About thirty Year 7 and 8 boys from around Samoa are learning leadership skills at a special conference.
The Boys United in Leadership Development (BUILD) conference is hosted by US Peace Corps volunteers.
The organizers hope to encourage and train the boys to become decisive and good leaders within their communities.
They will get a chance to hear from accomplished speakers, participate in exciting field trips and meet potential mentors.
“This is a great conference because it provides the chance for our students to build on the knowledge they have, learn about important opportunities and hear from successful speakers who can help them make a difference in lives of those in their communities,” said steering committee president William Sullivan.
The conference has being conducted collaboration with its main partners Siva Afi and UN Women.
The young men involved in the programme are from ten villages across Samoa, in Savai’i, Manono, and Upolu.
They will also be engaged in workshops covering various topics.
Mr. Sullivan says workshops will also feature trainings for entrepreneurship skills, academic opportunities, vocational and agricultural training, standing up to violence against women and girls, physical and mental health and Samoan tradition.