A new three-year pilot project launched on 2 June will give 40 young people in Tonga a second chance at education and training.

The Pacific Youth Engagement, Empowerment, and Economic Pathways (PYEEEP) project is a partnership between the Ministry of Internal Affairs Youth Development Division and the Pacific Community (SPC).

Lord Vaea, Minister for Internal Affairs said they endorsed the partnership with the Pacific Community to deliver this realistic pilot programme, which will create new opportunities for our youths, merged into mainstream development efforts.

Miles Young, Director of SPC’s Human Rights and Social Development Division said this is a milestone because they are not only officially launching the project but, they also welcomed the 40 youths who will be the first to pilot the chosen pathways.

"SPC looks forward to working with the Tongan government and partners over the next two years to build a Pacific-customised youth economic pathways project that can be replicated across the region."

The PYEEEP project is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Aid Programme, which aims to empower young Pacific Islanders who are not engaged in education, employment, or training (NEET) to improve their social and economic well-being.

This pilot project is currently being implemented in Tonga and the Solomon Islands, with the intention of expanding it to other Pacific Island countries. It is designed to strengthen national systems and the national bodies supporting youth-based policies and activities to supplement conventional approaches within the formal education system and provide alternative pathways to decent work and meaningful engagement in society.

In addition, the project intends to support Pacific Island governments to establish inclusive services that empower, engage and employ young people, particularly those who have fallen out of education, and for Pacific Island countries to improve sustainable development outcomes for youth excluded from mainstream development.