Today US Peace Corps representatives presented the Tonga National Youth Congress (TNYC), Women's Youth Caucus, with a cheque for TOP$3,490 to fund the Kemi 'Uluakaua: Gender, Health, and HIV Leadership Camp for Female Youth to be held from 1-8 June 2005, in Ha'apai.

There will be 35 participants, 10 from Tongatapu and 25 from Ha'apai, at the week-long event, to be held at the Ha'apai Youth Centre in Pangai. Girls will participate in workshops about gender, sports and nutrition, relationships, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS.

The goals of Kemi 'Uluakaua are:

1) to create a space for female youth to find their voice, build their self-esteem, and become leaders in their homes and communities;

2) to strengthen the skills, knowledge and capacity of female youth in the areas of gender, health and HIV/AIDS;

3) to encourage the development of female youth work; and

4) to expand the TNYC's Women's Youth Caucus to the Ha'apai island group.

The Women's Youth Caucus develops and encourages leadership, self-confidence, and sisterhood among Tongan young women. It is active in Tongatapu, with seven members making up the working committee: Haitelenisia Kite, President, Lavengatonga; Mele Lomaile, Secretary, Kolonga; Hina Telefoni, Treasurer, Ha...‚asini; 'Anaseini Kauvaka, Lavengatonga; Mele Tu...‚ivai, Ha...‚asini; 'Uluaki Tonga, Ha...‚asini; 'Evalata Siua, Malapo; Elizabeth Green, PCV, TNYC Gender Advisor; and 'Eseta Mafua, Tonga National Volunteer, TNYC HIV/AIDS and Gender Coordinator.