Youth@Work (Y@W) staff and interns impressed some of the visiting MSG leaders when they presented an overview of the Y@W programme and talked about its achievements yesterday at Heritage Park Hotel.
Youth@Work Program Manager Sandra Bartlett said, the leaders responded well to the presentation about Y@W and were very interested to hear how it is helping to tackle youth unemployment in the Solomon Islands.
“High youth unemployment is an issue throughout the whole Pacific and it was great to showcase a model based here in Solomon Islands that is addressing this issue and highlight the success we have seen here,” she said.
The six leaders present were Fiji High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands His Excellency Esala Teleni, Mr Jean Creugnet from FLNKS, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Josiah Voreqe Bainimarama,Minister of Enterprise and State Investment of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea Ben Micah of PNG, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Fiji Ratu Kubuabola and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea Rimbiko Pato of PNG.
The Youth@Work staff presented to the leaders on each of their departments and its components while showing images and examples of their work on PowerPoint.
There were also testimonies from two successful youth who have participated in the programme William Wilder and Gladys Boka, followed by the NCD Warriors discussing their work under the NCD Programme.
ThreeYouth@Work Plus interns with disabilities captured the attention of the leaders with their testimonies on not being able to find work.
Wheatley Temou, a Y@W intern with a visual impairment said it was a great honour for him to chat with Fiji’s Prime Minister.
“It is not a normal thing for a normal person to talk with such big people, so I feel honoured,” said Wheatley.
“It is really an inspiration to know that they are interested in what Youth@Work is doing for us.”
After the presentation, the leaders had light refreshments prepared for them by some of the stall holders of the Youth Market and took a group photo with the youth.
Youth@Work is implemented by SPC, in partnership with the Solomon Islands Ministry of National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation, the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs. Youth@Work is an initiative to tackle youth unemployment in the Solomon Islands and is funded by the Australian Aid bilateral program, with assistance from its partner ministries.
By Youth@Work Media
