TWENTY builders and civil works labourers from the Koroipita Model Town community in Lautoka celebrated a major career milestone after receiving their Class three Trade Certificates from the Fiji National University.
The achievement marks a key step in the Model Town’s Charitable Trust’s vision to ensure residents employed in its ongoing housing projects gain formal qualifications and improved career opportunities.
Koroipita general manager Paul Forrest said many of the workers had served in the community’s construction operations for years without formal recognition of their acquired skills. Speaking at the certificate presentation ceremony on September 24, Mr Forrest commended the graduates for their dedication and hard work.
“As part of MTCT’s family advancement program, we like to see people attain qualifications in whatever their chosen profession is,” he said.
“Most of our employees who build houses and do civil works for us have learned many skills over the years, some having started as labourers and made their way up by working hard and showing initiative.”
Mr Forrest emphasised that formal recognition would prove vital for the builders’ future employment prospects beyond the trust’s current construction efforts
“The trust may not always build houses, so preparation for future career advancement needs to be laid. It is hoped that having obtained a certificate three, some of you will go on to attain your certificate two and a few more even a certificate one, which would advance your careers exponentially. We realise that not everyone will advance to that level, but having these certificates is a definite advantage in a very competitive job market.”
Mr Forrest encouraged the workers to maintain their ambition and pursue supervisory and management roles through further education.
