An opportunity for Samoa

By Deidre Fanene 09 July 2016, 12:00AM

A team from an Australia group called Connect Plus Learning is in Samoa to offer locals the opportunity to study and live in Australia.

The Chief Executive Officer of Connect Plus Learning, Maria Artango, told the Weekend Observer they are here to offer students and whoever is interested the opportunity.

 “Connect Plus Learning” is a private owned Company that helps connect people "to the right courses and materials to gain skills" in Business, Management, IT, Project Management, Child Care Services and other areas.

 “What I am here for is trying to create jobs for Samoan people,” she said.  “What we are offering to Samoa is the same programmes we offer in eleven different countries, so it’s exactly the same process we offer to any country that we go.

“This is basically an opportunity for Samoa generation to study in Australia, live in Australia and work there and those are the most important things that we are trying to create here.

“The second one is we are trying to open a business here as a College or a private Institution and that is why we are here.

“What I’m saying is that this is an opportunity for everybody.”

Ms. Artango said they have already met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi and he had indicated interest in the programme.

 “We have given our proposal to him so he is very happy with what we have to offer and he has allowed us to do business here in Samoa,” she said.

“He also said that he will help us by finding the location and an office for us but obviously it’s going to be based in the city.”

Asked why they chose Samoa, the C.E.O said it was because of the culture and their desire to help.

“I want the people of Samoa to get this rare opportunity that some of the people from other countries are getting,” she said. “I love the culture and the people and I didn’t want to pass this opportunity to other people but to have Samoa included in this blessing.”

So how does it work?

Well the applicant has to be 18 years old at least.

“This is an opportunity for people who want to get somewhere in life and who want to make a difference in their lives despite their ages,” she said.

“The student will get a contract and inside that contract it includes the job, but the students have to study and that is their job. “The applicants must pass Level 1 to level 3 of English in University because it is compulsory and then they can apply for this.

“They (applicant) have to choose what they want to study in Australia but they have to pass English in the university level then they can apply for this because English is the most important thing that they have to learn and pass before they move to Australia.”

Once in Australia, the applicant will not be attending school for the first two weeks. “We need to introduce them and familiarise them to the life in Australia and then we will have to go to introduce them to a Samoan community,” she said.

“We will introduce them to a local church and then to any sport that they are willing to join and that’s our job as the school in Australia so that these students will not be home sick.

“So we find them a job to help them while they stay in Australia and then we find them accommodation as well so that is all part of the package.”

By Deidre Fanene 09 July 2016, 12:00AM

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