Youth, employment and tourism

By Marj Moore 11 May 2017, 12:00AM

Yesterday, our lead story on the front page may have seemed like a departure from many of our previous leads.

However despite other competing articles for the front page, it was decided that it was deserving of that front spot. 

Headlined, ‘Taumeasina Resort offers ‘Village Voice’ youth job’, it was a story about two of the major concerns in our country today; namely youth and unemployment.

It also tied in with what is being promoted as a vital industry – tourism, which we hope will help to drive our economic growth in the short and long term future.

It was not an uncommon story about a young person in the village who was hoping to gain skills other than those acquired on a plantation.

There have been others.

But equally there have been as many other stories told by young people extolling the enjoyment of working outdoors and seeing the results of their hard work which provide food and money.

But this young man, Nu’u Aufale had left school in Year 12 and perhaps naively thought at the time, that getting a job would be easy.

Four years later, at the age of 20, he had learned that it was not so easy.

However his self belief was still strong, “I may not have had the best education but I’m a worthy person for any job that is offered,” he said.

On reading the young man’s story, and impressed by the sincerity and self belief of the words of Nu’u Aufale, the General Manager of the Taumeasina Village Resort, Mr Nathan Bucknall agreed to meet with him.  

After spelling out what would be expected, a job offer was made and accepted.

Nu’u’s words to his new employer as they shook hands were, “Thank you very much for the opportunity and I promise you, Mr Nathan Bucknall, you won’t regret your decision to hire me.”

While there are no guarantees what the long term outcome of this story may be, we at the Samoa Observer are ever hopeful that there will be a long and happy relationship between employer and employee.

We also hope that other young people may also get similar chances if they are sincere and have a good work ethic.

We’ll keep you posted. 

By Marj Moore 11 May 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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