Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare has commended the Youth At Work (Y@W) Programme for its significant contribution towards youth employment in Honiara.
The Prime Minister and a high-powered DCC Government ministerial delegation toured the Y@W office yesterday morning to see for themselves what the programme has on offer for youths in Honiara.
The delegation included the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Hon Milner Tozaka, Minister for Culture and Tourism Hon Bartholomew Parapolo, Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace Hon David Day Pacha and the Minister for Youth, Women, Children and Family Affairs Hon Jimson Tanangada.
“I wish to register my Democratic Coalition for Change Government’s sincere appreciation for the significant contribution by Y@W Programme towards addressing the issue of youth unemployment in Solomon Islands.
“I was deeply touched by enthusiasm so evident in faces of youths we met at the Y@W Programme office today and also to hear of the achievements of this programme in addressing youth unemployment. It is my sincere hope that this programme will be extended to all other provinces ,” Prime Minister Sogavare said.
The Prime Minister said, “My visit to the Y@W Programme office demonstrates the commitment of my Democratic Coalition for Change Government’s commitment to support this well-intentioned initiative and we will provide support through various government programmes.”
During the tour, Y@W Programme Manager, Sandra Bartlett enlightened the Prime Minister and his delegation about the different programmes Y@W has been providing youths in the capital since its inception in 2012.
Ms Bartlett said, “Our programme includes training, mentoring, internships, entrepreneurship, a resource centre and a monthly youth market- a very popular event attended by thousands of young people.”
She added that Y@W had so far placed 1,600 youth through this Internship Programme and opened business opportunities for an additional 1,500 youth through its Youth Market Programme.
Ms Bartlett said Y@W has extended its programme to Choiseul Province and is contemplating the same for Malaita Province this year.
Ms Bartlett said, “It was very pleasing to see that the Prime Minister and his Ministers were very interested to hear about the important work we do in trying to address the issue of youth unemployment.”
Y@W is implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in partnership with the Ministry of National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation, Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs.
