ACS ABL

Diploma students Lemeki Tuiono, Tomasi Raiviu, and Livai Lum Om took to Fiji's reknowned girls bording school, Adi Cakobau School. Adventure based learning was the order of the day. Assisting them were certificate students, Gerard, Benjamin, and Litiana. A total of 60 students, most of whom were prefects and form captains of the prestigious school. According to team leader, Lemeki, the event was a total success. The Olafou team had the privellege of using the schools multi purposes hall and parts of the school outdoors during the 3 hour long programme. Most of the participants enjoyed the programme and were caught begging for more only to be told that time had caught up with them. The training brought about a whole new meaning in the learning process as these participants were those that were respective leaders in their different places in the school. The art of debriefing was again the climax of the sessions that they had. More photos are seen below.

Students are seen here getting into the thick of things.....

One of the debriefing sessions...Seen here is team leader Lemeki Tuiono...

Fiji Block Certificate

FIJI BLOCK ONE-CERTIFICATE

Coral Coast- Deuba
February 11th – 14th, 2008

Fiji Block One was an awesome time of reflection and learning. The anxiety and the desperation to feel what the outcome was going to be and to get through the three day expectation is an experience worth looking forward to.

We started off with a really fun and warm welcoming of the 13 participants from the friendly islands of Fiji, in the three countries that the facilitators represented and then from there set the standard of the whole Block course.

The students somehow in the beginning had an anticipation to know what Olafou is all about and how they could be part of the journey.

Some great stories and great discussions were born out of this block course and their journey has just begun. When we dig out the knowledge in them, we found out ourselves that their explanations were even better than ours. They had really sharp mentalities and enthusiasm to learn.

Because the block course was taught in English, it was a strength that we identified that massively contributed into the success of achieving the learning outcomes of the course. Not only that, but the context and the teaching methods used were easily captured by the students and they understood every aspects of what was taught through their confidence, knowing that the facilitators work in the same communities as they are.

One of the strength also within the whole three days was that we gave a lot of time for them to demonstrate what they have learned and so that the whole group can help out improving what they can improve on. This contributed into gaining confidence when they went out to do their practical in the Salvation Army Cores on Saturday evening.

As a team of facilitators we are really confident and excited, knowing that we have achieved our learning outcomes. And we felt what it meant by sitting under your students teaching.

One of the issues that was identified was that we did not understand our plan well as a team. Our strengths were utilized to the max and flexibility was there to cover up what we could have done better together as a team. It was good that we dealt with it and we moved on.

We left with the challenges that we are to continue thinking on what youth work is, and to take ABL into their community and utilize it to effectively identify some of the needs young people are facing today. Looking forward to hear their stories next time we meet.

We acknowledge the prayers and support of the whole diploma students, and all the best for your facilitating process.

Mau Motusaga

Solomon Is Block 1 Certficate

Ola Fou

Solomon Block Course Experience

Ola Fou has been a journey with much to offer for Pacific Island youths in the areas of leadership. As I found out in Solomon Island, many youth leaders who turned up for the course did little or no training at all through the many years in leadership. Ola Fou through my experience has just provided the right training to prepare youth leaders in the Pacific a much more creative approach to young people in their own countries.

It was a challenging moment for team Solomon on figuring out the best possible way of teaching ABL to the students considering the learning outcome and the allocated days of teaching that we were given.

The three days were punched up on teachings of ABL with the hope that at the end of the course, they would be able to run a full ABL program in the community. Team Solomon were given different responsibilties with the aim of enlightening the load amongs the team with Rita, Seru, Mesach and Tomu coming in at different times to do the teaching. U’Eki on the other hand did spend three sessions on the teachings on youth work.

Questions were asked by the students in the process of the training since much of what were taught was new to them. One student in particular who was a teacher mentions that this training has really opened her eyes to understanding the needs of young people and approaching them in a way that best suits them. Other students all felt the same saying that the training was a learning experience since it was something new and will benefit them in the areas of leadership and the young people as a whole. They were all looking forward to teaching all that they have learned in the three days of training to their young people back in their own communities. The positive feedback from the students was an assurance of achievement on the facilitators input.

As facilitators, our goal was teaching ABL so that they would be able to run a full ABL program at the end of the course. This was achieved with much success on the practical day seeing that the three clusted groups were well organised in running their ABL program in the community despite the many young people that turned up. It came with much relief on us as facilitators seeing that the students fully understood what they were taught on the three days of the course.

Tomasi Raiviu

Solomon Island Certificate Block 1

Ola Fou

Solomon Block Course Experience

Ola Fou has been a journey with much to offer for Pacific Island youths in the areas of leadership. As I found out in Solomon Island, many youth leaders who turned up for the course did little or no training at all through the many years in leadership. Ola Fou through my experience has just provided the right training to prepare youth leaders in the Pacific a much more creative approach to young people in their own countries.

It was a challenging moment for team Solomon on figuring out the best possible way of teaching ABL to the students considering the learning outcome and the allocated days of teaching that we were given.

The three days were punched up on teachings of ABL with the hope that at the end of the course, they would be able to run a full ABL program in the community. Team Solomon were given different responsibilties with the aim of enlightening the load amongs the team with Rita, Seru, Mesach and Tomu coming in at different times to do the teaching. U’Eki on the other hand did spend three sessions on the teachings on youth work.

Questions were asked by the students in the process of the training since much of what were taught was new to them. One student in particular who was a teacher mentions that this training has really opened her eyes to understanding the needs of young people and approaching them in a way that best suits them. Other students all felt the same saying that the training was a learning experience since it was something new and will benefit them in the areas of leadership and the young people as a whole. They were all looking forward to teaching all that they have learned in the three days of training to their young people back in their own communities. The positive feedback from the students was an assurance of achievement on the facilitators input.

As facilitators, our goal was teaching ABL so that they would be able to run a full ABL program at the end of the course. This was achieved with much success on the practical day seeing that the three clusted groups were well organised in running their ABL program in the community despite the many young people that turned up. It came with much relief on us as facilitators seeing that the students fully understood what they were taught on the three days of the course.

Tomasi Raiviu

Fiji Block One Certificate

Coral Coast- Deuba
February 11th – 14th, 2008

Fiji Block One was an awesome time of reflection and learning. The anxiety and the desperation to feel what the outcome was going to be and to get through the three day expectation is an experience worth looking forward to.


















We started off with a really fun and warm welcoming of the 14 participants from the friendly islands of Fiji, in the three countries that the facilitators represented and then from there set the standard of the whole Block course.


The students somehow in the beginning had an anticipation to know what Ola Fou is all about and how they could be part of the journey.

Some great stories and great discussions were born out of this block course and their journey has just begun. When we dig out the knowledge in them, we found out ourselves that their explanations were even better than ours. They had really sharp mentalities and enthusiasm to learn.

Because the block course was taught in English, it was a strength that we identified that massively contributed into the success of achieving the learning outcomes of the course. Not only that, but the context and the teaching methods used were easily captured by the students and they understood every aspects of what was taught through their confidence, knowing that the facilitators work in the same communities as they are.

One of the strength also within the whole three days was that we gave a lot of time for them to demonstrate what they have learned and so that the whole group can help out improving what they can improve on. This contributed into gaining confidence when they went out to do their practical in the Salvation Army Cores on Saturday evening.

As a team of facilitators we are really confident and excited, knowing that we have achieved our learning outcomes. And we felt what it meant by sitting under your students teaching.

One of the issues that was identified was that we did not understand our plan well as a team. Our strengths were utilized to the max and flexibility was there to cover up what we could have done better together as a team. It was good that we dealt with it and we moved on.

We left with the challenges that we are to continue thinking on what youth work is, and to take ABL into their community and utilize it to effectively identify some of the needs young people are facing today. Looking forward to hear their stories next time we meet.

We acknowledge the prayers and support of the whole diploma students, and all the best for your facilitating process.

TEAM FIJI & TONGA 2009
OLAFOU DIPLOMA

Ola Fou -The Journey Continues

Pacifika Youth Development Diploma Course – Deuba, Fiji 1st -6th of Feb.


The Journey Indeed Continues, 13 Diploma students from 4 countries started the first ever Diploma Course for the Ola Fou Training and below is what they are saying about the course.

“The diploma course was really challenging. Every module taught was useful. What I learned the most as finding the one thing that I can be great at and starting with my 10,000. What helped me to facilitate the Fiji block course 1 was the story of the farmers and knowing what I am there for not to give answers but to drill out the knowledge that they already have.

The challenge for me now is finding an area in my agency where I can really start implementing what I have learned and empowering somebodyelse to do a better job when I leave my agency. We know our strength but do we have the courage to take forth the vision of Ola Fou? That is my challenge for the long run”.

Lemau Motusaga, Samoa

“The last course was very helpful and challenging my work with youth, not only that but the using of coaching technique and teaching skills were very applicable to deal with youth in my country”.

Anitely To’eapi – Tonga

“I came in very nervous about the course, just not knowing whether I will cope with the demand. At the end, my confidence grew and that is largely due to how the course was taught. I realize more of myself and my capabilities. I really like that”.

Lupe Vaiola – Samoa

“I was very uneasy as many of the things discussed were very different from the way we do things. It makes you think a lot”.

Nacanieli Seru – Solomon

“The one week program brought with it new dimensions of enriching youth workers like me with quality skills in leadership. In other words, Coaching, as I have learned is more a relationship with a purpose where the coach walks alongside the coachee through the process”.

Tomasi Raiviu – Fiji

“The course made me realize what I am good at and becoming the best at it. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead”

Rita Miller – Fiji

We look forward to seeing the diploma students run the 1st block course in-countries.