Training for Tongan handicraft producers is boosting their earnings by improving their creative skills and making them more aware of what their customers expect, say the organisers of courses in cultural tourism and handicraft making held this month in Tongatapu.

Forty-seven certificates were awarded by Lady Tuna Fielakepa to 27 participants, including 17 women and 10 men, in four workshops on Tongan jewellery making (Siueli Faka-Tonga), screen printing, customer service and tourism awareness.

Monalisa Palu the National Coordinator said there have been increasing calls for trainings as more people are seeing how handicrafts can provide an income for their families.

She said the workshops were integrated into handicrafts technical courses so when participants joined the screen-printing or jewellery-making course they not only learned the skills but knew what the customers expected.

“It’s a better package and a better trained vendor sells more and increases their livelihood. Because people are so busy, we try to keep the courses short within a week and the results have been encouraging.”

Mele Kalisitiane (39) from Ha’alalo, who took part in the screen-printing training on August 26-28 said the new skills were invaluable. “I support my mother and I see screen printing can provide an income,” she said.

Veuveuso Vaea (47) said although this was his second training in screen-printing and helps to improve the quality of his tapa prints being sold.

“After my first training last year I started selling my screen print design on tapa cloths at Langafonua... although my wife works I can supplement our income and provide a better life for my family,” he said.

Over 20 workshops have been held this year with over 600 certificates of achievement awarded since May last year throughout Vava'u, Ha'apai and Tongatapu.

Local trainers included Sione Loseli for screen printing, Hu'ahulu for jewellery making and Taumosi Hemaloto for customer service and tourism awareness.

The training is provided under a Tonga Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Support Program aimed to enhance sustainable livelihood opportunities from tourism for artisans and cultural experience providers. The programme is funded by the New Zealand Government.