The residents of Kia Street in Raiwaqa have formed a youth group to occupy themselves in constructive pursuits and avoid getting involved in criminal activities.

Consultant Semiti Vonoyauyau said: “By forming this youth group, we are educating them to avoid themselves from getting into peer pressure and criminal activities.

“These youths have great talents like sports and developing their talents can stop them from making wrong decisions and follow the wrong path. So we motivate them to do good things.

“There is increase in the number of crime rates by youths in Fiji and it is very important that from young age we teach these children what is right and what is wrong for them.”

Their youth group named Kia Sparrow Youth Club was formed in December last year.

The youth members are aged between eight-years-old to 17-years-old.

Mr Vonoyauyau said it was always very difficult to teach youths what was right and what was wrong when they reached 16-years-old and above.

“There are more than 30 youths in our club and we are expecting more to join this youth club,” he said.

“Before, when the community members of Kia Street would have a meeting they’d always complain about the children.”

Mr Vonoyauyau said they then planned to do something to motivate them and they did.