Le Va distributes over $1million to Pasifika community groups for suicide prevention

We must equip our communities with the knowledge, skills and confidence to prevent suicide.

– Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave

Leilani Clarke, Le Va’s senior manager for Pacific suicide prevention, said, “The fund supports our Pasifika communities to create innovative, safe and culturally relevant solutions to help prevent and respond to suicide. It’s encouraging to see our groups exploring new approaches, new ideas and new connections with the calibre of applications we see each year.”

Le Va, a Pasifika-led non-government organisation, administers the Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund on behalf of Te Whatu Ora. The rigorous selection process is led by Leilani with support from an external panel. Le Va also delivers two national suicide prevention programmes – FLO: Pasifika for Life aimed at Pacific people, and LifeKeepers for all New Zealanders.

Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, Chief Executive of Le Va, said, “While specialist services provide a vital role, our families are critical in supporting someone in the early stages of distress. We must equip our communities with the knowledge, skills and confidence to prevent suicide. I wish all the successful recipients a heartfelt congratulations and all the best with their projects.”

With a mission of igniting communities and creating change, Le Va takes an evidence-based approach to its work. This spans the areas of suicide prevention, mental health and addiction, disability, public health, violence prevention, and youth wellbeing. 2023 sees the organisation celebrating its 15-year anniversary.

The recipients of the Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund for 2023 are:

• Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust – AIGA Youth Resilience and Suicide Prevention Programme
• Brown Pride – Yeah the Boys project
• Campfire Studios – Let’s get Pre-Sifik Season 2 project
• Kila’s Style Trust – Dressed in Confidence Wellbeing Workshops
• Life-Supporting Communities Trust – Pasifika Prefect Leadership Training
• Love Somebody Charitable Trust – Tama TOA/Teine TOA programme
• Martin Hautus Foundation Trust – Mafoufou Maloloina – Healthy Mind project
• New Zealand Rugby League – NZRL Wellbeing Waka 2023
• SHE IS NOT YOUR REHAB LTD – InnerBoy Mental Health project
• YES Disability – Fala Talanoa project
• Zeal Education Trust – Lupe Photography Programme