40 youths from nine villages receive certificates

Forty youths from nine villages on the island of Beqa last week received certification after undergoing a week-long hospitality training at Dakuni Village.

The training was funded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and facilitated by the Service Pro International School of Tourism. It was for youths from the villages of Dakuni, Naceva, Lalati, Nawaisomo, Raviravi, Rukua, Dakuibeqa, Naiseuseu and Soliyaga. The youths hoped to secure employment in neighbouring hotels.

On hand to officiate at the awarding of the certificates, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Laisenia Tuitubou, posed these young men and women with a challenge to harness their talents.

“I hope to see young people fully utilising their gifts and talents, talents that hopefully you have also enhanced through our training,” Mr Tuitubou said.

“This is something that the Ministry encourages as we bring in training that suits you and your environment so that we harness the talents that you already have and also help utilise the resources that are around you.”

Mr Tuitubou advised them that it was time to change and transform the mentality that iTaukei were rich in resources but asset poor.

“We have a lot of resources around us, lets come up with good ideas to utilise it to generate income and upgrade our lives and living standard for our families and our villages,” he said.

Lusiana Hanisimaoi of Raviravi Village, who had undergone the Massage and Therapy Course module of the training, said it was an interesting field to learn.

“I’ve never attended any training like this before and have no hotel experience so I really found it interesting,” Ms Hanisimaoi said.

The 22-year-old stated she now planned to further her studies in the field.

“Now I’m very ambitious about getting further education and I have plans on starting a small business as well,” she said.

A former hotel worker, Epi Gonewai, thought he had already known everything about being employed in the hospitality sector but admitted that the course had also taught him other aspects of the hospitality and tourism sector.

“I worked for two years at Beqa Lagoon but most of the things I learnt during the training were new to me and it’s great that I’ve acquired this new knowledge. I acknowledge the Ministry for the foresight in bringing such trainings,” Mr Gonewai said.

The youths underwent training in different aspects of hospitality including: Porter, Food and Beverage, House Keeping Service and Massage; and Beauty Therapy Course.

Source: Ministry of Youth and Sports

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