In March 2025, the Oloamanu Centre for Professional Development and Continuing Education at the National University of Samoa (NUS) engaged with youth across Upolu and Savaii to better understand their skills, aspirations, and the challenges they face in accessing training and employment opportunities.
Through online surveys, focus group discussions, and a heartfelt activity called My Tautua Wall, young people shared their skills, dreams, and the realities they face in pursuing education and employment.
One participant said, “I want to gain skills that prepare me for real jobs, such as farming or starting a small business.” Others spoke of their hopes to become teachers, engineers, chefs, and community leaders — grounded in a desire to serve their families and communities.
They also spoke candidly about the barriers: financial strain, limited access to digital tools, and cultural expectations that make continuing education a challenge, especially for young women. What they asked for was clear: practical training, flexible schedules, mentorship, and learning spaces closer to home.
At a memorable dialogue led by the Samoa Youth Advisory Board on 31 March 2025, youth leaders and professionals came together to continue the conversation. The message was united: Samoa’s youth are ready to lead, learn, and contribute — they just need the tools to get started.
This consultation was part of the Training Needs Analysis for the upcoming Youth Skills Training Initiative, supported by the Commonwealth of Learning through funding from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Complete updates will follow.