The Ministry of Youth is undertaking an initiative to teach rural and maritime youths small engine repairs in order to prepare them for alternative sources of income.
Permanent secretary Mr Josefa Sania said the training gives unemployed young people an alternative source of income by serving small engine repair needs in their village district or even their island.
Mr Sania said many training workshops have been conducted around the country and is encouraging youths to come forth for this type of skills training.
“We have already conducted many workshops in the North, West and interior areas of Viti Levu. Last wee, we were in Nakorosule, Naitarsiri and we are currently having a workshop with youth in Kadavu,” he said.
Mr Sania said young people from Kadavu are learning how to repair outboard engines, brush cutters, sewing machines and other similar small engines.
“This is the second term of their training and they should be graduating this week on Friday,” Mr Sania said.
He added that three more workshops will be carried out in Kadavu and similar trainings will be done for youths in the Lomaiviti group.
“Similar training will be done in the village of Navaga for youths of the Island of Koro Island and we have plans to schedule another small engine training to be conducted in Levuka in Ovalau ,” he added.
“I know this is going to be a big training for youths in the Eastern Division.”
Mr Sania said an earlier small engine training in Savusavu this year attracted many youth who found it useful and empowering.
“We had conducted a similar training in Naqere in Savusavu where we trained them not only train on small engine repairs but also on how to repair fibre glass boats,” he said.
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