“When I joined Ituani in 2019, I had no background in training or management,” says Henjo, a member of the management team at Ituani Vocational Training Centre in Vanuatu. “Everything was new to me — how to lead a team, how to develop training systems. I didn’t know where to begin.”
That same year, Ituani Centre was introduced to a new learning resource — the Pacific TVET Online Toolkit, an initiative supported by the Commonwealth of Learning and made possible through funding from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
For Henjo, the Toolkit became the foundation of his professional development. “The Toolkit gave me the knowledge and confidence to build our training programmes. It helped me plan staffing, organise resources, and understand how to support our learners.”
The Toolkit wasn’t just about technical know-how — it changed how Henjo viewed his role. “I developed communication skills, learned how to set up competency-based training, and began to see how our centre could make a meaningful impact.”
That impact is now being recognised. “In 2024, Ituani was the only organisation in the country invited to present at the national TVET forum under the theme ‘Flexible Delivery Model.’ That was a proud moment for us.”
The team at Ituani is driven by a deep commitment to empowering communities. “We work with passionate individuals who are always eager to learn and contribute,” Henjo says. “The Toolkit helps us grow our internal capacity and deliver quality training.”
Henjo actively promotes the Toolkit within his team. “We’ve encouraged all our staff to use it. It’s free and accessible, and we want to continue benefiting from it for as long as we can.”
Looking ahead, he hopes to take their stories further. “We’d love to share our experiences through videos so others can learn from them, too. We’re working towards making that happen.”
At its heart, Ituani’s mission is simple: bring training to the people. As Henjo puts it: “Many of our learners can’t travel to the towns for training. We bring the learning right to their doorsteps — whether they’re in Malekula, Penama or Torba Province.”
With the Toolkit as a guide and a clear vision for the future, Henjo and his team continue to create learning opportunities that uplift individuals and strengthen communities across Vanuatu.
To learn more about Ituani Centre’s work and ongoing outreach, visit www.ituani.org or follow their journey on Facebook at facebook.com/ituani.