Youth recycled clothes SWAP event was officially opened on Friday, 22 November 2019 to mark the TYEE GO GREEN! initiative.

L-R: Lusia Latu-Jones (President, TYEE), Sinama Tupou Fuao (Director, Min. of Internal Affairs Youth Division), Pres. Ian Tu'ihalangingie (Teufaiva LDS Chaple), Ilaisaane Manu (TYEE Administrator & MC of the day)

GO GREEN! is a youth-led community initiative which aims to encourage youth to utulise their talents and skills for the betterment of the environment and their future, through recycling of quality clothes. The GO GREEN! concept was developed around waste reduction, affordability and sustainability, with the intention to engage with the youth and encourage them to make ethical and sustainable fashion choices.

​GO GREEN! is one of the initiatives that has been created under the third pillar of TYEE core services which is the Youth Entrepreneurship in our effort to address youth unemployment challenges and support youth opportunities in Tonga.

The programme of the GO GREEN! event was held at the Teufaiva LDS Hall, Longolongo started at 10:30am with the welcoming remarks by the MC, Miss. Ilaisaane Manu followed by GO GREEN! Choir with an uplifting song, Hallelujah and the opening prayer by Pres. Ian Tu'ihalangingie of the Teufaiva LDS Chaple.  Miss Olive Mafi, the Event Coordinator who wore many hats in coordinating and leading the GO GREEN! Team delivered a heartfelt and passionate presentation about the journey of the GO GREEN! initiative which captured the audience in tears.  Copies of the Programme were accompanied by GO GREEN! Brochures were handed out to our guests on the day for information.  

GO GREEN! initiative was officially marked with the cutting of the ribbons by Mrs. Sinama Tupou Fuao, Director of Youth Division under the Government Ministry of Internal Affairs to open the very first recycled clothes SWAP event. This was followed by her warm and informative remarks speaking to the parents about the importance of their roles at home in raising up their children.

The registered SWAP customers enjoyed a variety of good quality fashions and recycled bottle tops Xmas items produced by our GO GREEN! volunteers for them to shop from using their recycled tokens.  Chosen clothes at the SWAP by our customers were packed and wrapped with gifted ribbons to avoid the use of plastics. The SWAP space was managed by our GO GREEN! volunteers whom they have been trained and assigned to different tasks to take ownership of.

Part 1 of the Programme was completed with an item performed by the Assembly of God's Youth Group. Also attending the GO GREEN! event was Mrs. Lola Liava'a Tonga, Manager of Projects from the Tonga Waste Authority, Principals of Longolongo, Nuku'alofa and Hilliard Memorial Primary Schools, Director of Ordinary Tongan Lives, parents and children of our youth, families and friends.

L-R: Lusia Latu-Jones (TYEE President), Pres. Ian Tu'ihalangingie (Teufaiva LDS Chapel), Lola Liava'a Tonga (Manager of Projects, Tonga Waste Authority Ltd), Ilaisaane Manu (Master of Ceremony)

The event finished off on a high note with an entertaining GO GREEN! Youth Samoa Siva solo item and a Youth Fashion Show "wearing their personality and confidence on the cat walk".  The fashion show and the models were organised and trained by our very own GO GREEN! volunteer, Miss Ana Tavo. The categories were; youth work and business attires both Tongan and non-Tongan, smart street casuals and evening cocktail wear. The closing remarks was delivered by Miss. Lesila Tangulu and the closing prayer by Ms. Sepiuta Hikila, a GO GREEN! volunteer.

Closing Prayer by Ms Sepiuta Hikila

Acknowledgement

TYEE GO GREEN! would like to humbly acknowledge and sincerely thank each loyal supporter and sponsor for their support which helped us to achieve our goal with GO GREEN! first official event:
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• President of the LDS Church, Longolongo for enabling us to utulise their wonderful LDS facility.
• BSP Bank Tonga for our GO GREEN! volunteers t-shirts and caps
• SCH Lawyers 
• Jessica Afeaki 
• 'Ilaisaane Manu and family, FWC Kolofo'ou/Kolomotu'a
• Olive Mafi and family, Haveluloto
• Lesila Tangulu and family, Kolonga
• Jenny Vasu and family, Vaini
• GO GREEN! Volunteers and their families and friends
• Sinama Tupou Fuao, Director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Youth Division
• Mrs. Lola Liava'a Tonga, Tonga Waste Authority Ltd
• Radio Nuku'alofa 88.6FM
• What's On In Tongatapu (WOIT) & FAB Rental Cars Ma'ufanga
• GPS Nuku'alofa,
• GPS Longolongo,
• Hilliard Memorial Primary School (Mangaia)
• Miss Seneti Popua 'Aho
• Mr. Leveni 'Aho and MEIDECC Office
• Mrs. Luseane 'Aho and the Audit Office
• Nesi Tonga and JKCA Office
• Felisita from Min. of Education and Training Office
• Magic Signs
• Ordinary Tongan Lives
• Niulala Catering