New counselling graduates in the Solomon Islands with thanks to ChildFund and MFAT partnership
Congratulations to Sharon and Terry from the Solomon Islands, who have recently graduated with a Diploma in Counselling from the University of the South Pacific (USP). The pair are now putting their new counselling skills to good use and are busy helping other young people in the community to improve their wellbeing.
They were supported through their study as part of a five year ChildFund New Zealand Negotiated Partnership Programme supported by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). It will include the professional counselling training of 70 young people in the Solomon Islands.
Sharon jumped at the chance to help her fellow youth and says she feels very grateful for the opportunity to upskill with the Diploma
“Thank you so much I really appreciate ChildFund's support and encouragement. I feel blessed to be able to help people and it really motivates me to work smartly and effectively."
She says the positivity and the buzz amongst her peers about the counselling opportunities is wonderful.
"We want to say thank you so much for everything you have done. For us it's just too much to put into words and looking back we would have never thought it possible to be able to study counselling.”
The ChildFund programme in the Solomon Islands will be based on four outcomes to help youth access mental health support and services. This will be done by providing personalised counselling services for 470 youth and workshops for nearly 3,000 youth; through the training of 70 youth to provide support services to others; through advocacy in working with local government, churches and other organisations to development and implement youth inclusive policies and practices; and through youth workers, counsellors and others being trained in practises that are inclusive of all despite disability or gender.
The counselling initiative is part of a five year project supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade through ChildFund New Zealand’s Negotiated Partnership Programme.
Read more on ChildFund's partnership with MFAT
Read more about this Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade through ChildFund New Zealand’s Negotiated Partnership Programme: