Hon. Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki (centre) with the TCCI President Aloma Johannson, and the Faa'imata Fashionista of Tonga High School

Tonga High School and 'Atenisi Institute won the Youth in Business Challenge for 2012  for setting up trial businesses for custom made scarves and making oil from candlenuts.

The winning teams received their awards last night September 25, at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall, presented by Hon. Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki the Minister for Education.

The winner of the Secondary Schools category, Tonga High School's "Faa'imata Fashionista" business designing custom made scarves, won a five-day fully funded trip to New Zealand in November, where the four-members will receive mentoring from successful business people and organizations involved in promoting trade in the Pacific.

The winner of the Tertiary Schools category 'Atenisi Institute received a $3,000 pa'anga investment in their "Lucky Seven Company", to develop their business plans for making oil from candle nuts or tuitui.

Youth in Business is an initiative of the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. in partnership with the Secondary Schools Principals Association, the Commerce Teachers Association and the Ministry of Education and Training.

The judging was based on reports provided every month by the teams along with the final report and oral presentations made on September 11-12 where students described their business activities and challenges faced during the competition.

On April 26, nine of the 11 teams who competed in the secondary schools category, and five of the six teams in the tertiary level were awarded seed capital to start their businesses.

After obtaining their business licenses and relevant permits, the finalists started their businesses from May to September 2012. They sent monthly financial reports, and made oral presentations of their activities to a judging panel in mid- September before the final awards ceremony last night.

Entrepreneurship

The Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industries Inc. stated that the challenge is aimed to develop a spirit of entrepreneurship and business practical knowledge among Tonga's youth. "Participants learn how to start and run a business while giving them the opportunity to learn first-hand how to make a sustainable livelihood and participate in reducing unemployment and alleviating hardship."

The Challenge 2012 is funded by TCCI, the Pacific Leadership program, the United Nations Development Program and corporate sponsorships.

The Youth in Business Challenge began in Nuku'alofa in 2010.