PM’s NATIONAL YOUTH AWARD ASSISTS YOUTHS
THE first ever Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards function organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport has positively touched the lives of nine individuals in their effort to build a career for themselves.
A leg up in the form of $5,000 grant by various private sector sponsors and the major award of $15,000 has boosted the confidence of budding entrepreneurs who are now able to grow their business with the monetary award.
In receiving the $15,000 ‘Entrepreneur Award’, Sarvesh Chetty, who is the owner of Filter Supplies Pte Ltd applauded the award initiative and stated that it has created a platform to inspire all the youths to do something with their lives.
“I dropped out of school to help my dad with the business some 17-years-ago. We used to operate out of a residence and I remember that it was difficult to raise funds to start exporting products we needed for business,” he said.
“Currently we have more than 40 employees. We have invested quite a bit of money in the area of Information and Technology as we want to transition to digitalisation and this grant will assist in that as well as expanding the infrastructure.”
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, in commending the winners, said “this is the chance to recognise the achievements that your purpose has produced”.
“Your personal and professional achievements took vision, self-belief, creativity, and some damn hard work with long nights, early mornings and time away from friends and family which you dedicated to your business or your craft,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
“Now more than ever we must stay firm in our commitment to unleash this generation’s potential –– as innovators, as experts, as entrepreneurs and as leaders,” he stressed.
Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Faiyaz Koya said youth are often looked at as leaders of tomorrow but today they are being looked at as leaders of today.
“The Awards recognises outstanding youth in the categories such as Entrepreneurship, Sports, Music and Dance, Fashion, Arts and Creativity, Inspirational Leadership, Digital Innovator, Community Champion, and EcoChampion,”
he said.
“The MCTTT received applications of 157 individuals nominated by either their families, friends or colleagues and looked at the different attributes and their contribution to different fields,” he added.
“You are doing exceptional things in the fight against climate change, supporting a creative economy, giving the nation recognition by excelling in sports, creating businesses that help diversify the economy, driving a change and breaking the bias by being the voice of the collective.”
“This Government carries the vision of “Transforming Fiji’’. In Fiji – the youth are the architects of social inclusivity,’” he added.