The Faa'imata Fashionista team (centre), Katherine Sika, Loseline Mahe and Sosaia Fangaloka meet the owner of Drum Productions, Stan Wolfgramm, producer of the Style Pasifika NZ Program. Vector Arena, Auckland. 26 November 2012.

A team of Tonga High School students who won the Secondary Schools category of Tonga's Youth in Business Challenge 2012, returned home on  December 1 after a successful five-day funded trip to New Zealand.

Called Faa'imata Fashionista the four member team included Katherine Sika, Laumanu Mafi, Loseline Mahe and Sosaia Fangaloka who took their business idea of producing customized scarves and worked hard for four months to beat  eight other finalists to win. To date they have sold over 400 scarves.

Three members of the team visited New Zealand, without Laumanu who was traveling on another program she was awarded with. They met with 11 businesses from a range of industries, with many having direct links to Tonga.

According to the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (TCCI), the team witnessed some great success stories of people who had achieved their dreams through hard work and passion. Business visits included Drum Productions, Mena Fashions, Pacific Business Trust, Huffer Direct Ltds., New Zealand Tonga Business Council, True Pacific, Pacific Business Mentors Program, Alrite Steel and Services, Affirming Works, Spasifik Magazine and Scenic Hotel Group. 

The Tongan team also met with seven teams from schools in North and South Auckland who participated in the Young Enterprise Scheme, that the Tongan youth in Business challenge was modeled after.

They were able to share their experiences, challenges and the lessons they learned from participating in the competition. From these discussions the Faa'imata Fashionista team learned that no matter where life takes them or what they are doing time management would always be a challenge they need to overcome, stated Tonga Chamber.

They were accompanied by supervising teacher Saane Latunipulu, Taiana Sika as chaperone and Monica Hamilton the Coordinator of the program and TCCI Program Manager.

Youth

The Youth in Business Challenge 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.

In 2012, Youth in Business Challenge was expanded to include secondary schools in 'Eua and in 2013 secondary schools in Ha'apai and Vava'u will be invited to particpate.

The challenge was funded by TCCI, the Pacific Leadership Program, the United Nations Development program and corporate sponsorship.