Over 100 primary school and college students from Rarotonga showcased their talents and creative skills at a market day to celebrate the International Youth Day on Friday.

Held at the National Auditorium, the market day’s purpose was to give local youth an opportunity to showcase their skills and talents, and for others to observe and get inspired.

There were over 20 stalls selling food, paintings, arts, handicrafts and other items, led by youths and supported by their parents.

Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA) executive director Rongo File, who was running the event with support from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), hailed the event a success after receiving overwhelming support from hundreds of people who attended the market day.

“For us it’s actually part of what we do because we’re a family planning clinic organisation so this is kind of something we do on the side but we feel that it’s quite valid,” File said.

“The hope is to get the youth people in those spaces as well so it’s not just the older generations because even the young people have the talents and creativities as well.

“We do this every two years and we want to do this for Rarotonga, for the youth here and look at their potentials, creativity, there are kids that sell at the market as well, to give them time and space to get their product out.”

One of the improvements since the previous market day in 2022, according to File, was the increased involvement of more people, especially young people.

“We’re seeing a lot of different faces and majority of the people here is none of the people we’ve had last time so it’s whether they’re here or they’ve gone.”

Minister for Youth Vaine “Mac” Mokoroa, who officially opened the event on Friday, talked about the opportunities for youth to thrive in the Cook Islands.

Thriving and shining at the “Party Shack” stall was 14-year-old Jonathan File, who was selling pastries including cupcakes, creative candies, and others with the support of his younger cousins and mother.

Jonathan said he had been plying his trade at school by selling creative candies to help him earn money to buy his own stationery.

“My mom has always encouraged and pushed me to earn by myself to prepare me for the future and what life will bring so I sell these at school most days and the money I earn is to help me by and mostly pay for my stationeries,” he said.

Jonathan has been selling candies for about two years now and his goal is to save up for a brighter future so he can pursue his dream of becoming an engineer.

The market day event was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).