Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Inc. (TYEE), a registered non-profit youth employment and entrepreneurship support service organisation in Tonga celebrated its Third Year Anniversary on Friday 10th November 2017,  at the TYEE Office, Ground Floor, House of Tonga in Mailetaha. 

Rev. Penisimani Tonga from the Tonga Christian Fellowship led the ​event with an opening prayer and a short remark in congratulating the good and the important work of  the organisation to ensure a better and productive future for the youth of Tonga.  "There is hope for the youth in Tonga", said, Rev. Tonga.

Speaking at the event was Keynote Speaker, Mrs. Jessica Afeaki, a youth entrepreneur and Proprietor of Kakala Ltd and Kenani Estate.  Afeaki acknowledged the  role of the  organisation in Tonga and the need to encourage and assist our youth so there is hope for them regardless of their qualification and ability.

Meanwhile Lusia Latu-Jones, TYEE President spoke of the organisation various activities to date with a current registration of over 650 young school leavers seeking employment. Of this number,  over 230 of them we've assisted into jobs in various positions and industries and we would continue to build on that outcome and continue to provide support.  
​
TYEE marked and celebrated the Third-Year Anniversary of the organisation with the theme: “Promoting and Celebrating Youth Entrepreneurship.”  The event was also an opportunity to showcase the talent of our youth with fun and career driven “TYEE Youth Market Stalls” – a means by which we are encouraging and training young people to become entrepreneurs as well as to become job creators and income generators within their communities.  Followed by the presentation of the Youth Employer Award of the Year 2017 and the TYEE Youth Q & A Session with 2017 Election Candidates.

The anniversary event was created by youth for the youth and driven by youth.
​

​
​TYEE's anniversary coincides with the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2017. This Global Entrepreneurship Network celebrates 10 years of helping millions of people unleash their ideas to start and scale new businesses through Global Entrepreneurship Week. The campaign began in 2008 with an emphasis on inspiring young people to make their mark and has quickly grown to become a comprehensive effort that engages entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, support organisations and others collaborating to advance economic growth and innovation in more than 170 countries around the world. 

As a member and participant of the GEW 2017, we were delighted to celebrate our 3rd Year Anniversary to help youth and young entrepreneurs gain the exposure on our anniversary and this global event. 

Present at the anniversary event were Board members and staff of TYEE, youth members and youth entrepreneurs, parents and representatives from youth organisation, ICON, representatives from government departments, diplomatic offices, Tonga Skills, local businesses, 2017 Election Candidates, The Believers and Tutu on the Beach.

2018, TYEE will continue to develop and innovate its youth employment programme including youth with a disability.  We will continue to build on the strength and outcomes of our work readiness training programme, employer award of the year initiative, recruitment and support services. The new youth entrepreneurship programme plans to kick-start as a pilot next year.  We are also working on expanding our services to include and cater for the outer islands of Vava'u and Ha'apai.

​TYEE is looking forward to 2018 unfolding and celebrating another year of helping the youth in Tonga through employment and entrepreneurship along with the GEW 2018 .

​Photographs by Masuridy Production.

PROMOTING AND CELEBRATING YOUTH CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Created for Youth by Youth and driven by Youth

Programme for Celebrating TYEE’S 3rd Year Anniversary
Friday, 10th November 2017
TYEE Office, Ground Floor, House of Tonga, Mailetaha
 
MC: Mrs. Lusia Latu Jones – TYEE President
9:45 am               Guests arrive
10:00 am             Welcoming remarks – Ms. Ma’u Pita, TYEE youth member
10.05am              Song – “The Believers” Youth Group
10.15am              Opening Prayer – Rev. Penisimani Tonga, Tonga Christian Fellowship
10:20 am             Opening Remarks – Ms. Vai Tu’iono, TYEE youth member
10:25 am             TYEE Presentation on key activities – Mrs. Lusia Latu-Jones, TYEE President
10:30 am             Special Item – Skit, by Youth Members
10:40 am             Keynote Speaker -  Mrs. Jessica Afeaki, Proprietor, Kakala Limited
10:50 am             Brief remarks by Mrs. Leta Kami, CEO Tonga Development Bank
                                   Youth Development Loans under the GOT-TDB Government Development Loans Scheme   
11:00 am             Marking the Event by the Opening of TYEE Youth Entrepreneur Stalls -  Introduction of                                           Youth Entrepreneurs’ Business Products                        
11:20 am             Presentation of TYEE Youth Employer Award of the Year, 2017
11:30 am             TYEE Youth Q & A Session with 2017 Election Candidates                   
12:00 pm             Special Performance – “Tutu on the Beach”
12:10 pm             Closing Remarks – Ms. Fe’iloaki Akoteu, TYEE youth member
12:15 pm             Song – “The Believers” Youth Group
12:25 pm             Closing Prayer
12: 30pm              Group Photo followed by refreshments
 
Please kindly note that in support of our Youth Entrepreneurs, refreshments will be available for purchase from our TYEE Youth Stalls on the day.  We invite our guests to kindly purchase items from the stalls, which will include food, drinks and other products made by our youth.  Thank you for your support.

​WHAT’S ON 
​
This year, Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (TYEE) will be marking its 3rd Year Anniversary on Friday, 10th November 2017 in Nuku’alofa. This event will also to introduce, promote and celebrate the second part of TYEE Vision – to establish and foster a platform for Youth Entrepreneurship. 
 
THEME:  PROMOTING AND CELEBRATING YOUTH CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP 

Created for Youth by Youth and driven by Youth. 
 
It is no secret that youth entrepreneurship is critical to creating wealth and driving economic growth, innovation and employment in Tonga. 

What works and what does not work is what motivates and drives TYEE to further experiment and innovate new ideas for a meaningful youth entrepreneurship platform.  

We all know from global studies and research that entrepreneurs are vital income providers and job creators. Why would you not be excited enough to participate and support that?  TYEE believes that if we invest in and encourage youth entrepreneurship in the right direction by providing the right platform of opportunities and support, then we'll have a better chance in giving hope to most of youth unemployment regardless of their background. 
​
The promotion of youth entrepreneurship seeks to enhance skills among youth and foster an appropriate business climate where youth can unleash their entrepreneurial potential and youth entrepreneurs can grow their businesses, creating decent jobs for themselves and others. 

EVENT PROGRAMME IDEAS 

The event will be held at TYEE Office location at House of Tonga on Friday, 10th November 2017. 
The Event’s Programme will include some great sessions such as variety of Youth Stalls representing their own business ideas, Candidates Q & A, Entertainment and more. 

In leading up to the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), November 13th – 19th, 2017 and as a member of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), TYEE is also pleased to commemorate the GEW 2017 in Tonga while celebrating the creativity of our youth in Tonga. 
​
All are welcome!  Come and see what our participating Youth are doing to create their own jobs, earn their own income and just being young entrepreneurs. 
 
WHAT YOUTH NEED TO DO FOR THE CANDIDATES Q & A 

For the Youth - this is your chance to meet and talk with the candidates about what is important to you when it comes to selecting good leaders to represent your voices and voting on November 16th. 

The participating Youth are encouraged to share their idea and let their voice be heard during this session.  We will set up an interview panel for discussion of youth issues with candidates.  

To receive an Invite to Participate in this important Session; CANDIDATES Q & A, you are required to:

• At the bottom of this page, please complete the form online, or send it to TYEE facebook page. 
• Submit one or two questions about youth issues in Tonga that you care about such as education, employment, youth entrepreneurship/business, anti-corruption, alcohol, drugs, poverty, etc
• Name of the Candidate(s) running for Parliament on this November Election 2017 that you want to ask your question to
• Submission of questions will close Wednesday 4:00PM 

That’s all. Once we’d receive your questions – TYEE Office will contact you to confirm your details and your Invitation for the Event.