Over late August and September, Empower Kiribati ran a series of sessions introducing young people to UUTI, short for Uaiakinan ao Uarokoan Toronibwaia I-Kiribati, an exchange activity that prepares Kiribati youth for the wider world by building their work-readiness, ICT and English language skills.
The first two sessions were facilitated by the UUTI Coordinator, who walked participants through the programme's goals and the experiences it offers, while a UUTI alumnus currently spending time in the United States through the programme shared what the learning, cultural exchange and personal growth have meant to them. Hearing from someone living the programme firsthand gave participants a far clearer picture than a brochure could, and it left room for the practical questions that young people and their families tend to ask before committing to an application.
In September the sessions travelled to students at SHC, where participants learned about eligibility requirements, the application process and the experiences of former participants. News of that session reached close to ten thousand people on Facebook, one of the widest audiences an Empower Kiribati programme post has drawn this year, which suggests that interest in international study and exchange among Kiribati youth runs deep.
The series was made possible by the U.S. Embassy Suva and delivered in collaboration with American Councils for International Education Kiribati. More information is available at americancouncils.org.