EmPawa Hour – Youth Economic Development

Sep 28, 2017 | Initiatives and Projects | 0

On Thursday 14th September, Em Pawa Hour on Capitol FM107 featured Regina Iakula, responsible for data registration at the National Youth Council, and Yasmine Björnum, founder of Sista magazine, to discuss youth economic empowerment.

Hosty Faithy led the discussions where Regina reflected on the successful International Youth Day Celebrations that was held at Lakatoro, Malekula the week before. More than 350 Youth delegates from around Malampa including Port Vila, Shefa, Luganville and Sanma attended the event. The theme for this year was “Youth Building Peace through Economic Empowerment” with a focus on agriculture. Next year Port Vila will be hosting the International Celebration of Youth Day.

Regina also discussed the barriers that young women face to achieving youth economic empowerment. This included:

Culture
Gender role stereotype
Lack of Family support
Limited spaces in training
Lack of child friendy spaces at work and training spaces
Lack of capital to build businesses

empawa-hour-minigames-vanuatu

Regina encouraged youth who are aspiring entrepreneurs to join the Young Entrepreneur Network and to visit the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce to find out about trainings and how to move forward with any business ideas.

Yasmine shared her thoughts on how young women and men shouldn’t seek to find a job, but instead to follow their passion and to create a job for themselves and be their own boss.

For more information, please follow the Vanuatu National Youth Council on Facebook.

Tune in every Thursday, 8 -9am on FM107 for Em Pawa Hour!

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Mother shares premature birth experience during COVID-19 November 20, 2023
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1,816 sign petition as effort to end political instability November 17, 2023
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Ni-Vanuatu Women’s voices echo far at 3rd regional Community-Based Fisheries Dialogue November 16, 2023
Mrs. Rose Jimmy (left) and Mrs. Leisavi Joel during their Talanoa session yesterday. Photo: VFD Representatives from community groups and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from across the region, gathered in Nouméa to take part in the 3rd regional Community-Based Fisheries Dialogue on November 14-15, 2023. This occurred as part the 6th Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture (RTMCFA), hosted by the Pacific Community (SPC). The dialogue provides a space for communities from across the region to share their views on issues relating to their coastal fisheries. During the second day of this meeting, Mrs. Leisavi Joel and Mrs. Rose Jimmy from the Havana Tasivanua Environment and Climate Action Network held a ‘Talanoa’ (shared their experience) session in front of an audience of over 100 participants from the Pacific. Mrs. Joel and Mrs. Jimmy were part of a special session organised by SPC and the University of Wollongong that discussed the importance of including voices from women alongside men in Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM). The growing collaboration between the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) and Vanua-Tai Resource Monitors Network was critical to making their participation possible. Following a panel of four speakers from Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, Mrs. Joel shared, with passion and emotion, her personal experience and journey as a woman representative from her community working on sustainable fisheries management. “It is hard work for a woman to be actively involved in a male dominated area in the community, when it comes down to decision-making in our community, at the end of the day we have to look at the chief for his support,” she said. In regard to getting recognition from the community leaders, she added, “Sometimes the chief just sees us as a sister, aunty, mother or grandmother and nothing more, even though I am involved actively with our coastal and environmental activities inside the community.” Mrs. Joel and Mrs. Jimmy are the first women to hold a ‘Talanoa’ session during such a regional meeting and were widely appreciated. The session has demonstrated its value as a way to bring community voices to the regional leaders in coastal fisheries. The duo continued to actively participate during the 2-day discussion and want their experiences to set an example for other women in Vanuatu to become active members of CBFM committees in their community, with the support of men leaders. ________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Civil Society organises protest against political instability November 14, 2023
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174 seasonal workers blacklisted November 6, 2023
Vanuatu’s Department of Labour (DoL) has revealed that they receive weekly complaints from the families of seasonal workers, particularly partners who request that their spouses be placed on the DoL’s blacklist for engaging in extramarital affairs. This year alone, the total number of Vanuatu workers blacklisted overseas has risen to 174, including seasonal workers from both Australia and New Zealand. Senior Labour Mobility Officer of Policy, Welfare and Compliance, Minnie Bani, reminds all seasonal workers that their overseas journey is intended for family purposes and not for personal endeavors. “Even if you are single, it’s your father and mother who sent you, not for you to go and disengage from the program,” Mrs. Bani stressed. “The family journey is the primary reason, and the family also includes children. Most of them have seemingly forgotten their children, and they do not know the pressure on the children when there is a conflict in the relationship.” She confirmed the DoL has encountered numerous spouses coming forward with their children in tears, seeking assistance with issues they have with their husbands. However, they expressed their limitations, stating they are not licensed counsellors. She further stated that the Department has introduced an initiative known as the “Community of Care Model,” created by the Australian Government for Vanuatu seasonal workers. This model involves team leaders, employers, and country liaison officers to assist the workers. They also aim to establish a referral pathway, similar to what the Department of Women is doing, to finalise the protocol of a safety net. “In cases of gender-based violence or traumatised children needing counseling, the Department of Labour acts as a vital point of contact. They guide individuals on where to seek counselling,” Mrs. Bani stated. The Senior Labour Mobility Officer mentioned that another goal of the DoL is to provide an actual counselling service. They have identified ADRA Vanuatu’s “Blossom Project,” which focuses on family life education covering topics such as reproductive health, incest, and domestic violence, as a potential resource. According to the Department of Pacific Affairs, reasons for blacklisting can vary, including alcohol abuse, property damage, personality differences, and power struggles between workers and their employers or supervisors. Some cases involve supervisors using power dynamics to threaten workers, leading to blacklisting. However, Mrs. Bani said the most common reason for blacklisting Vanuatu workers is alcohol consumption, which result in fighting, car accidents, and other alcohol-related behaviors. The Department of Pacific Affairs clarifies that blacklisting serves as a punitive measure against workers who violate program rules or exhibit inappropriate behavior. While some cases are justified, there are instances where workers are blacklisted without clear evidence of wrongdoing. The Department of Pacific Affairs further reported the issue of blacklisting affects employers and labour sending units as well. When workers are blacklisted from one program, they may attempt to enter another. “There is a trend of long-term workers being blacklisted, raising questions about whether complacency, multiple visits, or other factors contribute to this issue. It is important to understand and address the underlying reasons behind blacklisting,” the Department of Pacific Affairs reported. The DoL adds that since the scheme’s primary goal is to help individuals economically, a worker placed on Australia’s blacklist may have the opportunity to migrate to New Zealand. However, they may be subject to a two-to five-year stand-down period first. ______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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EmPawa Hour – Youth Economic Development

On Thursday 14th September, Em Pawa Hour on Capitol FM107 featured Regina Iakula, responsible for data registration at the National Youth Council, and Yasmine Björnum, founder of Sista magazine, to discuss youth economic empowerment.

Tune in every Thursday, 8 -9am on FM107 for Em Pawa Hour!

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Follow Sista

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“I have been a groundbreaker for my Island, Women and Vanuatu”

EmPawa Hour – Youth Economic Development

On Thursday 14th September, Em Pawa Hour on Capitol FM107 featured Regina Iakula, responsible for data registration at the National Youth Council, and Yasmine Björnum, founder of Sista magazine, to discuss youth economic empowerment.

Tune in every Thursday, 8 -9am on FM107 for Em Pawa Hour!

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