Unlocking Youth Potential: PAYA’s First Solomon Islands Workshop
On Saturday, November 23, 2024, the Pacific-Australia Youth Association Inc. (PAYA) hosted a workshop at the Dreamcast Youth Hub in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Sponsored by the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands, the workshop, themed “Empowering Youth to Be Employable,” brought together 25 young participants eager to gain new skills, enhance their employability, and embark on a path toward professional success. The workshop was organised by Gladys Bartlett and Dominic de Moura McCarthy, who also facilitated the sessions alongside local young leaders, Steen Siale and Sabrina Pania.
A Vision for Youth Empowerment
The event began with a warm welcome from Jaydee Nomisasa, representing the Australian High Commission. He inspired the audience with his reflections on the country’s vast youth potential:
“Between 65-70 per cent of the population is under the age of 35. To realise this potential at a national level, you and I need to recognise the individual potential that we hold ourselves as these individuals who make up the 65-70 per cent. It starts with us capitalising on opportunities around us to learn and grow and be better positioned to be effective leaders in our various areas.”
He also highlighted the importance of opportunities like the Australia Awards Scholarships and PAYA’s Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) in nurturing young leaders.
“PAYA’s model of partnership, centred on connection, understanding, and community, is what the High Commission aims to achieve through its presence in the Solomon Islands.”
Workshop Highlights
The interactive program featured dynamic sessions to build critical employability skills:
Digital Skills Session: Learning about what digital skills are and leveraging tools like Canva for digital marketing and document creation.
Scholarship, Interview, Media Interviews and Presenting/Public Speaking Rotating Group Session: Preparing participants to confidently articulate their strengths through a rotating session where groups visited four different tables with the four facilitators each discussing a different topic.
LinkedIn/Personal Branding and CV Writing: Youth could choose a breakout session, with the LinkedIn/Personal Branding session delivered by Gladys and Sabrina, whilst Dominic and Steen presented on CV Writing, accompanied by PAYA Deputy Chair, Janice Ashwin.
Participants appreciated the practical focus of the workshop, with many sharing their excitement:
“It's the best workshop I've attended, and it really helped me upskill my knowledge on digital marketing. I loved it.”
“I really loved this workshop. It empowered me to find a job as an unemployed youth. Thank you.”
The workshop not only provided technical skills but also fostered confidence among participants. One attendee remarked:
“Honestly, this workshop really helped me a lot in applying for jobs or interviews. It improved my ability to communicate with more people and taught me Canva techniques and how to present myself to the public or an interviewer. It’s enabling me to pursue my future endeavours.”
Key Outcomes and Feedback
The workshop’s impact was reinforced by feedback survey results:
92% of participants strongly agreed the workshop improved their skills, while 100% strongly agreed or agreed.
88% strongly agreed the workshop increased their employability, and 96% strongly agreed or agreed.
80% strongly agreed they felt more confident to apply for a job, with 88% strongly agreeing or agreeing.
One participant encapsulated the broader significance of the event:
“It is a great opportunity attending this workshop. The knowledge and skills imparted will help me become employable in many ways, and it will also benefit my community and the country as a whole.”
Building a Brighter Future
The Australian High Commission’s announcement of 100 Australian Awards Scholarships for Solomon Islands was also touched on in Jaydee’s remarks, as well as the opportunity the workshop presented for young leaders:
“The initiatives that PAYA is undertaking including this workshop will no doubt lead to many of us here realising our potential to be effective agents of change and empowering us to take the next bold steps to expand ourselves. Because the reality is that if you and I choose to do this then the country will be better positioned for the future. I have no doubt that many of us here will occupy positions of leadership in whatever area life takes you,” Jaydee emphasised.
As the day concluded with certificate presentations, the youth also had a chance to get a professional headshot taken by our photographer at the event. Many of them used this as the profile image of their newly created LinkedIn profiles.
The success of PAYA’s first Solomon Islands workshop was more than a learning opportunity—it was a stepping stone for 25 young individuals to embrace their potential and contribute meaningfully to their communities and nation.
This event marks just the beginning of PAYA’s efforts in the Solomon Islands. With partners like the Australian High Commission and the enthusiasm of the youth, the future holds endless possibilities.
