​NUKU'ALOFA, Queen Salote Memorial Hall: “I want to prove to the youth of Tonga that we can indeed make a living from our talents,” ‘Ofa Paletu’a, 18yrs old, Talafo’ou. Ms. Paletu’a was one of the registered youth participants for TYEE GO GREEN! Youth Market and she testifies to the promises delivered by this initiative, we can help you earn a living from your God-given talents.

This event marks the TYEE GO GREEN! Initiative first anniversary and looking back to our humble beginnings only reassure us that we are heading in the right direction. 

In a one year time span, GO GREEN! Youth Market has catered for over a thousand people. We have not only supported and molded young local entrepreneurs, but it had trained and enabled many youth volunteers to practice and rise to the demanding requirements of the workplace. 

Through GO GREEN! any of our business partners now have access to high performing and outstanding staff members. 

“Firstly, I want to thank you and your team for the great effort over the weekend. Your girls were amazing, full of energy and very enthusiastic.” Masa Kawaguchi, South Pacific Mozuku Tonga Ltd. 

“The 5 staff you provided was exceptional, they were well presented, punctual, active, confident ….and were fast learners. “Chef Sione Tau’aika, Head Chef Zero. 

This is what differentiates TYEE GO GREEN! From other youth-led and driven initiatives. We keep to our promises and we are consistent; we have supported our young entrepreneurs, help the youth financially and in terms of their health, trained over 200 volunteers on a practical level and become staffing solutions for the businesses as well as constantly evaluating our work to improve, grow and develop ourselves moving forward.

As best represented by two of the youth participants in this event, “I will spread the word that most of the market stalls were sold out and more people should join” Pisila, 31 yrs old, Halaleva.

“I wish to acknowledge youth to feel comfortable making stuff to have more money” Alisi Halatoa, 25, Houma. 

We filled the day with joy and laughter and created an open-free-spirited environment, allowing the youth to be themselves and realize that they are not alone in this fight against youth unemployment in Tonga.  
If not for the team effort and commitment of both TYEE staff and GO GREEN! Volunteers we would have never accomplished what we did in this period. We are grateful for the businesses and Ministries who also recognise the value of our work and wish to further empower and build the youth of Tonga through donations and sponsorships.

If the youth succeed, our future will be successful. 

GO GREEN! 
Our home, our future, our responsibility. 

Nuku'alofa: Friday 20th November 2020.

“CHOOSE TYEE!! So that you can achieve your dreams for the future.” Taniela Vaha’I, 24 yrs old, Patangata.

It is difficult not to embrace a sense of fulfilment over the hundreds of testimonies and feedback we constantly get from our youth participants after getting involved in our events.

Many of these young people do not hold back when expressing their gratification and appreciation for being made aware of TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP and the countless benefits they reaped from a single SWAP event.  From affordable fashion to a newly fresh looking sustainable and eco-friendly closet, and to top it off, giving our young people, a once in a lifetime experience, or as best described by a SWAP participant, “Perfect Customer service from the staff as well as the nourishment  and encouragement of team work and working together.” Lesieli Lolo, 22 yrs old, Pea.

This is to mark the ending of the SWAP Event for the year 2020 as well as the 1 year anniversary for the GO GREEN! Initiative.

We reflect on the first SWAP Event in November 2019 and the confidence and determination we had to growing and developing the initiative to where it is today. With the growth, we also made a long lasting impression on not only the lives of our youth participants but on the environment, by also raising the awareness of unethical consumer habits.

 Did you know that it takes 2,700 litres, or the amount of drinking water needed by one person for 900 days, to produce just one T-shirt? (Living, Euronews)

Within a year, TYEE GO GREEN! SWAP have reused and recycled approximately 1,500 pieces of clothing wastes, this is how much more wastes that could have piled up in landfill for this year alone as well as reducing the need to purchase new material as we continue to provide several  fashion alternatives.  

For a youth-led community initiative to have such an impact on the environment and on the youth, community is astounding to say the least. We are on the verge of becoming the number one youth organisation contributor to Tonga’s NDC which plays a critical role in our country’s contribution to addressing climate change.

The interest towards the initiative has tripled; the demand for affordable fashion increases by the hour, but one thing remains the same, our determination and commitment to grow and develop.
​
We welcome any form of support towards the initiative that will enable us to deliver all our activities in its entirety for a greater impact on the youth and on our environment.
 
TYEE GO GREEN!
Our home, our future, our responsibility.  

 
MATAIKA, NUKU'ALOFA, Monday 9th November 2020: One of the biggest challenges that TYEE faces as a not for profit youth support service non-governmental organisation is the space to operate. No matter where we relocate ourselves to, the rate at which our work grows and develops will always be limited by the space in which we operate.  

For the first time since established in 2014, we are proud to announce, TYEE has found its new home! This is a wonderful milestone for TYEE.  Our new location is the previously known as Tuna’s Lodge in Mataika. 

From Monday 16th November 2020, we can start welcoming the Youth of Tonga and customers to TYEE’s new location with a warm heart as we continue to serve our young people and bring hope for a better future for Tonga.  

Special Thanks to Rev. Pulonga ‘A Tonga ‘Iki for opening our new home with a prayer ceremony this morning, followed by a brief tour of the building and morning tea provided by the staff of TYEE. 

God is good, all the time! 

We ask the youth and customers to bear with us during this time of transition to complete our set up before we would open our door to business as normal. In the meantime, we ask that you contact us by telephone or email and we will return your message as soon as we can.

For further information on our new location, please contact TYEE.
TYEE Tel: +676 7706340 or 8425259.
Email: hello@tyeetonga.org

Tongan Version

Koe taha ‘o e ngaahi pole ‘oku fepaki mo e ngaue’anga ‘a e TYEE koe ‘ikai lahi fe’unga ‘a e feitu’u ‘oku fakahoko mei ai ‘a e fua fatongia. ‘Oku hoko ma’u pe ‘a e tupulaki mo e lahi ‘o e ngaue ke ne fakangatangata ‘a e fua fatongia ‘o e ngaue’anga ni koe 'ikai ma'u ha feitu'u fe'unga ke fakahoko mei ai e faifatongia. 

Talu hono fokotu’u ‘a e TYEE ‘i he ta’u 2014, ‘oku mau loto fiefia mo hounga’ia ke fakahoko atu, ‘oku hiki ‘a e ngaue’anga ni ki he feituu fo’ou ko’eni ‘i Mataika na’e ‘iloa kimu’a ko e Tuna’s Lodge. 

'E toki kamata mei he 'aho Monite, 16 Novema 2020 ke mau talitali lelei ‘a e to’utupu ‘o Tonga, moe kakai ho tau fonua kihe ‘api fo’ou ‘o e TYEE mo ha loto mafana mo fiefia mo’oni. 

‘Oku 'oatu ha fakamalo makehe kia Faifekau Rev. Pulonga ‘A Tonga ‘Iki ‘i hono fakahoko ‘a e lotu fakaava ‘o e 'api fo’ou ‘a e ngaue’anga ni.  

‘Oku lelei ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he taimi kotoa pe!

'Oku mau kole ki he fanau to'utupu moe kasitoma 'a e TYEE kemou kataki pe kae fakahoko e ngaahi ngaue ki hono fakakakato e ngaue'anga ni kae lava ke toki hoko atu e faifatongia 'o hange ko e anga maheni.

Ki ha faka’eke’eke kataki 'o fetu’utaki mai pe ki he TYEE:
TYEE Tel: +676 7706340 pe 8425259 
Email: hello@tyeetonga.org

​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.