May 2012 Development stories

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Salamasina-Tausala o Samoa graduates celebrate their success Twenty out of twenty-four women graduated from the 12 week training and work experience programme, Salamasina-Tausala o Samoa this month. The attendance of Samoa’s Prime Minister Hon.Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi at the graduation ceremony was not only a highlight for the participants, but also shows something of the esteem in which the programme is held. Read the full story

Papua New Guinea benefits from Business Mentor model Business Mentor George Spiers, from Hawkes Bay, is coaching Anne Timi, Managing Director of Mijoan Limited in Hohola, Port Moresby, to grow her two year old company in PNG. Read the full story

Young minds, fresh solutions Innovation underpins New Zealand’s international development support. To encourage the next generation of New Zealand innovators to bring fresh ideas to development, the New Zealand Aid Programme sponsors an award as part of the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), for an enterprise that addresses a development issue. Read the full story

Aid programme staff share Sphere training with humanitarian sector Representatives from New Zealand NGOs and international humanitarian agencies including Caritas, ChildFund, World Vision, ADRA, SurfAid, TEAR Fund, CWS, Red Cross and UNICEF, joined staff from the Council for International Development (CID), MCDEM, MFAT and NZ Police for a two day intensive training workshop in Wellington this month. Read the full story

Ni-Vanuatu benefit from cardiac surgery in New Zealand Six adults and two children are making good recoveries following life-saving heart surgeries in Auckland last week, thanks to a medical treatment scheme (MTS) administered by Health Specialists Ltd and funded by the New Zealand Aid programme. Read the full story

VSA celebrates 50 years of international volunteering One of the New Zealand Aid programme’s close partners, Volunteer service Abroad (VSA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the achievement VSA has organised a travelling photo exhibition, Windows to another world: Images from 50 years of volunteering abroad, which features photos taken by VSA volunteers and staff members over the past half century. Read the full story

Enhanced Parenting Skills workshop for RSE workers Recognised seasonal (RSE) workers from Tonga who are employed in New Zealand at Compass Fruit, spent two hours with a positive parenting specialist in Nelson recently as part of their Vakameasina course. Read the full story

New Zealand Budget Support for Samoan Reform The New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Nick Hurley, and the Pacific Director for the New Zealand Aid Programme, Barbara Williams, passed across a cheque for SAT $1.6 million to Hon Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, Minister of Finance on 18 May. This represents the first payment of a two year budget support agreement with the Government of Samoa, tied to Samoa successfully implementing a programme of policy and public finance reform. Read the full story