Supporting Pasifika youth to soar

Le Va was the primary sponsor for the two-day ASB Polyfest Leaders Conference in January, bringing together more than 100 student leaders for cultural master classes as they prepare for ASB Polyfest 2024.

The event was hosted by Le Va Project Coordinator Trent Faliu as MC, and the Le Va team delivered three ‘I AM’ workshops, putting Pasifika cultural values into action for Pasifika youth to discover how to strengthen their self-worth.

On 12 February, the Le Va team took part in the inaugural TupuToa Summit – aimed at growing young Māori and Pasifika leaders for a greater Aotearoa.

The event was packed full of inspiring Māori and Pacific professionals and community leaders, sharing their experiences and insights about career opportunities with hundreds of young interns and high school students from around the motu.

Le Va’s Senior Manager Mental Health and Addiction, Toleafoa Mark Esekielu, said of the summit, “It was inspiring for our team to meet so many intelligent and engaged young Pacific people in one space. They came from such diverse areas of study from across the country and from overseas, with a clear desire to support their Pasifika communities.”

The theme for the 2024 summit was inspired by the Niuean proverb ‘Tu ke mau, neke to’, meaning ‘Stand tall, so you won’t fall’ – a powerful message of encouragement for our young people to remain steadfast and resilient in the face of adversity.

Throughout January we put out a call for new members for the Le Va Youth Advisory Group, a team of young Pasifika ambassadors, thinkers and dreamers who help us to inform and embed the youth voice into Le Va’s research and practices.

Applications to join the group are now closed, and we will have an announcement next month about the successful candidates as we continue to empower the Pasifika leaders of tomorrow.

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Find out more about Le Va for Youth.