28th June, 2019 Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Tonga Ms Rhona McPhee, today at LDS Teufaiva Stake Chapel presented certificates to 82 members of the LDS church who have successfully completed Tonga Institute of Science and Technology’s (TIST) Certificate II in Carpentry.
The program was part of Tonga Skills’ “inventive response” to not only contribute to the national recovery effort after TC Gita but also to provide carpentry training opportunities for locals.
McPhee said that Tonga Skills, LDS, MORDI, Tonga Trust and TIST formed a partnership after the cyclone to contribute to the recovery efforts and at the same time equip local construction trainees with skills and experiences. Through the partnership, 82 members from LDS volunteered to start the on-the-job training.
The training started last year and following six weeks of theory and practical training the trainees were divided into seven groups and started working at several building sites around Tongatapu.
She said that Certificate II in Carpentry is a “pathway for trainees to build their own businesses”. She said that the trainees will be able to apply for work in the local industry and abroad or go for further studies.
More than 50 per cent of the trainees have obtained employment and others are seeking training opportunities abroad after building 32 relief houses in the course of the project.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications.