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Tonga joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Youth Day 2021

8/14/2021

Official Launch of the first National Youth Policy & Strategic Plan 2021-2025

TYEE was pleased to join the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other relevant stakeholders for this year's International Youth Day 2021 (IYD 2021) celebrations at Falemasiva Hall, Tailulu College on Thursday, 12th August 2021. The celebration was an opportunity for the Tonga Government to officially launch the first ever Tonga National Youth Policy and the Strategic Plan 2021 to 2025 to commemorate the IYD. The Guest of Honour was the Speaker of Tonga Parliament, Lord Fakafanua who also received the official copy of the Policy and Strategic Plan from the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Ministry who is responsible for the Youth Development Division of Tonga. The Policy identities five key priority areas vital to support of youth development in Tonga.

The theme for this year's International Youth Day (IYD) was localised by the Youth Stakeholder's Forum to fit the purpose as; "Healthy Youth, Healthy Tonga" (Ko e To'utupu Mo'uilelei, Tonga Mo'uilelei).

Winner: Booth Competition

Tonga youth stakeholders and youths also participated in a booth competition to commemorate the International Youth Day 2021 with the theme "Healthy Youth, Healthy Tonga" which is in line with the international day theme: “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”. TYEE was pleased to be awarded with the First Prize, T$1000 Cash for Best Booth proudly sponsored by the South Pacific Community (SPC) Fiji. The TNYC won the second prize, and Live & Learn won the third prize.

TYEE Youth Fashion Show

TYEE also celebrated the IYD with a Youth Fashion Show to showcase some of our youth entrepreneurs' talents, skills and creativity in fashion, graphic designing, makeup, hairstyling, kupesi (Tongan cultural designs), tattoos and much more.

TYEE was honored to host our youth Fashion Designer/Entrepreneur for this fashion show, Ms Lavinia Fehoko who was the winner of TYEE Youth Fashion Designer Competition from last year 2020, also a registered youth entrepreneur and participant in TYEE Youth Innovation (Mafoa 'A e Ata) Challenge 2021. Through effective collaborations to showcase the local participating youth entrepreneurs talents and expertise, the fashion show also highlighted some of the Tongan kupesi being used on the designer's clothes by Mr. Taleta Maka of 'Otu Felenite Tattoo & Barber Shop. This is a local Tongan tattoo artist who specializes in Polynesian Art and Designs.

There were two categories, Tradition Wear and Formal Wear chosen by the Youth Fashion Designer, Ms. Lavinia Fehoko to honour the Tonga youth on this International Youth Day, to wear the clothes with pride and to celebrate the youth of their achievements.

Also acknowledging the back stage assistants and models who lend us a hand to put up a great and entertaining fashion show.

1. Hair stylist & Make Up: Ms. Paea Manu and Christina Latu
2. Female Models: Ms. Lute Ofanoa, Tania Silakivai, Kalolaine Fau, Maile Malimali, Katinia 'Aisake.
3. Male Models: Teolosia Falemaka, Sione Tupou, Semisi Vaioleti.

We would like to thank all our staff, volunteers, families and friends for all their assistants and support, with you, we all did it.