Seven-month certificate training programme commences

The 48th regional training in Applied Community Development Studies began on 15th March at CETC. For the next seven months, 32 female participants from 16 of SPC’s member countries and territories will learn new ideas, strategies and skills in order to reach a professional level. The women are enrolled in the Community Development Management Programme and the Community Development Enterprise Programme. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Captain John Hogan, SPC Director of the Economic Development Division, wished the participants a productive seven months’ training.

He said they should make the most of the opportunity and he stressed the importance of coming to CETC in terms of learning and improving their skills to a level of proficiency.

‘CETC has been fine-tuning its programme to suit your needs and we mark this special day to prioritise the importance of women, their rights and their values at all levels and in every facet of community development,’ he said.

Head of CETC Dr Lia Maka added, ‘Many of our women graduates have gone up in the ranks of public service, either in government or in non-government organisations, in their own countries and have passed on the skills and knowledge they learnt at CETC to many others in their communities.’ CETC’s dedication to empowering women, especially young women, demonstrates SPC’s long-term corporate commitment to address world-wide gender equality and Education For All priorities articulated in a number of international conventions and frameworks.

One of the participants, Malia Teu from Tonga, said that she is looking forward to the seven months at CETC. ‘I hope to gain knowledge and skills that can be used to help my community back home, as I will be involved with women and youth in the community.’

Raissa Kahe from New Caledonia commented, ‘It is a great learning experience for me, especially to be able to learn to read and write in English. That is an added bonus for me. I look forward to fully equipping myself and training others back in my community.’ This year CETC welcomes participation from Chuuk (Federated States of Micronesia), Niue and American Samoa.

Carla Billy from Chuuk said, ‘I am very pleased to be here for this training which my mother also attended in 1982. It has been very useful at the National Women’s Organisation where we both work.’

CETC is now registered under the Fiji Higher Education Commission and, since its establishment in 1963, over 1600 women have graduated from the Community Development Programme and more than 300 have benefited from its training of trainers programmes.