should utulise all these learnings to equip our youth with the skills to become system leaders. “It is through this meaningful collaboration with Socialfokus to opening a
door for our young people to create employment and workplaces for not only themselves but for others too.” She said that TYEE wish to thank the workshop facilitators, Mr Tamas Hovanyecz and assistant, Mr Zoltan Urbancsek for volunteering their time to work with us and for their generosity. “They have both travelled to Tonga from New Zealand for this purpose and to learn about Tonga’s unique culture,” she said.
“TYEE also wish to acknowledge the kindest support and the generosity of the Faith Seminary and Tonga Scripture Union. “Thank you kindly to the Chairperson; Dr William Fukofuka, and Director; Ms Fusi Vaki for making it possible for TYEE to make this happen for our youth by welcoming us and accommodating us at their Nuku’alofa facility. “Living everyday life in an environment that is constantly seeking for positive and meaningful collabora-
tions with government, private sector and NGOs has taught us that this is the way to go if we want to build an inspiring and flourishing community that is equipped to solve local socio-economic problems on a local level.” TYEE are looking forward to start implementing its programs to the youths in the coming months. TYEE can be contacted at: projectpontifex@gmail. com, or follow us on Facebook.