SUPPORTING the development of young people in Pacific communities by providing proper training for youth workers from Samoa, Fiji and Tonga is aim of a Response Abilities Pathways Workshop opened in Nuku'alofa on October 27-29.

Initiated under a Pacific Youth Development Program "Ola Fou", the workshop attended by nine youth workers was opened by Tonga's Police Commander Chris Kelley on October 27.

Commander Kelley said Tonga Police are at the forefront of dealing with youth problems daily and too often in his job he sees young people take the wrong path often by accident but sometimes by design.

He said areas of concern they deal with daily included young persons involved in alcohol, drugs, housebreaking, domestic violence, fraud, sexual offending and other offences.

"Most of the young people we deal with have poor life skills in relationship issues, financial management, work ethics and leadership," he said.

"That's where you come in and make a difference with your skills development to provide life skills to support others because sometimes all it takes is for another person to listen, talk to and to get alongside with."

The Commander then highlighted that Tonga needed leadership in youth and it needed positive people who wanted to make a difference and are prepared to get involved and develop Tonga's youth potential.

The "Ola Fou" program is in partnership with Praxis, a tertiary provider certified by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and supported by NZAID. Participants were to receive diplomas at the end of the workshop.

Participants from Tonga included youth workers, volunteers from the Tonga National Youth Congress, Free Wesleyan Church Youth and from Vava'u.

Also attending was Mr Sereki Korowiri of Fiji, the Youth Development Coordinator for the Pacific Region and Mr Lloyd Martin NZ Praxis Trainer.