A memorable, eco-friendly, inspiring youth clothes SWAP event in Nuku'alofa.

NUKU'ALOFA, Friday 9th October 2020: “I learnt so many things today and it really touches my heart that I get to know what I need to do to help our environment,” Tiulipe Mu’amoholeva, 19 yrs old from Ha’asini.

For a group of young, driven, motivated team of youth to come together and consistently deliver a memorable, eco-friendly, inspiring SWAP event, says a lot about the potential our young people possess to build our nation to the standard and future we dream of.  The SWAP staff together with the GO GREEN! Volunteers and the outpouring participants who registered to this SWAP event, held at the National Headquarter of the Bahai's Hall, the team did not fail to deliver.  The participants were welcomed to experience the event, while our Volunteers are working to improve their skills, gain real life practical work experience and boost their self-esteem and confidence. 

We conduct a post-event feedback of all our events to ensure we are heading in the right direction. Thus, 100% of the feedback were positive and highlighting the heartfelt-eye- opening fact that by participating in this event, the youth felt that they are valued and their role as future leaders of their families, communities and eventually in small businesses is crucial for the development of our country as a whole. And as best said by Fifita, 25yrs old from Hofoa, “Youth do have a major role in climate change. I would really acknowledge my friends, family and people I know to participate, because I know they will be interested. ”

Every youth participant we have catered for in our events belongs to a family and that family belongs to a community and that is how many communities in our country, have helped by sharing the knowledge and motivation behind this exciting youth-led and driven initiative, TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP.

“Ta oku malava pe he to’utupu ‘o palani mo fakahoko e ngaue,” Fanga, 30yrs old from Vaini. Is yet another eye opening experience of one of the SWAP participants by coming to the realization that there are actually existing platforms and youth-led and driven initiatives that give our youth the opportunity to lead and to feel empowered as well as contribute to climate change simultaneously. 

Not every day we see and hear about our local youth who are interested in climate related issues and feel the need to step up and promote a healthy and green environment, and once they do, like we have seen many times with this initiative, than there is hope for a better, greener and healthier future for Tonga. 

TYEE GO GREEN! a youth-led community initiative of a not for profit youth support service non-governmental organisation, chose to tackle one of the most global and biggest issue faced by humankind. With no direct funding or sponsorship whatsoever and still able to deliver and cater for hundreds of youths in Tonga from all walks of life. This highlights creative thinking, sustainability, consistency, innovation and taking the initiative to just do it. These are qualities of a survivor! These are the team and initiatives that during a crisis, a global pandemic, economic depression, rising youth unemployment - they thrive, adapt and they survive for the long run because our cause is just!

If this is the outcome of the youth’s work alone, then the impact of any form of support, regardless how big or small will be twice, even thrice this amount. That is where true, evident of national impact comes in. 

TYEE GO GREEN! 
Our home, our future, our responsibility.