Kaila - SIXTY students from Vunisea Secondary School in Kadavu successfully completed a two-week Sustainable Livelihood Project course under the Fiji National University last week.
In a statement from FNU, the graduates received certificates in Occupational, Health and Safety in electrical safety, cooks refresher stage one, small engines repair and basic carpentry.
Special assistant to the FNU vice chancellor Alifereti Cawanibuka said this first graduation marked an important and historical occasion for the island.
"We are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education through Vunisea Secondary School as part of the university's Sustainable Livelihood Project," he said.
"The training in Kadavu is the first of its kind involving qualified staff from FNU to actually come and deliver the courses for the participants who have responded to the training need analysis forms distributed by the Kadavu Provincial Office and Vunisea Secondary School.
"The project is going to benefit the people of Kadavu in their new initiatives towards economic development.
"The university is using Kadavu as a pilot project.
"There will be no charges for most of the courses offered and students are only required to get their own materials for training and making their own arrangements for accommodation."
The project aims to establish short-term livelihood training in 70 different livelihood skills for people in rural and maritime areas, according to FNU.