The Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), the Tonga Institute of Science and Technology (TIST), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are behind the project, in which students were selected because they were starting to disengage from school.
Over the last year they have been getting technical and vocational training in areas like building, electrical, plumbing, horticulture and hospitality, alongside mathematics, digital, and social skills.
Sina Aiolupotea-Aiono is the Project Coordinator for the partnership and Pasifika Development Manager at MIT and 'Oto Misi is in Tonga as the In-Country Programme Coordinator.