Student’s positive attitude to agriculture
Students studying agriculture at Leififi College in Apia, Samoa have embraced their subject as a possible future pathway. “The students look forward to these classes”, said Leififi College principle, Malae Sefuiva Lauano. “ We have vocational subjects at Leififi college like arts, woodwork, and agriculture”.
“We are very happy to receive gardening equipment using vouchers we won in a competition at World Food Day 2015”. Said Ms. Lauano. “We were able to purchase a hose, sprinkler and large pots”
The competition provided an opportunity for the students to showcase projects and to provide an incentive to continue with agriculture in their studies and possibly as a career.
The students apply what they have learned in two vegetable garden plots at the school. Lauano is pleased to receive equipment used to teach activities at the school. “ We teach how to plant and take care of vegetables and fruit trees”, she said. “We use the large pots that contain flowers to decorate the church building on Sunday”.
The students not only learn about agriculture but also create income earning opportunities. “We have market days and sell produce to the parents”. Lauano explained. “ We have our own bank account so we can save money for future projects”.
The vouchers were supplied by FAO through the UN Youth Employment Programme.
ONE UN Youth Programme
FAO is one of five UN agencies that are supporting the Government of Samoa, through the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development to reduce youth unemployment. The other agencies are United Nations Development Programme, International Labour Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and United Nations Volunteers.
The Ministry and the UN agencies will partner with both private sector and civil society organisations to provide this range of services to youth.
The programme activities will include support to the Samoa National Youth Council to establish a ‘Youth Employment Network’ that will provide information and basic employment services to facilitate successful entry to the labour market.
The programme has been designed with the specific objective of assisting young women and men to develop the knowledge and skills needed to enter the labour market, and to provide them with the additional supporting services needed to secure employment opportunities in either waged employment or in small business development.
International Labour Organization Youth Employment Programme provides assistance to countries in developing efforts on youth employment.