THE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS
HON.PARVEEN KUMAR BALA
Address on Thursday, 1st April 2021, 10:00AM
• Master of Ceremonies;
• Government key stakeholders;
• Parents;
• Graduates;
• My Ministry staff;
• Members of the media;
• Ladies and Gentlemen;
Ni sa Bula Vinaka and Good morning to you all.
I warmly greet you on this auspicious occasion that marks another achievement of this Ministry.
Today we celebrate the accomplishment of nine young Fijians who will be graduating with a certificate 4 in Organic Agriculture. Of course, I look forward to the day when we have more young women taking this training!
At this juncture, I wish to acknowledge our trainers from the OISCA.Thank you for your invaluable contribution over the course of the 10-months training for our youth here.Vinaka!
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nasau Youth Training Centre is one of the Ministry of Youth and Sports institute facilities for youth empowerment and specific skills training. The centre mainly focuses on development market oriented non-formal education courses for unemployed young and rural based youth. The training centre also works closely with stakeholders in terms of implementing sustainable farming and engages in programmes that assists communities in identifying best farming practices.
I take this moment to commend the work of the staff here for the huge strides the Nasau Training Centre has undertaken through their commitment and dedication towards the development of youths.
Nasau, I am proud to say, is now able to produce high quality graduates who can be absorbed directly into the farming sector with the quality of training they have received.
Ladies and Gentlemen, these are the steps the Ministry has already taken to ensure our youth gets the best that is on offer. This is especially for youth who are marginalised in our society.
In providing platforms to upgrade the lives of our youth, the Ministry has designed various in-formal training to empower them. These are carried out in the four divisions and are based on the training needs.
In doing so, we are fulfilling one of our core functions - to empower young Fijians to explore and use their abilities and potential to create an enabling environment for sustainable livelihoods for them.
For the graduates, today is the beginning of your journey into the workforce of the country. The culmination of what you have been trained for at Nasau. When you graduate today, one door closes and another opens - helping your knowledge grow and complement your training.
I urge you to always maintain discipline in the workforce and show your peers that your time with us at the Nasau Youth Training Centre has made you a better person.
Strive to build on what you have learnt at Nasau.
Your network will help you in sharing of ideas, fostering relationships and creating a bond that will help you develop through your working life.
Many young people who go through such training have been successful in life because of their discipline and the network they have developed.
Your graduation today does not mean that your training ends here. There is still more to learn and I encourage you to keep learning and explore ways you can further enhance you skills and abilities.
I warmly congratulate you all on your achievement and wish you success in all your endeavours.
Happy Easter to you all and Vinaka Vakalevu.
-ENDS-