​NUKU’ALOFA: Saturday, 25th July was another successful Youth Market for TYEE GO GREEN! From six registered participants last March which was our first Youth Market, to over 100 participants in a time span of four months, the programs and our established activities have sparked a lot of interests not only from the youth but the public and we continue to excel and grow each time. 

The main goals for GO GREEN! to help the environment (by encouraging the youth to give back and take full responsibility of the environment), and to help the youth. The term “help” the youth, we broke it down to three objectives. Firstly, to help the youth live a healthy and active lifestyle, which we encourage through our monthly Zumba Competition and Food & Recipe Challenge. Secondly, help our unemployed youth gain the necessary work experience required by the workplace and give them a more practical understanding prior to getting into jobs, which we have our GO GREEN! Volunteers, who help organise and plan and deliver the events.  And lastly, to help our young entrepreneurs by showcasing their talents to the public, and allowing us to best identify the viable business ideas that these youth have in order to best support them to be able to step up from the Youth Market into creating and establishing their own small businesses. That is the dream. All of which we were able to witness on this event. Our young entrepreneurs are serious about creating their own jobs.  Their parents, kids and friends came along to show their support which highlights the purpose of the Event to be known also as a "fun family day out".  Some of which participated in our previous Youth Markets and they have assured that they will continue to get involved. 

The Youth Market Stall Holders were given a chance to compete for the Best Market Stall Presentation Prize. This category of the Event Competitions was the first judging event and we were honored to have the Director of the Youth Division from Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sinama Tupou Fuao as Judge. Here is a short video clip of a few words Mrs. Fuao shared with us at the Event.

​The second judging event of the day was the ZUMBA Competitions. The registered teams made up of small children, youth all the way to adults, mothers and grandmothers. We are grateful for the three youthful Judges who took time out of their busy schedule to join us and support the initiative. Also, thank you to our youth Auditor for her commitment and good work.

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​Many youths, adults and children as per their feedback, talks about how they put in a lot of effort to stay fit for the Zumba Competition.

The Competitions Categories for Prizes and the Winners are listed on this this page [click here to view] 

To top it off, we continued to collaborate with SPM Tonga Ltd who has supported the initiative by utilizing the TYEE GO GREEN! trained Volunteers to promote and sell their products; 40 seaweed packs on the Youth Market and within 2 hours, our GO GREEN! trained Volunteers have sold out every single pack. SPM continues to donate a percentage of our seaweed sales to the GO GREEN! initiative and we are very grateful for their support with our Youth Market.

It is with no doubt that with every event, there is guaranteed involvement from not only our existing but also new participants. As a self-funded Youth NGO it is the support and backing that we get from the sponsors and businesses both local and international that enables us to deliver our services to the best of our ability. By maximizing the benefits of their kind donations and sponsorship we are able to reach out to the majority of the youth and their families.

“I learned that the talent I have it will help me provide for myself and not only for me, but also my family…don’t be afraid because small or big you can still earn a future from your gifted talents” -Sinai, 26 years old, Vaini, a registered participant of the Youth Market. ​

“We manage to be energetic and active practicing….trying to be more healthy and to lose weight to fight obesity and COVID-19”. -Leuleu Mafana Group. They were also the Winning Team with the Most Weight Loss in two weeks, and 2nd Place in GO GREEN! Zumba Competition. ​

NUKU'ALOFA, Friday 10th July 2020:  TYEE marked the beginning of a new journey for GO GREEN! SWAP.  An initiative of TYEE GO GREEN! with the aim to encourage our youth to take full responsibility of their environment and contribute to climate change as well as offer a better waste management practice to the community. We like to think of TYEE GO GREEN! Swap as a youthful, trendy, and a more lively approach towards recycling, reusing and reducing wastes but also an opportunity to educate the youth on the negative impacts of climate change and the vital role they play in protecting and preserving our environment. 

​With over twenty registered participants in just 2 weeks’ time, provided and catered for by twenty GO GREEN! Volunteers and guests at The Village Backpackers, Taufa’ahau Village. TYEE staff and volunteers ended the week on a high note. 

In a matter of  seven months, TYEE GO GREEN! is determined and ready to branch out the SWAP initiative due to its rapid growth in participants and growing desire to get involved.  It was the first time for TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP to be able to run independently of TYEE YOUTH MARKET and able to successfully cater for our growing number of customers at this event.  

We ended the event with few words from our SWAP participants that further encouraged the TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP team to maintain the effort and high standard of customer service that they provided.

We are humbled by the support of the JR Properties Ltd, and Manager of The Village Backpackers for offering TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP this wonderful facility.  Grateful to Amelia Vallabh, Taufa'ahau Village and The Village Backpackers for making it possible for GO GREEN! SWAP.

Taufa'ahau Village Restaurant, located right in the heart of Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu is the place to be if you want a slice of Tongan culture in the capital.  It features a restaurant, shared lounge and a garden.  

Thank you, Taufa'ahau Village and Village Backpackers for enabling us to put on a memorable and eco-friendly event. It is support from business people such as yours that can eventually turn this SWAP event to job opportunities for our volunteers. 

We would also like to acknowledge the Radio Mate Ma'a Tonga in Nuku'alofa for their kind support and able to Live Stream the SWAP event on the day.  Thank you, Ms. Lata Matapule for your continued support.

Whilst COVID-19 continue to take its toll on our business communities and our countries economy. TYEE GO GREEN! continues to provide a platform of hope and for youth in Tonga, youth empowerment and job opportunities provider that can be shared with the majority and those young people who need them most.

We work better, when we work together. 

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

NUKU'ALOFA, Friday 10th July 2020:  Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Inc. is proud to announce the generous and kind donations received from one of our loyal Partners/Sponsors; Hadassah's Educational Stop in Ma'ufanga, Nuku'alofa.  Miss. Nipa Latu, a youth who is responsible for the daily run of the store arrived at TYEE office last Friday morning with a well packed customized First Aid Kit for TYEE.
Hadassah's Educational Stop is a Tongan owned educational supply and medical supply store. 

"We believe that children and students in Tonga deserve the very best educational resources to help them along their educational journey. From that priniciple, we are focused on supplying top quality stationery at affordable prices, enabling learning to be more accessible to children and students in Tonga, and therefore, achievable goals in their classrooms!". - Soana Samate, Owner/Director.

Since the set up of the Hadassah's Educational Stop in Tonga, almost two years ago - the owner, Ms. Soana Samate visited TYEE to learn about our youth work and since that first visit she has been supporting TYEE whether through providing office stationery or office health & safety resources which we utulise for not only the everyday running of the office but mostly geared towards supporting our youth participants' learning within TYEE work ready skills development training workshops in their preparations for the world of work. TYEE supports and gives back through the support of staff, promotions and sales of the Back to School packs on top of other available store promotions. Ms. Soana Samate and Hadassah's also give back by generously donating percentages of the sales to TYEE. Their generous donation is carefully allocated to assist TYEE's objective 1 - relevant skills development training for pathways to Employment, and/or Employment Creations through TYEE GO GREEN!  It is heartfelt generosity and supports like these that enables TYEE to further deliver our objectives and providing a platform of giving hope to the disadvantaged youth school-leavers of Tonga aged 18-35, through TYEE's youth employment and youth entrepreneurship initiatives. 

This customized first aid kit donation is so timely and gratefully received as an additional donation to our masks, soaps, gloves and hand sanitizers also received from Hadassah's in the last two months as we are gearing up and preparing for when the COVID-19 virus gets to Tonga.  With the challenges we all face due to this pandemic, we would not be able to achieve some of our core objectives goals through program events and training if it weren't for the kind assistance of our loyal Partners/Sponsors such as Soana Samate /Hadassah's and Team.

TYEE would like to acknowledge and thank the Owner/Director Soana Samate and her youthful Team at Hadassah's Educational Stop for their love and generous donations.  We continue to build on these valued business relationships to improve our capacity and effort in addressing youth unemployment in Tonga, better for their futures, their families, and communities. If we could chip in everyday in this manner for the betterment of the majority who are less fortunate than us - then the Tonga's economy will eventually reap the rewards of these daily and tireless investments.

If you wish to order a customized First Aid Kit for your office, project sites, schools, church or just for home, contact us today, or direct to Ph: 23414 Hadassah's Educational Store on Vuna Road, Ma'ufanga, Nuku'alofa.

If you are interested in getting involved and want to know how you could support TYEE's youth initiatives, please contact us on: lusia.latu@tyeetonga.org or Office: 8425259 / 7706340.

TYEE GO GREEN! Youth Market and the Zumba Competitions will be back at Digicel Square this 25th July. The Sponsored Prizes and the Competition Winners are listed below.  

Keep our youth working. Give back to our business communities.  Keep Tonga going.

The TYEE Food & Recipe Competitions will be held on its own at a different date.  Head over to TYEE Food & Recipe Challenge Competitions page and enter to Win! [click here to Submit A Recipe]

ZUMBA COMPETITIONS PRIZES, 25 July 2020
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1ST WINNER: 'AMANAKI FO'OU CLAN

• $300 Cash
• Meals Gift Vouchers worth $300 to dine at Frangipani Korean Restaurant.

Proudly Sponsored by Bernadette Paletu’a and RISE & SHINE AUSTRALIA

2ND PLACE: LEULEU MAFANA GROUP

• $200 Cash 
• Shopping Gift Vouchers worth $200 to shop at Molisi $AVE Supermarket.

Proudly Sponsored by Bernadette Paletu’a and RISE & SHINE AUSTRALIA

3RD PLACE: RISKING MOVE

• $100 Cash
• Meals Gift Vouchers worth $100 to dine at Friends Cafe & Tourists Centre.

Proudly Sponsored by Bernadette Paletu’a and RISE & SHINE AUSTRALIA

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WEIGHT LOSS PRIZES, 25 July 2020.

Zumba Team with the most Weight Loss: LEULEU MAFANA GROUP

• $50 Cash - Proudly Sponsored by TONGA HEALTH
• Meals Gift Vouchers worth $100 at THE KIDS HUB CAFE, Sponsored by TYEE

GO GREEN! Volunteer with the most Weight Loss: MELE'ANA KAVA

• $50 Cash – Proudly Sponsored by TONGA HEALTH
• Meal Voucher worth $30 at Holty’s Hideaway Cafe Ha’atafu. Proudly Sponsored by Paula & Tim Holts of HOLTY'S HIDEAWAY CAFE HA'ATAFU.

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TOP PERFORMERS PRIZES, 25 July 2020.

SWAP - Top Performer Volunteer: LOLEINI KAFOIKA

• Gift Voucher worth $50 each, Proudly Sponsored by Soana Samate & Hadassah’s Educational Stop.
• Cash $50, Proudly Sponsored by VMJ Custom Prints

ZUMBA – Top Performer Volunteer:  LOLEINI KAFOIKA

• Gift Voucher worth $50, Proudly Sponsored by Soana Samate & Hadassah’s Educational Stop.
• Cash $50 TYEE, Proudly Sponsored by VMJ Custom Prints

YOUTH MARKET – Top Performer Volunteer: LOLEINI KAFOIKA

• Gift Voucher worth $50, Proudly Sponsored by Soana Samate & Hadassah’s Educational Stop.
• Cash $50 TYEE, Proudly Sponsored by VMJ Custom Prints

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BEST YOUTH MARKET STALL PRESENTATION: TYEE STALL #24

• Meal Voucher worth $100, Proudly Sponsored by Frangipani Korean Restaurant.
• Gift Voucher worth $50, Proudly Sponsored by Soana Samate & Hadassah’s Educational Stop.​

​MOZUKU AND COCKTAIL TASTING EVENT (A collaboration effort between TYEE GO GREEN! South Pacific Mozuku Tonga and The TOP Restaurant and Lounge during this challenging time with COVID-19).
 
NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA (FRIDAY 3RD JULY 2020): Nuku’alofa’s favourite neighbourhood rooftop restaurant and lounge, Bob and Victoria, owners of The TOP, hosted a “MOZUKU AND COCKTAIL TASTING EVENT”, an exclusive and unique local seaweed food and cocktail tasting on Friday, 3rd July 2020. The tasting included a variety of newly created and exquisite Mozuku tasters by The TOP accompanied by an in-house handpicked of premium cocktails from the TOP bar. 
 
“The main goal is to bring awareness to the youth of Tonga and how it is all of our responsibility to nurture them, support them and introduce opportunities that they might never know existed...for their futures, their families and their communities. We are grateful and honoured to be able to, in any small way, be a part of this revolution”. – Victoria Jarvis, Owner of TOP Restaurant & Lounge.

For a fifty pa’anga per e-ticket, guests were able to experience the finest of The TOP’s kitchen, including: tempura seaweed salad, seaweed broccoli soup, seaweed sushi, seaweed prawn burgers and skewer beef with seaweed sauce. Each selection was paired with a taste of one of The TOP’s most popular green cocktails including Japanese slipper. At the end, the seaweed broccoli soup received the loudest applause from the guests and was the top pick of the evening - it was so good!  The remaining tasters were just as good received second and third placings from the guests.  So, in our mind the event was a success!

​"SPM and The TOP are both genuine sponsors of TYEE initiative. SPM assists TYEE through sponsorships donating of seaweed products towards our fundraiser events plus 30% donation of their seaweed sales. The TOP donated gift vouchers as prizes for TYEE GO GREEN! competitions. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing local businesses whom we share common values and objectives getting behind local not for profit organisations like TYEE who are making valuable investments and contributions to the youth of Tonga, their futures, and their families. By coming together this evening to support a good cause is much appreciated. We are truly grateful to SPM, and The TOP for their generosity and for giving us a  hand-up that have enabled us to do this together and to come this far with this collaboration.” - Lusia Latu-Jones, TYEE President.

“We are pleased to team up with and support the TYEE GO GREEN! initiative to help with their youth work. We are also working with Vaiola Hospital to incorporate the Limu/Mozuku into their menu as a healthy alternative. The seaweed/Limu Tanga’u health benefits including boosts the immune system. It is high in fibre. It improves blood circulation. It promotes fat loss. The benefits are endless”. – Masa Kawaguchi, SPM Tonga.

The event was made possible through the collaboration effort between TYEE GO GREEN! South Pacific Mozuku Tonga and The TOP Restaurant and Lounge. Credit to Bob and Victoria and their staff,  Masa and his SPM Team, and everyone who worked so tirelessly and played a part in this to bring something innovative and hopefully interesting, mind opening, and with enjoyment and fun included at the event for all to enjoy.
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“The joy of the evening for me was witnessing the conversation, laughter from both old and new relationships cultivating”. -Victoria Jarvis, TOP.

"The event was awesome. Tasting for food and cocktails was very delicious and healthy". - Mitna. Taumoefolau.

The South Pacific Mozuku is located in Sopu, Nuku’alofa (the only farmer and supplier of the Mozuku /Seaweed /Limu Tanga’u in the Kingdom) generously provided the free of charge packs of seaweed and tuna jerky snacks for the tastings, also gave away free packs of Mozuku to each invited guest to take home after the event. You can learn more about SPM Tonga by contacting Masa southpacificmozuku@gmail.com

​The TOP provided superior service and exceptional catering quality to the guests who attended and came to support the event. With custom menu and event options available for each client’s needs, The TOP continues to impress with its customer-focused mission to create unforgettable experiences. Based in the heart of Nuku’alofa is the perfect choice for catering everything from office meetings to black tie affairs. You can learn more about TOP by contacting Victoria: designerchick1@hotmail.com

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