APTC graduate, Mr Keven Vanosivi says graduating with a Certificate III in Carpentry qualification from the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in 2015, has provided him with work opportunities that have enabled him to assist local communities.
“I loved the enabling environment at APTC, especially the friendliness of staff and students and the level of training which inspired me to aim higher.”
“My skills and increased knowledge have allowed me to experience and act in various roles in the construction sector,” he says.
As the Shelter Officer for Butterfly Trust, a charitable organisation that works with government to facilitate the provision of educational and health assistance to local communities, Mr Vanosivi helps create awareness around the importance of constructing sturdy, high quality housing that would be able withstand natural disasters.
“My responsibilities include advising communities in the rural parts of Vanuatu as well as in the outer islands on how to build strong houses.”
“I have been working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), through the Butterfly Trust and the Vanuatu Public Works Department to help people rebuild their lives after Tropical Cyclone Pam.”
IOM is an intergovernmental organisation that works closely with stakeholders to promote humane and orderly migration, including for refugees and internally displaced people. Both the Butterfly Trust and IOM have been providing humanitarian assistance in Vanuatu after the Category 5 cyclone destroyed most of the country’s infrastructure and impacted communities in the outer islands.
Mr Vanosivi has also started up his own business, Vanket Construction, with the aim of providing a boost to the local construction industry. Mr Vanosivi, who is from Paama Island in Vanuatu, entered the construction industry thirteen years ago.
He obtained a Certificate II in Carpentry from the national technical training institution, Institut National de Technologie du Vanuatu-INTV in 2003 and worked as a carpenter and foreman, overseeing the construction of buildings for religious organisations, including the United Pentecostal Church, Up and Up Ministry and the Joy Bible Institute.
“It was then, that I thought about pursuing further studies to better understand and know the needs of the industry, so I applied with APTC and was successful.”
Mr Vanosivi attributes his achievements to APTC and looks forward to continue engaging with APTC through its alumni network.