YOUTH@WORK programme in Gizo, Western province has continued with its internship activities by placing young people into various work places after completing a series of pre-employment trainings.
The internship training started after the youths completed their community service work, volunteering in the communities they represent.
Upon completing the pre-employment trainings which include cover letter and curriculum vitae (CV) writing, goal setting, work ethics etc, the youths were then eligible to move into 15 weeks of internship.
This assists the youths gain experience on what it is like in the work place. At that, monitoring and awareness on cross-cutting issues will be carried out for them.
“Currently the youth have been doing their internships, and from the feedbacks we get they are enjoying their learning from the work they are doing,” Team Leader for Western, Ms Hinima Charles confirmed.
Meanwhile, a total of 32 young people who participated in the Young Entrepreneurship component have undergone basic business training after completing community service work.
The focus of the business training is to look at what will be a viable business to run in their communities and to develop a business plan, Y@W will continue to support them with a start-up capital, material worth.
Y@W Deputy Coordinator- Provincial, Mr Hika Joseph Gone expressed his appreciation towards the stakeholders that continue to provide avenue to support the young people and also to the commitments shown by the youths as well.
“We are thankful for the support rendered by the employers in providing the avenue for this young generation to have taste of their dream career.
“We are also happy to see young people become economically empowered. For young people economic empowerment is the key to peace in our society.
“There are challenges that needs to be addressed in terms of support and sustainability for these young aspiring entrepreneurs.
“We are assisting the young people on addressing these challenges in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, government mechanism and resourceful individuals,” Mr Gone said.
“We have a positive outlook for next year that we will be doing great things together as young people.”
The Y@W programme was extended and began in the Western Solomon Islands in 2016.
Y@W is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), in partnership with four government ministries, and is funded by the Australian government and Queen Young Leaders-Jubilee Fund.
Y@W is an initiative formed to tackle youth unemployment in Solomon Islands and help youth of the Solomons find pathways to their economic prospects through internships and entrepreneurships.
–YOUTH@WORK PRESS
