SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR YOUTH, WOMEN, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE PACIFIC

The Centre for Flexible Learning (CFL) and the Pacific Centre for Flexible and Open Learning for Development (PACFOLD) at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand (MFAT) organised a regional workshop on Skills and Leadership Training for Youth, Women, and Persons with Disabilities in the Pacific. Held at the Suva Peninsula Hotel, Fiji Islands on the 10th of August, 2022, this workshop brought together 14 participants from four different countries (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) across the Pacific.

Ms. Frances Ferreira addressing the workshop participants

The participants represented the following faith based, Non-Government and Civil Society Organisation:

Fiji

  • House of Sarah
  • Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding
  • Fiji Women’s Rights Movement
  • FemLINKpacific
  • Fiji Council of Social Services
  • Rainbow Pride Foundation
  • Soqosoqo Vakamarama-i-Taukei

Solomon Islands

  • Guadalcanal Council of Women

Vanuatu

  • Anne’s Christian Community Health School and Nursing Services  
  • V-Lab

Papua New Guinea

  • Equal Playing Field
  • Grass Skirt Project

The focus of this workshop was to:

  1. Introduce the Pacific Partnership Project, Work stream 2.2 – Skills and Leadership training for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
  2. Discuss the opportunities and challenges for youth in the Pacific region and how the Pacific Partnership Project can contribute to the work of local NGOs to address the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities.

This one day workshop gave the participants an opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced by the Pacific Islanders in accessing skills and leadership training programmes for youth, women and people with disabilities and deliberate on the options for addressing them by coming up with realistic action plans and proposals.  The one day session included presentations, discussions and exploration of ideas on various issues faced by different countries. The workshop provided opportunities for networking and sharing ideas and experiences among the participants.

The workshop was facilitated by:

  • Ms. Frances Ferreira – Acting Director Skills (COL)
  • Dr. Rajni Chand, Director – CFL and PACFOLD

With support from:

  • Ms. Soyeon Kim, Project Coordinator, COL
  • Ms. Sayora Abatova, Project Officer, COL
  • Ms. Sharishna Narayan, Project Officer, CFL, USP
Dr. Rajni Chand - Director of the Centre for Flexible Learning
Dr. Rajni Chand welcoming the participants

With support from:

  • Ms. Soyeon Kim, Project Coordinator, COL
  • Ms. Sayora Abatova, Project Officer, COL
  • Ms. Sharishna Narayan, Project Officer, CFL, USP
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Participants and facilitators of the workshop
Participants and facilitators of the workshop

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