Thirteen seasonal program workers were awarded a business certificate of completion today, 29 March, at an awards event to support their long-term business goals in Tonga.

The four-week ‘Your Enterprise Scheme’ business program, run by the Australian Business Volunteers, is the first to be piloted in Tonga, said Matthew Gibbs, Capacity Building Advisor, LMAP/Cardno.

“The idea is to provide more support to workers returning, helping them to achieve their goals and maximize the benefits of their income overseas.”

He said the program was offered to seasonal program workers who were running a business or in the process of developing one in Tonga.

They are in different stages and the idea is to provide general business principals, planning and how to go about building a sustainable business over a long period of time.

Matthew said after the program they hoped to provide further reintegration support to more seasonal workers linking them to other programs and opportunities here.

Some workers used funds they saved from the seasonal workers program to start a business, while others who have started businesses continue to go abroad to work while their family looks after it in Tonga.

“They will spend six-months of the year in Australia and then return to continue to work in the business or invest in their businesses.”

Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon ‘Akosita Lavulavu, who handed out the certificates told participants they are now equipped with business fundamentals and are ready to step out of their comfort zone and establish new initiatives.

Meanwhile, Christopher Faka’utoki, a participant said he has a plumbing business and is happy to have gained more business knowledge.

“This is a stepping stone towards developing a good plumbing business. I hope there will be more programs like this in the future.”

Another participant, Mosiana Kautai, said she will use this knowledge to start a vegetable business, with her husband who is a seasonal worker.

The program was organized by the governments of Australia and Tonga, in partnership with Cardno, Australian Business Volunteers, and Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry.