In an effort to support youths in gaining employment and working towards poverty alleviation, FRIEND Youth Employment Network (YEN) Program, held its first intensive training for unemployed youths from 8th – 12th February for 2010. This initiative, under the umbrella of the Youth Development Program, focuses on basic communication skills, etiquette and work culture. YEN has received a Nelson Mandela Graca Machel Award and is recognized as a credible program working towards youth empowerment. It is recognized that many youths lack confidence and motivation and are in danger of joining the growing numbers of unemployed and poor in Fiji. This program represents an attempt to support youths in gaining work experience. Another key part of the program is to seek mentorship from corporate organizations, in the hope that corporate leaders could help to develop the leaders of tomorrow.
