Vava’u Youth Congress new Virgin Coconut Oil Unit

Vava’u Youth Congress (VYC), is one of Tonga National Youth Congress most active branch. During the last quota of 2016 Surf for life started building a new facility for VYC to enable local farmers to capitalize on the year-round supply of coconuts and vanilla for export to countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

On February 28^th VYC staff launch the opening of their new Virgin Coconut Oil facility. “We are grateful for all the work that your volunteer has done for our new facility” said the president of VYC on his opening speech “The facility that we have open here today will help the youth of Vava’u”.

“On behalf of Surf for Life I thank you for all the work you’ve done with us and for the community most importantly” said Surf for Life CEO Bo Fox “I wish the Surf for Life team where here today to share this, and importantly volunteers who spend time, hours reaching out to friends and families and raising the fund, necessary for this building. Funding was not only specific for the VCO facility but also for renovation of the main VYC office with new windows, toilets and bathroom facilities.

In 2008, Surf for Life co-founders Alex Fang and Jonathan Sofer ventured on several surf trips to Central America. Upon returning, they decided they wanted to leave more behind in the places they visited than just some surf wax and a few stickers. They saw the apparent need for sustainable development work in these incredible destinations in order to better handle the changing social, environment, and economic landscapes that come with tourism. From here the vision for Surf for Life was born to create an organization that would bring people to far off destinations to explore a new culture, and to do something meaningful to positively impact that community.

“We are determining to strive for greatness” said VYC office manager. ‘Akosita Tua “this new facility that has been given to us will enlighten our bath to move toward greatness. Yes, I have confident that Vava’u Youth Congress will use this facility to its maximum and will not only help our youth but also our community and even our Vava’u”.