Those two years of hardship was actually something I’m glad happened to me. Because it reminded me of my parents and the hard times they went through for my family. Dad worked at the kava plantation while Mom weaved mats. And I thought to myself, if my parents can do what they can with the jobs they have then I should be able to do more. This is why I’m looking for a job, to help my parents and to prove I am the daughter they can count on.

You understand people better by placing yourself in their shoes.
                                                                                                                                                                             Written by Mr N. Ha'apai

Of course, no one wants to get their hands dirty and get sweaty but not every organisation or employers can be able to provide every youth job seekers with an office job so that they can stay comfort and clean. It is clearly shown that hospitality is not really the industry that most youth would prefer to work in. Their desired jobs are barely available in the industries here in Tonga because employers always preferred someone with lots of skills, experience, good qualifications which are features that most youth do not meet. 

​There is lack of employment and job training provided by the businesses to employed youth which will be a burden to us and our customers of trying to find the right candidate with the skills and experience to fill a position.

Sometimes employers require experience from youth, but how can we offer them staff with work experience if they are still looking for a job to gain work experience.  As an HR and part of our recruitment team, it is part of my duties to investigate every youth to identify how both parties’ expectation can be achieved. It’s very challenging because we may find the candidate with skills and experience that will fit the job but the youth is not interested in that job.  Some youth are interested in that job offered but they do not have the qualification, skills and mostly experience to meet the requirements of the position. 

It is our traditional way of life, to just say something to please someone without expressing the truth behind it, or what they really want, because they might get mocked or turned down by people around them.  Of course youth do not like to feel rejected either. It is these issues that we are facing with the youth when we offered them a job. They would say, "any job"  but when we offered them with any job they reject it.  Some youth are not  completely honest with providing us with their information.

However, businesses who requested for male staff is also a challenge for us as there are less male registered seeking for job because majority of them are taken for the seasonal work scheme abroad offered by the government.  At the same time, most unemployed male nowadays are just relying on women or girls for financial support. Young women are now also stepping up to take the role of being the head provider of the family which is a fact that should be taken into account. 
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Some youth are facing complications at home or they’ve experienced unstable housing such as growing up in a broken family with lack of knowledge about the perspective of being in a workplace environment. In today’s overview, there is qualification inflation and some graduated youth who were interviewed for a job opportunity do not somehow reflect their qualification. This can leave a question in our minds and that of the employers; “What have you been studied at school? ​

​I would highly recommend that youth should be motivated by program to give them clear ideas of how important and what’s it like to be in a job and in a work environment.  [This is where the TYEE Work Readiness program fits in as proven here in Tonga for the youth since 2016.  Without the appropriate funding support - it is almost impossible to cater for the mass and the growing needs within].

From what I have observed, businesses should work closely together with youth how can they both be an asset to both parties through us linking them.  Young male should also be empowered through giving them opportunities to express what they have been through in their own lives in order to provide them support.

People in general and employers always tend to judge youth without studying the reasons behind it so there is a need to look beyond why youth is acting the way they are before judging them.  From that -  we can figure out ways to support them through educating them to be professional in what they do in order to be employed and to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

​My name is ‘Alamoni Grace Nafe. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Auckland earlier in May this year. I’m currently working for the Tongan Government, in the Public Service Commission Office, as the assistant secretary for the Performance Management System division (Human Resources sector). I started this job last month, and it has been a whirlwind learning experience.

After high school, I was given an open-category scholarship. I graduated and still had a hard time looking for a job. Often, we think with such naive optimism that as long as we study hard, we would be guaranteed a great job with the snap of a finger. The truth was a lot bitterer than what I had expected.

Growing up, seeing older cousins drop out from school, and then subsequently struggling to make ends meet as they build families made me realize that it was not something I wanted. I also have a lot of my younger cousins who dropped out of school because they said they couldn’t be bothered to do their assignments anymore, that they wanted to hang out with their friends and fakatamaiki, and they just gave up. It broke my heart, it still breaks my heart.

I thought that education would change everything. After graduating from University and experiencing a long stint of unemployment, it made me wonder what the use in the end was. It was a depressing time for me, and made me feel like my dreams and ambitions were futile.

The sense of uselessness after studying hard and not achieving anything was not something I wanted my younger siblings and cousins to see. Of course, it was an eye-opening reality of the harsh problems in the real world.

I lost count of how many applications I sent out for various positions after returning to Tonga. Ironically, at the PSC office where I now work, my supervisors told me they had seen my applications for the other positions in the various ministries I had applied for. I wasn’t selected for any because “I didn’t have the relative work experience”.

I remember feeling frustrated, how can we gain experience if no one wants to employ us?!

During my interview, my (soon-to-be) boss, had asked me “What is your greatest strength?” Without missing a beat, I told them “My youthfulness. Being young, that means I have a lot of excess energy and enthusiasm. I’m also very willing to learn, and I’m a quick learner.” One of the other questions they had asked me was “What would you like in a future boss?” I told them that I wanted to work with someone who was willing to teach me the ropes, and to bring out the potential in me.

It was a long and nerve-wrecking wait for me to finally land this job. But that wait taught me to appreciate this job so much more, and remembering all the months I wasted doing nothing motivated me to work harder and to learn as much as possible.

In the end, I feel really lucky that I’m able to work in a central government agency. I’m lucky that the office I’m working in are full of older, experienced staff, who are helpful and friendly. I’m lucky that I have a very nice boss/mentors that I’m able to work with. I’m learning so many new things, from the paperwork dealing with various cases and how to interact with co-workers, and officers from various ministries.

I’m lucky, and I remember that there are many others out there who have as much potential and talent as I do, but haven’t been given the opportunity to use and showcase their abilities, knowledge and skillset. Remembering that humbles me, and acts as a constant reminder to work hard, and to keep being a positive role model to others, and to try and do something that would be useful to others.

I really believe that tackling youth unemployment would help to address other social issues such as youth violence, youth crimes, and teenaged pregnancies.

The next big question is “How?”
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-by 'Alamoni Grace Nafe-

​The TYEE Fashion Show is all about Youth Employment & Unemployment. Highlighting Employment Opportunities for the Youth and raising awareness about Youth Unemployment.

The models have been grouped according to different industries. They will be strutting the runway representing their industry & business of interest.

We had the chance to catch up with JAYCEE from the IT group and he was decked out in his tupenu & ta'ovala and a nice long sleeve green shirt.

"What's up Jaycee? Looking really formal there bro."
*Jaycee smiling* "I just got back from a job interview."
"Yeah? How did it go?"
"Really good."
"You sound confident."
"Yes I am actually. We did some training here at TYEE and that really helped me with the interview."
"That's great. So what made you sign up for the Fashion Show?"
"I want to help other youths realise that it does work!"
"What works?"
"That they can come here and get support to find a job."
"Why's that?"
"Many of the youths I know want jobs but they are just too shy to come forward and get help."
"Too shy?"
"Yes it's really hard for the youth but if they see that I can do it then hopefully that'll help them overcome their shyness."
"Jaycee you the man!"

We took a few pics of Jaycee to post but he said not to worry about it. He will send some to use. Next day we get a pic of Jaycee with the famous Ipanema beach in Rio in the back and his name lined across on top of the mountain. Wow! The man can model, cares about the youth, and got some computer skills as well!
Come and see Jaycee lay it down on the runway for the youth, with the youth & everything youth on 25th Nov 2016.

​They broke down crying when they weren't able to get a bank loan to send me overseas for further studies.
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I still want to continue my studies because my parents taught me to never give up.
There's so much I want to do for my parents as well.

I want to work so they won't have to work anymore. I want to get them a home as we don't have one of our own.
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I want my parents to smile and be proud of me again.

My disability makes it difficult for me to walk. Both my legs ache a lot when I go out walking for a long time.
But I've never let it hold me back or make me sad.

I don't worry about what other people say. They are not going to look after me.

​My mother is my biggest supporter. She is only able to work three days a week and the truth is, what she makes isn't enough to support our family.

My parents divorced so I live only with my mother and younger sister .

Some days my mother and younger sister would go hungry but mother would always make sure that I had food.

It's hard when I see that happen.  It makes me want to get up and be able to do more for my family.
I sometimes wonder why?  Why does my mother look after me so well?  Why do I get treated better?

My mother would tell me that she believes I'll be the one who would be able to lift up our family.
Me, the daughter with a disability.

Thank you for believing in me, I want to make you proud.

 I wanted to be a nurse but my qualification was not enough to meet the requirement of nursing.  My father passed away in 2009. I stayed home and wanted to help my mother, and my other siblings, and did not know how to get a job. I dropped out of college at Form 7 and had no work experience at all. I came across TYEE and I decided to contact them if they can help me. 

[Hi.. I'm really interested in your Facebook page on how you helped youth to find a job. I always wanted a job but couldn't have the courage to do so. I dropped out from school at F/7 and I hope you'll help me on how to find a job.] Thanks

​I got an interview with TYEE not long after my registration. I also participated in their Work Readiness training program.  I was honoured to be part of it and was very happy.  I was so excited as I was on my way to landing my first job.  After our training, I was called for a couple of job interviews with TYEE RECRUITMENT for housekeeping and shop assistant positions, but I decided to wait for a better job.  After a few weeks, I was tired of staying home with no luck with jobs, no money and I wanted to get out and work to help my family and also for me to be financially independent. When TYEE contacted me again last week for another job interview, I made up my mind that I will take this job and let that be my first new job.  I had to start somewhere especially after considering my qualification was not that good and a lot of youth with better education are looking for jobs.

I am thankful for this opportunity and wish to encourage my fellow youth jobseekers out there to take the first leap and start exploring the working life.  As Mohammed Ali said it, "I hate every minute of Training but I said, don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a Champion".