Mele Aleamotua and George Cocker travelled to the U.S. as part of an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)'s Early Childhood program and the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development program.

The American Embassy team in Nuku’alofa met with the two yesterday, 23 May to present their certificates.

Mele is an Early Childhood Educator who went to Washington DC, New York, Orlando, Florida and Reno, Nevada, to compare best practices for children with disabilities.

The program highlighted the need for early intervention, teacher training, and acceptance of children with vision, hearing, and learning disabilities.

George is a small businessman who came away from his IVLP experience with a dream to replicate in Tonga the small business incubator centre he witnessed in Baltimore, Maryland.

George is looking to reduce barriers to entry to the small business world and to form partnerships between businesses, governments, and universities so that ideas can become a reality.