​85% of all textiles go to the dump each year. On average, people bought 60% more garments in 2014 than they did in 2000. Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams.  It may take between 20 to 200 years to fully biodegrade these textiles. (According to World Economic Forum).

TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP alone has helped to prevent the rapid increase in carbon emission and land pollution as an ongoing popular fortnightly event.

With over 200 youth volunteers in the past year and over 300 youth registered participants, there is a massive amount of clothing wastes being recycled and reused in the process and therefore reducing the wastes going to landfill. 

​Not too often we hear the youth advocating for climate change and publicly sharing their opinions towards climate related issues. But it has become the norm for the TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP team, listening to our young people sharing their appreciation for exposing them to such an important initiative. It also opens their eyes to what’s really going on around us and the impact we as future leaders put together can have on our environment. 

This SWAP Event was held at the Bahai Hall in Nuku’alofa, and we filled the venue with laughter, happiness, and good positive vibes. The majority of this event’s participants were 20 years and younger which on average are the youngest group of people we have catered for at the same event. This comes to show how much interest this initiative draws in from people of differing religion, careers, economic and social status as well age and villages. 

A youth-led and driven community initiative with the intention of benefitting the majority speaks volume of the commitment and patriotism of our young people. With the growth and development of TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP we welcome support of any form, whether it be, services, sponsorship, venue, or shared resources. Any donation towards the initiative will not only enable the team to deliver the initiative to its full extent but it will also mitigate the impacts of climate change and secure a healthy green, clean future. 

Support now and become part of something bigger than yourself. 
​
TYEE GO GREEN! Our home, our future, our responsibility!
Ko hotau ‘api, ko hotau kahau, ko hotau fatongia. 

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. 

​We started the initiative with 4 winning online recipe submissions. 

1. A young single mother of 3 from Maufanga. TEAM FAUA
2. A recent post graduate chef but is now teaching at QSC College. TEAM QSC
3. A member of the women’s national rugby team with a passion for food TEAM PAKI MOE TO’I
4. All the way to Fiji, a current baker/ chef at one of the well-known bakeries in Tonga. TEAM BANKS

These 4 contestants battled for the best two winning dishes to advance to the finals to compete for the title “Youth Master Chef” in Tonga.  

The two finalists then went head to head on Friday,  25th of September for the last chef standing. 
Sharing the judges' panel for this competition was the CEO for Tonga Health, Head Chef of Zero Chef Restaurant, Sione Tau’aika, Chef Mino, and Nutritionist Diplomat from Vaiola, ‘Ilisa Topui. Some of the remarks from the judges read; 

“These dishes taste and look like 5 star dishes”.  Chef Mino, Feleti Mahoni Hifo. 

“Oku faa siolalo foki ae kakai kihe elia oe kuki, ka kapau koho taleniti ia, DON’T GIVE UP”. Chef Sione Tau’aika.

“This was a very colourful dish; the rainbow colours signify a variety of nutrients and its very healthy.” Vaiola Nutritionist Diplomat, Ilisa Topui. 

“These ingredients are accessible, local, day-to-day ingredients that we use, just not quite like this, it’s good to know that the talents today can turn something we are used to into something delicious and new and we should share these talents with the people”.  CEO Tonga Health, ‘Ofeina Filimoehala. 

Like every challenge, it took more than just TYEE to execute this initiative and we are grateful for the collaboration, support,  and sponsorships of Ms. Amelia Vallabh. She has not only volunteered to host our events but also her time to support our young future chefs at the event where required.

This success of the event was enabled by a collaborating effort between Tonga Health Promotion Foundation, Rise & Shine Australia, Taufa’ahau Village, South Pacific Mozuku Tonga Ltd, and SCH Lawyers Ltd. 

Favourite Quotes from our last two finalists says, “Don’t work hard, work smart” and “Big Dreams can Win Big”. This sums up the feeling and passion these young contestants have whilst participating in the first ever TYEE GO GREEN! Food Recipe Challenge. 

It was a night of celebration of the talents and determinations these young future chefs had to being the best in what they do. 

By participating in this event, our young people are given the opportunity to share, develop and promote their talents which will eventually be the basis of starting their own small businesses. 

Long term, this initiative will bring out the best hidden talents in the food arena, offer a variety of healthy, local and innovative eating alternatives, create employment opportunities and not only contribute to our country’s economy but most importantly the improve the health of our people. 

Given the fresh and new nature of this initiative we are open and welcome to collaborating with all relevant parties in the food arena in our country to take this initiative to the next level and create multiple opportunities with this same initiative. 

We work better when we work together. 

TYEE GO GREEN! Food & Recipe
Your health is your responsibility. ​