Suva, October 31- The Ministry of Youth and Sports continues to provide assistance to youths in Fiji to find employment through its non-formal education (NFE) programs and training.
This became evident from the monitoring process done recently for carpentry training conducted by the Ministry in Ra with support from the Technical College of Fiji.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports facilitated Tokaimalo Carpentry Training in Mataveikai Village from 27 to 31 March this year and also facilitated similar training in Nailuva with funding provided by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation (MWCPA) for the latter training.
Twenty-six percent of trainees from the 50 that attended the Tokaimalo Training have found employment in either in carpentry contracting companies or as free-lance carpenters, while 52 percent are working in communities to help rebuild 56 houses in the nine villages involved in the training. This group is addressing the backlog of a further 77 houses which need to be rebuilt.
Similarly, 20 percent of trainees from the Nailuva Carpentry Training are now employed by two contractors who are rebuilding the Nalaba District and Fulton SDA Primary Schools. The other 65 percent are working in communities as part of housing rehabilitation after the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Remarkably, 34 houses have been built in 7 villages involved in the training showing the immense progress made with the Ministry’s assistance while a further 85 houses are yet to be built in these 7 villages.
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Laisenia Tuitubou welcomed the training initiative and commended the youths for actively pursuing carpentry following on from the training objectives.
“It is pleasing to note the progress we are making in providing assistance to the youths in finding employment,” he said. “Through our NFE programs, we have been able to provide youths new skills to achieve their aspirations. I am delighted that many of the youths have found employment on completion of the training and that others have contributed to rebuilding houses in their community. This is a positive outcome of the training.”
“The Ministry will continue to partner with other Ministries and stakeholders to deliver the best for the youths,” Minister Tuitubou said. “I would also like to acknowledge the assistance provided by MWCPA in providing financial assistance for the Nailuva carpentry training and to the Technical College for their technical expertise”.