A 57-year-old father, who graduated with basic training in plumbing from the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (A.P.T.C.), hopes his brief return to school would inspire unemployed youth to consider technical training.

Father-of-four of Sapapalii and Solosolo, Faanati Papalii Maoae Felefele, graduated last Friday with a Certificate in Non-Accredited Plumbing Training from the A.P.T.C. after undergoing and completing the three-week programme.

He was one of 10 men who participated in the course and received certificates upon its completion.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer on Sunday, Faanati said he is very grateful for the opportunity he got to return to school in order to upskill himself in the plumbing trade.

He said he never thought that it could happen to him as he considers himself old.

"I am honored to have been able to use this opportunity to go back to school and learn again," he said.

"These are rare opportunities that hardly come to us. I used to work at the Samoa Water Authority ages ago but I had to leave for a family commitment overseas. 

Faanati said upon his return to the country, he stayed home doing some work and it didn’t cross his mind that he could return to the classroom to upskill himself.

“But I'm happy that I did get a chance to do so, this training has helped me in so many ways, now I am able to deal with our own water problems without paying for a plumber to come and fix them,” he said.

I had the skills before but I didn't know everything that I needed to know and with the training, I am now fully aware of what to do in any circumstance."

Attributing the successful completion of his course to their president Sasa Taiatu Milo, Faanati said it was Mr Milo who pushed him to attend the training as he personally met him and saw his work.

"The president, who is from Solosolo encouraged us to participate in the training,” he said.

“I had no idea that there would be any certificate to be distributed later on, but it is also proof of the three weeks that we spent in this training.”

But the three-week training had its challenges and for Faanati it was how he managed his time between his training and family commitments.

He also had difficulties understanding the A.P.T.C. tutor, who was from Fiji and delivered the course in English, but he was able to overcome the hurdle due to the in-class presence of a Samoan translator.

“One of the positive impacts of this training, especially for someone like me who was not well educated, the learning was all in English as our tutor was Fiji-Indian, it was kind of hard to understand the training," he said.

“However we had a Samoan translator who was always there to help us through the training.

“It was indeed a very useful training as it helped develop our families and also help out with our village's water supply if it gets damaged, because I am part of the water committee here in our village."

Turning to the youth who dropped out of school, Faanati said they were missing out on life’s achievements and he hopes they don’t neglect their studies due to peer pressure.

"As a 57-year-old man, going back to learn was impossible but I did it. Seeing our young ones who have dropped out and are now wasting their time roaming around and doing nothing with their life is a pity,” he said.

“I hope that when they see us (elders) going back to school and learning, I hope it teaches them a lesson that they can always go back and learn. 

“There are other courses offered at A.P.T.C. that will help them find jobs and make a life for themselves instead of wasting it drinking and walking around the village.

"My advice as a parent, a father and a friend to the young generation is to stay in school and learn as much as you can because your future depends on it."

Faanati also thanked everyone who supported him throughout the three weeks of training, especially his family, friends, church and his village.