The Department of Youth will hold a mentoring and support workshop for youths on the island of Beqa.
From June 7 to 8, the department which is responsible for the mentoring and development of Fijian youths will undertake this capacity building exercise which will feature concepts like youth farming initiatives, leadership principles and youth organisations as a vehicle for effective community development.
Principal youth officer, William Naisara said they last held a youth mentoring program in April at Vaturua village in Nakelo. This was attended by 20 youth leaders from nine villages within the district of Nakelo.
“Youth officers are currently doing a follow up program for these Nakelo youths to check on the implementation of recommendations from that April workshop,” he said.
“ These are activities like planting or having youth farms and using the traditional i’taukei method of working together and supporting each other in farming activities called ‘solesolevaki’.
“This is an important commodity in farming because farming alone is very hard so ‘solesolevaki’ is vital.”
Naisara said they were encouraging such programmes within villages around the country.
“ The same program will be introduced to Beqa youths next month. We are also encouraging youths in the eight villages in Beqa to come to Dakuni on the 7th-8th of June,” he said.
“Youth officers from Suva will be conducting the workshop, it’s an opportune time for Beqa youths to realize their capabilities and learn more, to make their life a meaningful one.”
This mentoring and support program by the department is in line with Pillar 9 of the Peoples Charter for Change Peace and Progress, which is Making Fiji a knowledge based-society and Pillar 5 by Achieving higher economic growth.
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