FNU Targets Community Needs in Tailevu Meetings
The Fiji National University (FNU) is reaching out to grassroots communities through provincial council meetings with the aim of raising awareness on educational opportunities to address community development needs. The meetings spearheaded by the Tailevu Provincial Council were facilitated at district level and brought together village and district representatives, government departments, civil society, and key stakeholders to discuss community development challenges and social issues affecting villages and districts. FNU’s role at the meetings were to enlighten villages and districts of educational opportunities available through its technical vocational education and training (TVET) programmes and higher education programmes. At the Bau district meeting, Ratu Apenisa Seniloli, highlighted the potential of FNU’s programmes to tackle youth unemployment by equipping young people with trade skills and certifications. “This would help build capacity amongst our youth and enable them to find employment in the formal sector. This can also steer them away from social problems impacting them today,” said Ratu Seniloli. “While some already have skills in plumbing or carpentry, they lack official certification. FNU’s programmes can bridge this gap.” Amele Naiqame, a women’s representative from Mokani village, expressed her appreciation for FNU’s initiative. She spoke of the despair felt by parents of students who had dropped out of high school. “FNU’s visit, along with the presentation of diverse programmes offers new hope for our children, youths who have dropped out of school,” said Naiqame. “The community policing officers had shared the dangers of social issues plaguing our youths today. Your programmes can play a role in keeping them safe by providing them with positive opportunities.”