Teen Challenge empowered with tools to make a difference

17 March 2018, 12:00AM

The Ministry of Women Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) and the Samoa One UN Youth Employment Programme have teamed up to help Teen Challenge Samoa.

This week, they presented $5,000 worth of assets and resources to the programme. The presentation was held at the Apia Harvest Centre Church compound at Togafu’afu’a where Teen Challenge is based.

The equipment is for enterprise ventures in the food service industry providing youth with basic skills for employment in the hospitality sector or start of their own business.  

Teen Challenge is a partner of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development working to support youth in Samoa. 

Formed in 2017, Teen Challenge has provided ‘Youth Building Peace’ trainings and workshops for out of school youth and college youth to discuss topics such as school fights, bullying, and the different types of assaults, focusing on ways to help minimise youth having issues with the law.

Unemployment has been identified as a contributing factor to youth being involved in criminal activity and thus is a focus of M.W.C.S.D. and Teen Challenge. 

Teen Challenge assists out of school youths in an employment transitional social enterprise to provide and support ‘employment’ practices in terms of work ethics, customer services and financial literacy as a means of assisting youth transitioning into permanent employment or entrepreneurship.  

The project funded and supported by the M.W.C.S.D. and the Samoa One UN Youth Employment Programme aims to decrease unemployment and eventually reduce youths’ involvement in criminal activities contributing to establishing a safer Samoa.  

During the hand over, Assistant Pastor of Apia Harvest Centre Church and Assistant Chairman of the Teen Challenge Board, Fa’amatuainu Amosa Pouoa pointed out that “up to 40 per cent of the 180 youth” who attend the programme are unemployed.

”The need for employment and proper training to engage these young people will alleviate their situations and some of the underlying causes of issues affecting their morale and characters,” Ps. Fa’amatuainu said.

“The initiative has received wide support from the business community and churches in the town area and will be properly acknowledged”.

Nanai Sovala Agaiava, A.C.E.O. for Economic Development at the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development said: ”These assets and resources will serve to provide youth with new skills and opportunities for their future.” 

Ps. Fa’amatuainu and Eric Poe, Director of the Samoa Teen Challenge, acknowledged the support by the M.W.C.S.D. and the Samoa One UN Family.

17 March 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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