Telling it As it Happends

At the ceremony, the graduates were given the chance to share their experiences and achievements at CETC.

Talei Simpson (Tahiti)

‘All the way from the Cook Islands, from French Polynesia, Federated State of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Samoa, Solomons, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu even from next door, Fiji, we left our families, our work and our familiar environment in search of new skills, new ideas and, for me, to improve my English as well.’

Talaite Dibolavou (Fiji Islands)

‘We came expecting to be taught, as that is what we were used to at school. ‘But we were made to use our five senses, to observe… to see… to listen…to use our hands, use what we knew, share these, and trial the new ideas. In fact, we learnt hard and fast and practised into the nights, long hours to link what we heard with what our hands were doing. ‘But I must say there was never a dull moment at CETC! I can go back confident that I can apply everything that I have learned and practised.’

Te mimitong Boubou (Kiribati)

‘For me, I was able to plan and run a training based on the training needs analysis we made on Naqeledamuvillage. I prepared thoroughly, setting my objectives, activities and resources including evaluation forms, which I had to ask to be translated to Fijian. ‘I had to use a number of fun ice breakers and games to make my presentation fun and keep them engaged, especially the elderly and the men!’

Rehap Akai (Vanuatu)

‘Since coming here, I have found that all the courses constantly remind us of the need to include everyone when making decisions, in taking part in activities and in sharing of benefits. ‘I did not even know that I have rights as a worker, as a young person, as a woman, even as a customer or a consumer. All this time in my work back home, I did not realise that this is my right and it is important, especially if there are some unfair things happening’.

Temukisa Yu Hoi (Samoa)

‘With vegetable and food prices so high, I can cut down costs and add health value to my own family meals at home and share this with the communities in Savaii where I work as a Women’s Interest Officer. ‘I have new techniques to share with my community on grafting and marcotting, not to mention so many other skills and ideas, and it is good to know that my sisters from Tuvalu, Tokelau and Nauru, Kiribati and Marshalls were able to grow their own from compost in raised drums.’

Meleta Losa Talaisi (Niue)

‘I have learned a whole range of new things but I particularly enjoyed the kitchen side of the training. I can plancheap and highly nutritious meals specifically for pregnant mothers, those that breastfeed and even for those who suffer from diabetes, and there are plenty of them in Niue. ‘I can also make use of excess fruits and vegetables by preserving them and can sell them off too. I particularly enjoyed the sauces we preserved from pumpkin, tomatoes, pineapples, lemons and other local fruits, and know that if I use the quality parameters and market conditions in Niue for product costing and packaging , I can earn some money and run a little business out of banana and yam chips and pumpkin sauce back at home in Niue. There areplenty of yams and I have never heard of yam chips yet.’