PRESS RELEASE FROM TWICT

Tonga Women in ICT (TWICT) proudly hosted its first Cyber Security Bootcamp for high school students, a groundbreaking one-day event held at Epworth Hall in Kolofo’ou.

The bootcamp brought together around 90 students from seven secondary schools — Beulah College, Tonga College ‘Atele, Tupou College Toloa, Queen Salote College, Takuilau College, St Andrew’s High School, and Liahona High School — alongside university students from the Tonga National University (TNU). Also joining the event were teachers from across Tonga, amplifying the impact on the broader education sector.

The event couldn't have come at a better time. Tonga, like many Pacific nations, has been facing a surge in scams and cyber threats — affecting both individuals and institutions. This bootcamp served as a critical step toward raising awareness, building digital resilience, and planting the seeds of cyber safety culture among young people.

The bootcamp was officially opened by Ms. Alison Gow, First Secretary of Development at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), with the support of the Government of Australia. She was joined by esteemed guests, including Dr. Tangikina Steen, Chairlady of TWICT; Ms. Oketi Akauola, Director for Secondary Schools; Mr. Otukolo Tokai, Director of CERT Tonga; and Mr. Adli Wahid, Senior Internet Security Specialist from APNIC, who served as lead facilitator. Also present were teachers and representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and Tonga Police.

Participants engaged in dynamic sessions on:

•  “How the Internet Works & Cyber Career Pathways” –TWICT
• Cyber Threats & Risks in Tonga – CERT Tonga
• Cyber Crime & Legal Aspects – Attorney General’s Office
• Real-Life Cyber Crime Cases in Tonga – Tonga Police

These sessions showcased the strong collaboration between TWICT, CERT Tonga, AGO, and Tonga Police in combating cybercrime and promoting cyber awareness in Tonga.

The day’s main event was a Capture The Flag (CTF) competition that was executed with the support of APNIC — a hands-on challenge where students worked in teams to solve problems involving forensics, encryption, cyber hacks, and more. Thirteen teams participated, with most schools entering two teams.

CTF Winners:

• 1^st Place: Tonga National University (TNU)
• 2^nd Place: Tupou College Toloa (TCT)
• 3^rd Place: Liahona High School (LHS)
• 4^_th Place: Queen Salote College (QSC)
• 5^th Place: Tonga College ‘Atele (TCA)

Mr. Adli Wahid of APNIC said: “I commend TWICT for the overall planning and execution of the program. Not only we had good  participation from the teams but there was an amazing showcase of collaboration from various cyber security stakeholders in Tonga with the active participation of CERT Tonga, Tonga Police and Attorney’s General office.  As for the student participants, I see a lot of potential based on their determination and team spirit during the CTF. Hopefully, they will have more opportunities to participate in future capacity building activities.”

Mr. Anthony Tamo’ua, a teacher from Tupou College Toloa, said: “We’re grateful to have our Toloa students attend this program — it gave them real exposure to information and skills, especially around being safe online when it comes to technology, the internet, and social media. It’s important for our children to learn this now, and for us as teachers to take it back and share with the rest of the school. We teach them now as our country develops and moves forward into a digital future.”

Evening Workshop: Managing Cyber Risks in the Workplace

Following the student bootcamp, TWICT hosted a second session in the evening — “Managing Cyber Risks in the Workplace,” also facilitated by Adli Wahid. Over 30 professionals from the private sector, public enterprises, and government took part in this session, focusing on practical workplace cyber threats, risks, and prevention measures.

With Tonga experiencing increasing incidents of scams, phishing, ransomeware, and system breaches, this session was an important opportunity for organizations to build internal capacity and stay informed. Attendees appreciated the practical approach and relevance of the content in today’s climate.

Looking ahead:

• More hands-on training for youth and professionals
•  Increased device access per team for practical sessions
• Continued regional collaboration through Pacific-wide CTFs
• Ongoing awareness efforts targeting schools, workplaces, and communities

TWICT remains committed to championing cyber security education, equipping the next generation with tools to stay safe online, and supporting businesses and government entities in navigating today’s fast-changing threat landscape.

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