​Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Inc. (TYEE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SCENIC HOTELS to foster strategic partnership in relation to joint initiatives between the Parties on Wednesday, 22nd August 2018.

The signing of the MOU that took place at the SCENIC HOTELS was officiated by Lusia Latu-Jones, TYEE President and Katie Silcock, General Manager of SCENIC HOTELS in Tonga.

As New Zealand’s largest independently-owned and operated hotel group and prides itself on offering true Kiwi hospitality at each of its eighteen hotels. Located in nine popular regions in New Zealand and two in the South Pacific countries of Tonga and Niue. The agreement aims to build upon the strength of SCENIC HOTEL GROUP expertise in tourism and hospitality and their commitment to offering their clients quality with a genuine sense of Kiwi hospitality working to international standards with a touch of local flair. 

​Based on the shared vision and objectives for the benefit of providing better services for the Youth of Tonga in industry skills training, employment, ICT, entrepreneurship and cultural cooperation, the joint initiatives include provision of conference space and facility for TYEE training, hotel accommodation, TYEE Recruitment Services, project management, marketing and sales services and priority employment placements for TYEE registered youth whose training in Tonga will be substantially supported and funded by SCENIC HOTELS.

Latu-Jones said the agreement signifies the strong commitment of TYEE to embrace local and international partnerships as our objective and provides learning opportunities and employment opportunities for TYEE registered youth in various economic development programs in Tonga. The expansion in international partnerships will indeed pave the way for the development of a local-global youth platform through TYEE's new facility; Youth Tech Incubators Centre (YTIC) and Tonga Youth Market Connect (TYMC) which will admit its first intake of trainees in 2018/2019 training cycle year. 

TYEE is very pleased with their new strategic partnership with SCENIC HOTELS and they thank Katie Silcock and her team for the wonderful opportunity and they look forward to working together in the Parties joint initiatives.

Silcock expressed that SCENIC HOTELS was glad to form a partnership with TYEE under the strong support of the SCENIC HOTEL GROUP in New Zealand. This partnership would not only bring benefits to the Parties and the countries tourism and hospitality culture on to an international stage, but also support the development of youth learning, training and employment in both Tonga and New Zealand.

TYEE a not for profit youth support service organisation in Tonga established in 2014 is always looking for new prospects, new professional partners as SCENIC HOTELS.  It will enable us to collaborate and work together to achieve our objectives, deliver solutions and benefits in regards to youth industry skills training, employment and entrepreneurship with ICT opportunities and youth relevant career networks.

The first overseas addition to our Scenic family of hotels makes for a wonderful gateway to the Kingdom of Tonga.  Scenic Hotel Tonga is located at Fua'amotu close to the island's secluded eastern beaches. 
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Scenic Hotel Group is committed to providing quality, comfortable accommodation that represents excellent value for leisure and business travellers from around New Zealand and around the world. We extend genuine friendly Kiwi hospitality to every guest who comes through our doors.
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​For more information about SCENIC HOTEL GROUP, Tonga, New Zealand and Niue, visit their website!

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With two locations in the South Island of New Zealand, and one in Tonga, the team at Amaia Luxury Spa are dedicated to giving you a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
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A superior menu of treatments ranging from Massage Therapy to Manicures and Pedicures will ensure you leave feeling relaxed and revitalised. 

For more information about the Amaia Luxury Spa - visit their website!

Monday, 6th August 2018: Mr. GRAEME ATKINSON is TYEE's first official New Zealand VSA volunteer placement in Tonga. Graeme is accompanied by his wife, Joy Atkinson. TYEE welcomed Graeme and Joy to its family with prayers of thanks and a small shared morning tea with Board members and staff. 

​Graeme's engagement is important in supporting TYEE with the set-up of its new facility for the Youth Tech Incubators Centre (YTIC).  Graeme, an ICT Expert and Trainer who will deliver the initial ICT Training program at the centre for TYEE participating youths who have showed interests in developing their ICT skills for a career they will choose in this global growing industry. 

TYEE Work Readiness and Youth Entrepreneurship Training programs will also be delivered in this new centre to prepare the youths for their career paths, employment opportunities and/or creating and starting their own small business opportunities as youth entrepreneurs.

​Aspirations matter and what young people in Tonga think about work, and how the young people aspirations in rural and urban Tonga shape their experience in TYEE and youth programs in general.

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​The YTIC centre also has a space for a Tonga Youth Market Connect (TYMC) platform where youths, businesses, opportunities and technical support for advertising, marketing, sales, project management and much more will be connected.  Real People, Real Investment, Real Work, Real Impact and sustainable outcomes for Tonga and Youth. 
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A massive thank you to the NZ High Commission Office, Nuku'alofa and Daine Thorne-George from VSA New Zealand Office and her team for their support!

TYEE is humbled at the opportunity to work together with Graeme to achieve our goals while continuing to promote and build on the unique partnerships between TYEE and NZ VSA.

Tonga National Youth Week 2018 Theme:
“CREATING A HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL SPACE FOR YOUTH”.   
​by "Promoting ‘PEACE’ and ‘SAY NO’ to destructive substances”.

TYEE joined hands together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Youth Division and the participating Youth Stakeholders in a Float Parade in Nuku'alofa on Saturday, 11th August 2018.  It has been a long week of Youth consultation workshops and celebrations.  This is the second to the last day for all to come together and shine at the nation's future generation National Youth Week in leading up to the International Youth Day on Sunday, 12th August 2018.

Despite of the rain - the work must carry on and so did the music!

Our Theme and Programme:

“CREATING A HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL SPACE FOR YOUTH”.   
​This theme can be achieved by "Promoting ‘PEACE’ and ‘SAY NO’ to destructive substances”.
 
Sunday 5th:
Prayer service at 10am, Basilica Nuku'alofa.
 
Monday 6th:
i. Official Opening of the Youth Conference (9 - 10am): You are all invited to be there before the Guest of Honour arrives please.  We need to be on time and set the example to the other participants. TV will be there as well.
ii. Conference (10:30 - 12:30pm): There will be a panel and will open the floor for questions after.  The program will be live on tv and radio so your presence to support it, will be mostly appreciated.  Again, this will be live on TV and radio.
 
Tuesday 7th (10 - 12:30pm):
• Group work to reflect on Monday's panel discussions but focus on drugs.

Wednesday 8th (10 - 12:30pm):
• Group work to reflect on Monday's panel discussions but focus on PEACE (as a result of youth violence)

Thursday 8th:  Youth Stakeholders Forum Consultation Meeting (not available to the Public).
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Friday 10th:
• YOUTH OPEN DAY!!!
• Please register if your organization has anything to display or sell that day.  Registration will close this Friday 3rd August.

Saturday 11th:
• FLOAT!!!  
• Registration MUST reflect the theme (goal) of the week.
• Registration will close this Friday 3rd August.

Sunday 12th:
• 'Polotu' at the Districts.
• Please help the District Officers, youth groups and Church leaders in your districts to organize the program.  A letter will be delivered to the District Officers tomorrow morning with the draft program to guide them in their arrangement.  

​For more information please contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs Office and/or TYEE Office.

TYEE is pleased to announce that it has signed a New Facility Agreement with House of Tonga on Wednesday, 1st August 2018 at House of Tonga office, Mailetaha in Nuku'alofa.

TYEE answering strong demand for its services, today announced plans to expand by opening its new facility to be located at House of Tonga Building.  TYEE will occupy Shop 2, Shop 3 and Shop 4 on the ground floor of the House of Tonga Building.  The unique new facility will feature a Youth Tech Incubators Centre (YTIC) with office suite space and 15-20 workstations with progressive design elements. The new facility will also feature a Tonga Youth Market Connect (TYMC) hub with office suite and 4-6 workstations with distinctive elements. The new facility is scheduled to open in September 2018 and will join the existing TYEE location at House of Tonga.

"Our new facility extends TYEE's  reputation and objectives of delivering youth and business demand-driven support services, office space, technology, business support service solutions to youth entrepreneurs, start-ups, small-to large-sized businesses",  said Lusia Latu-Jones, TYEE President.  "We are excited to bring our model of cost effective, efficient, flexible office training space to the local market with the plan to connect to the regional and international markets in the near future.  It's a great alternative to traditional commercial office and training space, while facilitating and providing for the needs of our youth clients and business community at large".

This new facility location offers easy access to public transport, central city of Nuku'alofa, hospital, schools, banks, cafes and variety of shops and street markets. The new facility also has access to House of Tonga's very own  boutique hotel accommodation, Pacific Ocean Guided-Tours and a fully-equipped conference room with a 24 hours Reception service. For more information about House of Tonga, visit their website.

The new facility will feature smartly configured floor plans designed to promote workers, entrepreneurs, mentors, advisors, investors and students productivity in a collaborative environment. The space will be flexible including an ICT Training space, interconnecting offices and various business services.  An on-site technology platform will provide a youth enterprise-class, IT infrastructure complete with a private, firewalled data network, dedicated and WIFI internet connectivity,  voice telecommunications, and e-mail, web, and application hosting services.  By providing everything from workstation furniture, mail room space and service center services, telecommunications, and reception services - youth entrepreneurs, start-ups and companies will be able to preserve capital and keep overhead to a minimum, while focusing on enhancing their core competencies.

“We are pleased to work in partnership with House of Tonga,” said Latu-Jones.  “Their commitment to supporting TYEE and youth mirrors our commitment to our clients. YTIC and TYMC will allow us to expand our outstanding customer service and highly flexible, commitment model to many more youth entrepreneurs and companies seeking to grow their businesses without the burdens of securing a rental office space and unnecessary capital investment.”

TYEE, a registered not for profit youth support service organisation in Tonga, established in 2014 and working with the aim to help Tonga young school leavers aged 18-29.

For more information about TYEE's new facility - YTIC and TYMC please contact TYEE Office at lusia.latu@tyeetonga.org