Atu-Mai’s village mobilisation continues to grow

Atu-Mai’s Upstander violence prevention programme is underway with six new community mobilisers this season. 

As part of Le Va’s primary prevention efforts, the Atu-Mai team has held important training sessions aimed at knowledge sharing and equipping our Upstanders to recognise harm in communities and look at how we can work collectively to prevent it.   

Timo Morisa

New upstander Timo Morisa is a Dean and teacher at Papatoetoe High School by day, but he also serves in many other different community spaces – including church.  

“I do not take lightly the work I do,” he says. “The difference we make in the work today helps prepare us for the next day and the generations to come.” 

He says sexual violence and child sexual abuse are tough topics to discuss in Pasifika communities, but we do need to talk about it more. 

“Things do happen and, as leaders, we have to address it, call it out and create solutions and not sweep things under the carpet to make our communities safer.” 

After the training, each mobiliser will plan their own activities to prevent sexual violence in different settings from church to schools as well as gyms and sports clubs and Atu-Mai will be supporting each one with their work.  

Our approach is to raise awareness about sexual violence and prevention measures in a way that connects with our Pasifika community.