WE DID IT AGAIN! TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP our home, our future, our responsibility.
by Olive Mafi, GO GREEN! Coordinator. With another successful SWAP Event and over 40 youth participants, volunteers and staff, we strive for consistency and sustainability. During the preparation for our SWAP Event we came across an eye-opening moment with our GO GREEN! Volunteers. One of our volunteers, male, 31 years of age from Nukuhetulu is currently a “Setuata” (Church caretaker) in his church and is desperate to find work and willing to do whatever it takes to support his family at this time of struggle. He shares on how TYEE GO GREEN! became his refuge from all the personal challenges that his currently going through. With this experience, it is clear who we are to the youth and what we stand for. To our young people, TYEE GO GREEN! is dubbed as ESSENTIAL SERVICES. The backbone they run to in times of struggle, confusion and when they are in desperate need of support. We pride ourselves in our ability to make a difference in the world and although we are a self-funded youth NGO, we still managed to become that strong support system to our young people. One of the many highlights from this SWAP Event is our debate. “Should the youth be more involved to a point they are able to lead climate change-related initiatives in Tonga”. Although some of the youth shared that some issues facing the youth nowadays are lack of commitment and goal setting. One of the countering opinions to this point is, “...we say many times that the youth are the root causes of social problems, but that’s only some of us, the rest of us are actually committed and hard workers” From November 2019 to August 2020 we have catered for more than 200 youth participants and probably reduced clothing wastes by a significant percentage given the amount of clothes we SWAP each fortnightly event. We obtain more than 100 pieces of unwanted clothing each event times 7 SWAP events since November and that is how many clothing wastes that could have potentially affected our environment if not for the consistency and determination of TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP. Given that the work we do positively impacts the country in general, although our contribution may not make up 1% of the country’s global contribution to climate change, but we remain committed and we believe we are making such a big difference and thus, it’s only fit, that initiatives such as these get the recognition and support it deserves to continue to cater for the many unemployed youths out there but most importantly, to securing a healthy, clean, green environment. TYEE GO GREEN! our home, our future, our responsibility.
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TYEE Youth Market ended on a high note with a message that speaks volume, "we are not alone".9/8/2020 “I feel like as a young entrepreneur it was important to join this event to show other youth to embrace their creativity” Kalisi Tu’itavake, 21, Kolomotu’a. (Winner, The Best Youth Market Stall Presentation) To conclude the TYEE Youth Market & Zumba Competition Event on Saturday, 5th September with over 200 people at the Digicel Square. We just keep getting bigger and better. We had to limit our registrations due to the venue capacity verses the outpouring interests from the youth. But that did not stop them because not only did this number doubled, they were motivated and full of energy. The TYEE Youth Market catered for 25 youth entrepreneurs and this is what they had to say about the event. “I feel awesome, because I had collected many profits”, Tevita & Suliana, 20 and 23 years of ages, Fangaloto. “Anything could be sold here”, Hala Hakeai, 21, Kolomotu’a “I felt excited because I get to sell all my products which are food”, Susanne Fakalata, 26, Ma’ufanga. “Kou fiefia he tokoni ki hono fakamaketi’i atu emau ngaahi maketi”, Tu’amelie ‘Anitoni, 28, Ma’ufanga. The TYEE Youth Market as well as the Zumba Competition went hand in hand to expose the best talents in our country, offer the people with a more “fun” approach to physical exercise as well as empowering the youth of Tonga. From a variety of entertainment, food products to clothes to hand sewn swimming wears to pot plants, handicrafts, and local produce crops - these youth came out of their hiding places and proved that they too can make it in a hostile business environment. With over 20 groups registered to compete for TYEE Zumba Competition. We had people from all over Tongatapu at Digicel Square. Not only did they differ in terms of where they came from, but also in terms of their ages, religion, status, and occupation. It was a family day event, were the people came over to enjoy great food, amazing company, and exceptional services. We would like to acknowledge the winner for our Zumba Competition; the Ministry of Finance with 20 participants, they came to win. We highlight this involvement in terms of setting the example to our people and to our youth. We must be the example if we want people to follow. So, it’s crucial that their participation did not only mean they’re on board with the movement against NCDs in Tonga, they wanted to support the work of the youth of TYEE GO GREEN! and that goes a long way. We strongly encourage this form of support from our Government Ministries as they bring a message that speaks volume to our youth, and that is “YOU ARE NOT ALONE”. The Winners and their Prize Packages can be viewed on here [Click to view] With COVID-19 what the youth in our country need is support and reassurance that we are not alone. That although the responsibility of our country’s future is on our shoulders, but our government, our businesspeople, our communities are right there with us, supporting us to build the eco-friendly, successful future we all look forward to. TYEE Go Green! our home, our future, our responsibility. Acknowledgement of our Judges and Auditor at this EventWe wish to thank and acknowledge our Judges for this Event, Mr. Sevaki Fe'ao (Senior Program Officer, Tonga Health), Christine Lopeti (Representative of Rise-n-Shine Australia), and Virginie Dourlet (Teacher, Tonga High School). The Auditor, Pisila Kainga (MEIDECC). The Winner of the Best Youth Market Stall Presentation |
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February 2023
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