More than 120 young people are taking part in a Fine Arts Workshop aimed at helping them discover, develop and use their talents while creating positive pathways away from social issues affecting youth.
The workshop, being held at Calvary Temple and ending this Friday, is a step towards the Assemblies of God Fiji’s first-ever National Fine Arts Festival in Lautoka from December 7th to 13th, 2026.
Fine Arts Workshop coordinator Isireli Cakaunivere says the programme is designed to give young people a clear pathway from discovering their gifts and talents to developing and using them in their communities.
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He says the initiative was introduced after recognising a growing gap in areas such as youth ministry, speaking, preaching, singing, creative arts and technical skills.
Cakaunivere says many talented people in Fiji’s creative industries can trace their development back to their involvement in church, where they had opportunities to practise and develop their skills.
Cakaunivere believes providing young people with meaningful activities and a sense of purpose can also help address some of the social challenges they face.
He says young people need to be given positive spaces where they can develop their talents, build relationships and focus their energy on something meaningful.
He says the Fine Arts programme can give young people an alternative to negative influences by occupying their time and minds with constructive activities.
Cakaunivere says this was evident during registration, where young participants were already discussing forming a Christian band, finding a coach, securing a place to practise and preparing for the competition.
He says such conversations show that young people can become actively engaged when they are given opportunities that align with their interests and purpose.
The workshop has also attracted participants from outside Calvary Temple, with about 70 percent of registrations coming from other churches.
Cakaunivere says this demonstrates the wider interest among young people in discovering their purpose, identifying their gifts and finding ways to use them.
He believes the Fine Arts initiative can help prepare a new generation of young Fijians with skills that extend beyond the church and into their education, workplaces and communities.
He says simple skills such as communication, sending emails and expressing ideas effectively can also be developed through opportunities provided at the local level.
