Macuata Youth Learn Life-Saving Skills, Open Doors to Secure Jobs
‘We learned how to handle a fire-like situation, Red Cross provided training in reacting to disasterlike situations and humanitarian skills, while we also learned how to save a drowning person.’
Blackstone Youth Club members ability to remain proactive while participating in their first Duke of Edinburgh International Awards (DEIA) training programme has paid off.
Despite many club members being unemployed the Naboutini Village natives of Macuata Province forged ahead with a positive mindset.
During the training phase of the programme, club members travelled to Savusavu to be part of an emergency and life-saving practical training.
Club president, Mere Silika, was overwhelmed that 11 members from their 36-strong club received the DEIA programme bronze awards after months of hardwork.
A total of 23 recipients received their bronze awards while three collected both the bronze and silver accord on Monday in Labasa.
They received their awards in the presence of the chief guest, Minister for Youth and Sports, Parveen Bala.
It was the club’s engagement with the ministry during the DEIA training that was worth the experience.
“Now our youths can hopefully get employed somewhere because the DEIA programme was internationally recognised around 130 countries as well,” Ms Silika said.
“We learned how to handle a firelike situation, Red Cross provided training in reacting to disaster-like situations and humanitarian skills, while we also learned how to save a drowning person,” she said.
The club was formed in 2019 to participate and engage in the DEIA silver programme.
“That’s the ambition right now and we want our youths to gain as many opportunities and experience through this programme.”
The club plans to apply for the $5000 youth grant as a means to engage in an income-generating project to allow youths and the club to financially sustain themselves.
The club has secondary school students as club members so it wants to provide a pathway to better equip members with employment skills.
The unemployed youths depend on occasional farming for part-time income, but, again this was not sustainable.
Youth member, Asaeli John Rass said the moment he learnt of the DEIA programme from the ministry, he made up his mind to participate and learn more.
Mr Rass said after leaving his tertiary studies and returning to the village, this programme would greatly boost his curriculum vitae experience and probably help him to secure a job in urban centres.
“I am so happy because if there is any chance, this will change my life in the future,” he said.