11 Villages Completed on Alcohol Awareness

11 target villages were selected based on their needs for training an awareness program they have identify in their communities for further development. .

On April 24 2017 TNYC alcohol awareness team completed these final villages which was Te’ekiu and Lapaha “I’m glad that we have completed our  task and we have completed it in time” said Mausa Halahala “Yes there were challenges as we move from community to community the message of making the right choice to your lives in alcohol consumption and substance used and be responsible for your choice. “Say no to Alcohol & Drugs , Say YES to a clean and Healthy Lifestyle.”

At Lapaha the message was deliver through open groups discussions while at Te’ekiu the message was deliver through a Talanoa session around a kava bowl.

“I’m thankful to the Alcohol Awareness Team from TNYC and the funding from DFAT through the  Tonga Health that have develop such a program that you have come to help us” said the youth diocese director of Tonga and Tuvalu “your message has given us courage to take the first step. Yes I do know that alcohol consumption here in our village is a problem, but your being here and showing  alternative way of being responsible and making the right choice help us to relook at our behavior and make conscious effort to make the right choice and say no to alcohol and YES to a clean and Healthy & Safe Lifestyle.

The alcohol awareness has complete it phase 1 now the team is working together with Tonga Health to apply for the next phase of the awareness program in the new financial year starting July 2017.  The Alcohol awareness Team not only have complete the 11 village but have also done 3 training to People Living with Disability Group and Youth Development Diploma Group in Tupou Tertiary Institute and the Student in the School Drop out  project that is done from the TNYC Office.

Our work is not finish phase 2 we will focus more on youth who are very much involve in sport as well as youth in the outer island.