Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua this past weekend hosted a Youth Diversion Camp in Lapaha

Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua this past weekend hosted a Youth Diversion Camp in Lapaha for ten young people referred by the courts under the Youth Diversion Law, which came into effect late last year. Addressing the participants, the Prime Minister affirmed, “You each have a purpose and value to offer our Kingdom, and we are here to help you realise your full potential.”

The camp was delivered through the Fakaola ‘Eku Kalofiama non-profit programme, which the Prime Minister has helped lead since 2020, in collaboration with Tonga Police, the National Rugby League (NRL), the Ministry of Education, and the Lapaha Free Wesleyan Church. The initiative was requested by the People’s Representative of Tongatapu 10, Hon. Kapelieli Lanumata, together with local community leaders, in response to growing concerns regarding youth offending in Lapaha.

While this marked the first occasion the Prime Minister personally assisted in leading a court-referred diversion programme, the Fakaola ‘Eku Kalofiama initiative has supported and empowered more than 500 young boys and men across Tonga since its establishment. It remains one of the few community-based programmes in the Kingdom focused on strengthening character, discipline, and purpose among young males.

The Youth Diversion Camp reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to rehabilitation, accountability, and community-led solutions, providing young people with a constructive pathway forward and a renewed sense of belonging within their communities.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Na’e talitali mo fakahoko ‘e he ‘Eiki Palemia, Lord Fakafanua ha polokalama kemi ‘i Lapaha ki ha to’utupu ‘e toko 10 kuo tuku mai he fakamaau’anga ‘i he malumalu ‘o e Lao Fakatafoki ‘o e To’utupu ‘oku Fepaki mo e Lao (Youth Diversion Law), na’e kamata ngaue’aki he ta’u kuo ‘osi. Na’e tukupa ‘a e ‘Eiki Palemia, ‘i he’ene me’a ki he fanau ni, “ ‘Oku ‘iai ho’o mou mahu’inga ki he fonua, pea ko ‘emau ‘i heni ke tokoni kia kimoutolu ke mou fakatokanga’i ‘a e me’a temou malava.”

Ko e kemi ko eni na’e fokohoko ‘e he polokalama Fakaola ‘Eku Kalofiama (‘a ia na’e tataki ‘e he ‘Eiki Palemia talu mei he 2020), ‘i he fengaue’aki vaofi mo e Potungaue Polisi ‘a Tonga, Kautaha ‘Akapulu Liiki Fakafonua (NRL), Potungaue Ako mo e Siasi Uesilia Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga ‘o Lapaha. Na’e malava ‘a e polokalama ni ‘i he kole ‘a e fakafofonga ‘o e Kakai ‘o Tongatapu 10 ki Falealea, Kapelieli Lanumata, fakataha mo e kau taki komiuniti, ‘i he feinga ke fakasi’isi’i ‘a e tupulekina ‘o e faihia he to’utupu ‘i Lapaha.

Neongo ko e ‘uluaki taimi eni kuo tokoni fakataha ai ‘a e Palemia ‘i hono tataki fakatautaha ha polokalama pehe ni, ka kuo tokoni mo fakalakalaka’i ‘e he polokalama Fakaola ‘Eku Kalofiama, ‘a e fanau to’utupu mo e kakai tangata ‘e toko 500 tupu ‘i he fonua talu mei hono fokotu‘u. ‘Oku kei tu‘uma‘u pe ‘a e polokalama ni ko ha taha ‘o e ngaahi polokalama iiki fakakomiuniti ‘i Tonga ‘oku taumu‘a ki he fakalakalaka‘i faka’ulungaanga, pea mo ako’i ha taumu‘a mo e ‘uhinga ‘o e mo‘ui ki he kau talavou.

‘Oku fakahā ‘e he ngāue ni ‘a e tukupā ‘a e Pule‘anga ki he fakalelei, taliangi, mo e poupou ‘a e komiuniti ke tataki ‘a e to’utupu. Pea ke fakaha kiate kinautolu ha hala ‘oku toe lelei ange, pea mo nau ongo’i ‘oku nau kau ki he komiuniti.