Representing the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, electricity provider Te Mana Uira O Araura (TMU) was pleased to attend the very successful 2021 Aitutaki Careers Expo held at Araura College recently.
Including TMU there were 20 booths set up on the day, staffed by representatives from a variety of different government agencies and private sector companies, including the Cook Islands Ports Authority, Te Marae Ora, Bank of the Cook Islands, National Environment Service, Cook Islands Police Service, Aitutaki Tertiary Training Institute, Tamanu Beach, Climate Change Cook Islands, Vodafone, Internal Affairs and many others.
A total of 221 students made the most of their time at the careers expo, the first to be held in Aitutaki in 13 years. Junior students moved through in groups of six during the morning session, while the afternoon session was reserved for senior students.
Having brought along some of their heavy equipment for demonstration purposes, TMU staff reported that the chance for students to take a ride in the bucket of the lines truck proved to be a favourite activity of the day, as did operating a four-ton forklift with Ports Authority staff.
As well as these activities, many of the students also took the opportunity afforded by the expo to seriously discuss their future career plans with all the various experts on hand, with one commenting that they hadn’t realised how many different career options were available on the island.
“My favourite part was getting the opportunity to get a little bit of experience of what people do on the island,” said another.
As the day came to a close, Araura College principal Gaylyn Lockington thanked all those who had made the expo possible, from the booth operators, parents and school staff to the students themselves.
“Thank you to everybody for supporting this awesome programme for our students.”
