STUDENTS from schools in Honiara have participated in a two-day Open Day program hosted by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) as part of its 45th Anniversary celebration.
The event, conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, was held at the FFA Conference Center.
The students’ participation followed an invitation by FFA to their respective schools which resulted in hundreds of students from about 20 schools turning.
The students were given the opportunity to interact with the staff of the regional organization and visit the booths of its different divisions to learn about its work.
The booths included:
- Fisheries Management Division
- Fisheries Operations Division
- Fisheries Development Division
- Corporate Services
- HLA
- Solomon Islands National University (SINU)
- Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
- University of the South Pacific (USP)
Speaking to the media at the opening of the Open Day Program on Wednesday, FFA Director General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen said FFA was excited about its Open Day program and the participation of the ‘wonderful students.’
“We are so excited it provides an opportunity to talk about FFA, why it was established, honed here in Honiara and the important work that we do in fisheries for our people and understand that.
“Also, it provides us an opportunity to engage with each child, understand and listen to their ambitions and also connect and see ways and pathways that they can work with us at FFA,” Dr Tupou-Roosen said.
A session at the event was the introduction of students and their goals and dreams of what they want to become when they grow up.
Some expressed their desire to be doctors, pilots, Director Generals, Governor Generals, Dentists, Police Officers, Vessel Captains, Fishermen, Teachers and so forth.
Dr Tupou-Roosen said: “It is so wonderful to hear from our children because they are our future and this is what we would like to nurture through this type of open day programs.
“These goals and ambitions and seeing how all of us have a role to play in improving the lives of our Pacific people. We are so privileged that the teachers have allowed the students to come today.
“We know the important work carried out by our teachers and we even have amongst our students many who aspire to be teachers. We’re so blessed. What a blessing today is.”
Amongst the invited schools for the open day program were students from the Solomon Islands National University’s (SINU( Fisheries and Marine students.
Director General, Dr Tupou-Roosen said they were thrilled to have SINU students at the program, adding that they have invested into taking up roles within the fisheries sector.
“And we are so encouraged by their ambitions and really look forward to them helping us develop and accelerate the growth in our tuna fisheries sector and coastal fisheries sector.
“Our fisheries are our lifeline. And so, these wonderful students are just so important for us in continuing to sustain our fisheries,” she added.
FFA introduced the Open Day program in 2019 but stopped due to COVID-19 Pandemic. This year’s event is the first after the hiatus.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
