Tonga's unemployment statistics are grim, with youth unemployment reaching as high as 40% in rural areas, according to some estimates, and many unemployed youth simply lose hope of ever getting a job.

One organisation is trying to throw out a lifeline.

The Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (TYEE), a Non-Government Organisation that was set up two years ago due to the high rate of unemployment in Tonga, has so far helped 175 young people gain employment.

Sela Bloomfield, a TYEE board member, said if you look behind the statistics, there are many inspirational stories of young people who are committed to their families, to pursuing a dream, to becoming a better person, committed to contributing to our community. 

"These stories behind the statistics encourages us an organisation to do the work that we do," she said.

To celebrate its second-year anniversary TYEE hosted a colourful fashion show, featuring the various industries and businesses where youth had gained employment through the program, including Digicel Tonga, TCC, Real Tonga. The event on Friday, November 25 at Davina House, included Hon Frederica Filipe cutting an anniversary cake. 

Unemployment

Sela said  the Tonga Census 2006 provided the latest official unemployment rate of 4.9%.

"However, ADB estimates that youth unemployment could be as high as 20%. If subsistence workers (who would take paid work if it was available) are counted as unemployed, the total unemployment rate rises to 35.9%, or 23% in urban areas and 40% in rural areas. Our statistics are grim," she said.

When TYEE began they provided service for three young people per day, and today it has gone up to 10 youth per day, through manual and online registrations. TYEE has assisted 175 young people to find full time employment in Tonga, in positions ranging from commercial cleaning and housekeeping to IT administration, tourism officer and production supervisor.

They also have a current registration of over 430 young people between the ages of 18-29 who are seeking employment. Many of their young people are either school leavers with little or no qualification or work experience, or young people who left school early due to difficult circumstances (often termed school drop-outs). 

More recently, TYEE has also been assisting university or diploma graduates who are actively seeking employment, she said.

"We are proud of the work that has been achieved in the last two-years. However, there is still much more work to be done."

Assistance

Lusia Latu TYEE President said their focus has been set on piloting and developing the first half of the vision; to become the leading youth employment and entrepreneurship support service organisation in Tonga, assisting youth school leavers aged 18-29 to find employment opportunities.

“After two fantastic years of trials and errors, challenges and achievements, we have assisted 175 youth into employment opportunities with contracts, part-time, and full-time positions. Over 90% have gained full time employment and less than 10% comprises contracts and part-time positions.”

"Today, our youth comprise a large proportion of the nation’s population. However, the simple fact is, there are not enough jobs in Tonga to cater for our growing youth sector population and not everyone who completes their education will get a job. Despite this challenge, it has been our mission to assist our youth to find employment," she said.

"For young entrepreneurs who are interested in establishing their own businesses, our goal is to empower youth with relevant information and support to help them get started. No other organisation in Tonga has stepped-up to assist our youth and to bridge the gap like TYEE."

Better future

Hon Frederica said she came across TYEE in an online article and was in need of some employees.

Her experience with TYEE was a positive one because found them incredibly efficient and effective and was very impressed with how easy it was to find who she was looking for on their website.

This is an inspirational initiative that is helping so many of our young people who struggle with employment and maintaining employment. I give my sincere thanks and appreciation to the President, Vice-President, board members and staff who were responsible for creating this enterprise and awarding the students your time and expertise, she said.

"You are ensuring a better future for these young people and for the Kingdom of Tonga, you are helping Tonga grow."

TYEE is located at the FWC Building, Fasi-moe-afi, Nuku'alofa.