FLO Talanoa November 2015 meeting

Last month, 20 local church leaders, Pasifika NGO workers and central government staff attended our first Auckland-based FLO Talanoa workshop! 

Delivered by Denise Kingi-Uluave and Leilani Clarke from the FLO team within Le Va, FLO Talanoa is the only Pasifika suicide prevention education programme led by communities for communities. It represents a call to action, and has been carefully designed based on the latest research and information, and to align with Pasifika values of love, respect and reciprocity.

A range of participants attended from organisations such as Handle the Jandal, The Fono, Pathways, Madd Messenger, The Department of Corrections and local church leaders. Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.

Here are some responses from participants themselves.

The two-day workshop is worth it. It has given me confidence to talk about suicide and talk to people about hope. There is hope.

Thank you for bringing this gift. I would like to encourage more people to attend at your next one. Love having our NZ Maori whanau with us. Gave good insight into each culture.

More workshops will be much appreciated. Need more free facilitator training.

Enjoyed this workshop, has definitely opened my eyes to a lot of things! Bless your team.

Articulate and professional facilitators who were attuned to us as the audience and their own responsibility to share FLO Talanoa. Really enjoyed the workshop content, delivery and engagement with others present and Le Va staff.

Delivery validated Pacific cultural aspects that are often overlooked in mainstream workshops. Still amazed that the tool of FLO Talanoa is a gift (based on sound research and clinical evidence) that can travel the ‘Va’ or spaces over one’s lifespan and time meaning it can be shared at home, church, family, community and work.

One of the participants, University of Auckland student and aspiring young poet Zech Soakai attended the workshop and found the experience life changing. As a parting gift to the group Zech presented the following poem.

Interest to attend FLO Talanoa workshops continues to spread quickly throughout our communities, with numerous requests about future workshop dates, available spaces and where to find more information.

Our next workshop is planned for Wellington in February 2016. For more information about our FLO Talanoa Facilitator training please check the FLO Knowledge Bank or email enquiries@leva.co.nz.

Scenes from the Auckland FLO Talanoa workshop.