Twenty-seven handicrafters in Nuku’alofa under a handicraft training program were awarded with certificates on Wednesday 27.
Participants and organisers gathered at Girl Guides Training Centre in Nuku'alofa for the awards which were presented by Lady Tuna Fielakepa.
The New Zealand funded program was aimed at providing opportunities for local communities to obtain sources of income through cultural tourism activities.
The short handicraft training courses were designed to prepare participants to know how to make jewellery from local materials.
It also provided workshops to help participants to screen-print a wide range of items and to weave and make handicrafts using cultural and professional skills.
Participants, including10 men and 17 women, were also trained on customer service and tourism awareness.
Monalisa Palu, the National Coordinator of the program, said this was a chance for local communities to obtain income for their families.
Provided under Tonga Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Support Program, the trainers were: Sione Loseli for screen printing, Hu’ahulu Ha’unga for jewellery making and Taumosi Hemaloto for customer service and tourism awareness.
