Joeli Yabaki, the parade commander from Naqere Youth Training Centre, emphasized the valuable lesson of time management that he gained while being awarded the Baton of Honour. The 18-year-old, who is originally from Nabouwalu, Bua, participated in the carpentry program at the training center located in Savusavu.
Yabaki described the cadet passing-out parade for students of the Fiji National Youth Training Centre as both emotional and overwhelming. The event featured a combined parade for students from two Ministry of Youth training centers: Naleba in Labasa and Naqere in Savusavu. A total of 25 male and seven female cadets graduated from Naleba, while Naqere saw 24 male and two female graduates complete their training.
According to Yabaki, the seven-week cadet training program instilled values of discipline and honesty, enlightening the youth about their responsibilities as patriotic citizens. He noted, “The training helped me grow as a person and make wise and timely judgements while leading the parade.”
Yabaki’s family attended the parade, and he commented on the tendency of today’s youth to engage in unproductive activities. He learned the importance of utilizing time effectively for productive pursuits. As the overall best all-rounder, he advocated for the continuation of this cadet training program each year to positively shape more students.
He acknowledged that all cadets initially felt the pressure to meet their families’ and teachers’ expectations, but he observed that their confidence grew with each successful drill.