Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has the potential to play a role in facilitating internships for aspiring youths who are potential employees to its business members through the Pacific Youth Engagement, Empowerment and Economic Pathways (PYEEEP) Project – Solomon Islands.

On Tuesday 13^th SICCI organized an Information Session bringing together youths, SICCI members and key implementing partners to discuss strategies and feedbacks for going forward .

SICCI’s Advocacy Officer, Elvis Bwaa says SICCI is potential partner to the project as its members are some of the biggest employers of the private sector and leading in key industries, who can provide an opportunity for  youths in training centres who strive to secure a better future through employment.

He says SICCI is planning to work closely with key partners of the project to to link youths who are part of the project to businesses that contributes to the country’s economic development.

The Pacific Youth Engagement, Empowerment and Economic Pathways project is aimed at empowering young Pacific Islanders who are not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET).

The project’s mission is to provide youths in selected training centres the opportunity to enhance their opportunity of securing employability. Solomon Islands has one of the highest growing young populations in the region, who are facing increasing unemployment and are without relevant basic skills to enter the workforce. For the private sector, having work ready young employees is important, especially in specific industry that require some experiences. Internship provides opportunity for experiences that will benefit businesses as well as the intern in the long run.

The project offers youth’s two pathways either to undergo training courses at Mary Mazzarello and Kaotave RTC.

Forty youths will undergo intense trainings at these two institution and courses will focus on workplace expectations, ethics as well as learning key skills to develop students’ CVs and job application before moving into a structured internship.

The pilot project is currently implemented in Tonga and Solomon Islands with the intention of expanding to other Pacific Island Countries.

It will be spearheaded by The Pacific Community (SPC) and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs with key partners including Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), Mary Mazzarello Development Center, Kaotave Rural Training Centre and Solomon Islands National Youth Congress in the country.