Students plan for a future in agriculture
Students from Faleata College in Apia, Samoa have waited eagerly for the arrival of seedlings and equipment to begin their school project.
The Head of Department for Agricultural Science and Horticulture, Toleafoa Tuputala Aneliu Tuipe’a was pleased to receive equipment and seedlings which would be used to encourage gardening activities at the school.
“We are very happy to receive needed seedlings and gardening equipment using vouchers we won in a competition at World Food Day 2015”. Said Mr Tupe’a.
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 first thing we plan to do is secure a safe spot for the seedlings.” Said Tupe’a.
Mr Tuipe’a mentioned that the benefits students will receive through the garden project. “The students will not only learn about agriculture but the project will also create income earning opportunities”.
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.