Under a project designed for "Empowering young girls for economic resilience", a newly renovated sewing hub was launched at St Joseph’s Community College in Ha’apai yesterday, 10 June 2024.

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tonga and Niue, His Eminence Soane Patita Paini Cardinal Mafi launched and blessed the new facililty.

Cardinal Mafi said that the Home Economics students of St Joseph College were fortunate to have a fully equipped sewing hub.

After the launching, parents of St. Joseph Community College students and Ex-Students of 1989 provided a feast with entertainment by students.

The sewing hub was renovated under the Tonga Young Women's Economic Resilience (TYWER) Program in partnership with CARE Australia, funded by the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), along with support from the Shifting the Power Coalition.

The TYWER Program is also piloting in three locations, including Vaini, Navutoka and Patangata in Tongatapu, where young girls are taught skills such as savings, loans and setting up saving clubs to improve income generating activities.