College students have been given the opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to various government agencies through a work experience programme.

Minister Albert Nicholas has taken on a significant initiative aimed at empowering college students in his constituency – Ruatonga/Avatiu/Panama/Palmerston/Atupa (RAPPA), and bridging the gap between education and the professional world.

Committed to nurturing growth and providing opportunities, Nicholas spearheaded a two-month work experience programme (November 2023 to January 2024) during the school holidays for young people within his community.

Five Tereora College female students took part in the programme. Georgina Vaine Keu, Maara Teariki, Terangi Maora, Tiara-Anzia Tere and Paige Anguna learnt practical office administration skills and developed a deeper understanding in various fields of interest.

Minister Nicholas said he was motivated by seeing college students working part-time at the CITC Supermarket.

Championing the potential of college students to work for government, he said, “I believe the students should be given the opportunity to have work experience in the government ministries…”

This is the first time he has run the work experience programme for all girls, with last year’s programme being for boys.

Nicholas acknowledged his chief executive officer (CEO) Edith Nicholas, who was the “driver” behind the programme.

“For many students once they leave school, they’re not really sure about what they want to do.

“We wanted to get these girls while they are still at school before they leave, to give them the experience and a sense of what’s out there.

“It was an honour to be able to give them the opportunity to experience what is out there in the workforce.”

Every student was paid, renumerated by Nicholas’ office funds.

Last week Nicholas held a brief special farewell for the girls.

“As you go into the last year of your school, I’m hoping that you have found something that you will be interested in,” he said.

“I’d like to thank the parents of these girls who were very supportive when we approached them about it.

“We would like to carry the programme forward but we will see how it will be funded.”

All interns spent a week in the Minister’s Support Office with CEO Edith Nicholas, Maryanne Short – Personal Assistant to the Minister, and Tehira Winchester (Administration and Finance Officer).

Their roles included: meet and greet, boardroom set ups, receiving phone calls, filing, designing the Minister’s Christmas cards, completing the Kia Orana Series customer service course, taking minutes and so forth.

The students also spent time in the Minister’s three portfolio agencies –Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB), Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI), and the Cook Island’s Investment Corporation (CIIC).

In their last week they were all placed with BTIB to assist with the Rarotonga Airport 50^th Anniversary celebrations.

Georgina Vaine Keu, 17, said she “enjoyed” the work programme and discovered that being at CIIC learning about property and land matters was the most interesting.

Maara Teariki, 16, said she found ICI the most interesting agency “because of infrastructure and the interesting inspections,” adding that she may look into a career in that field.

Aged 15-years-old, Paige Anguna said: “It was really a good experience and it’s good to know what’s involved in the different agencies.”

Tiara-Anzia Tere,18, completed her final year at Tereora College last year.

“I found ICI the most interesting, I saw a lot of their work which is based on planning and designs,” said Tere.

“Going out on the inspections was also a good opportunity to learn new things and skills and gain more knowledge about the different government agencies.”