I believe all issues in the world are connected – things like mental health, climate change, as well as child poverty. No young person should have to live in an environment where they can’t thrive. – Nele Kalolo
As the proud sponsor of the Pacific Emerging Leadership category for the Sunpix Pacific People’s Awards, Le Va celebrated alongside winners Āniva Clarke and Nele Kalolo on the night of 13 November.
Honouring the resilience, creativity, and leadership of young Pacific people, the category recognises Pasifika youth leadership and the valuable foundation that creates for the future.
Both Nele and Āniva are impressive young women, dedicated to serving their communities, sharing their culture and advocating for positive change.
Nele Kalolo
Nele hails from the villages of Faga and Vaimoso in Samoa and is a Young Ambassador for Unicef Aotearoa, Deputy Chair for the Consumer Advisory Committee at Pharmac, and a Tuakana for MAPAS and the Tuākana Arts Programme at the University of Auckland.
Nele joined Le Va’s Youth Advisory Group in 2023 and has supported community engagement at events like Polyfest and our Niu Wave graduations. Her ability to articulate issues facing Pasifika youth with clarity and passion has been an inspiration for those around her.
“I believe all issues in the world are connected – things like mental health, climate change, as well as child poverty. No young person should have to live in an environment where they can’t thrive,” said Nele.
Āniva Clarke and family
Āniva grew up in Samoa and has served as a youth ambassador on climate and environment to the UN Committee. Her local community advocacy led her to become the first youth ambassador for Pacific Women in Climate Change Network and this year she became the first Samoan Head Prefect at Diocesan School for Girls.
Āniva has been part of Le Va’s Niu Wave programme for two years, and over that time she has consistently demonstrated powerful leadership qualities.
She said, “It is beyond an honour to have received the Pacific Emerging Leadership Award. Le Va encouraged my leadership as a Pasifika youth and helped to equip me with the tools to navigate spaces where we are a minority.
“I am beginning my first year at university next year studying towards a Bachelor of Laws conjoint with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Geography and Pacific Studies. I hope this pathway leads me to be a part of organisations that work in the spaces of Human Rights as well as the environment, and approach these roles through a Pasifika perspective.”
We are fortunate to have both young women as a part of our Le Va community, and we are confident that the future of Pasifika youth is looking bright with Āniva and Nele leading the way.
One of the most impactful workshops for me was the leadership workshop, which brought to my mind the countless ways our Pasifika people are already leaders. The way we serve each other and our communities coming from the strong values of reciprocity that we hold in our hearts – Jessica Tupai
In celebration of the 300 high school and tertiary students who completed the year-long 2023 Niu Wave programme, Le Va recently held graduation ceremonies in Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North and Wellington.
Jessica Tupai spoke eloquently at the Wellington graduation event, saying, “One of the most impactful workshops for me was the leadership workshop, which brought to my mind the countless ways our Pasifika people are already leaders. The way we serve each other and our communities coming from the strong values of reciprocity that we hold in our hearts.”
Over the course of the year, Pasifika students from across Aotearoa embraced their wellbeing journey alongside their peers, tackling topics like respectful relationships, mental health and the importance of their Pasifika cultural identity.
Year 13 Niu Wave graduate, Tonga Tauataina Helu, said of his two-year involvement with the programme, “Niu Wave for me personally has had a really big impact on my outlook on life and my wellbeing… [It] helped me to build my confidence and to be proud of who I am as a Tongan descendant. It didn’t matter what country you were from or how much percentage of Pasifika you were, the Niu Wave programme welcomed us with open arms and brought us together.”
All Niu Wave participants are recipients of the Toloa Scholarship, which is funded by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) and supports students focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, or STEAM.
Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, Secretary for Pacific Peoples at MPP, said that pursuing STEAM opens a world of possibilities for young Pacific people. She added, “Pacific people have been underrepresented in the STEAM fields for a long time and the Ministry – along with the likes of Le Va – are working hard to change this scenario.”
Le Va wishes every success to the 2023 Niu Wave graduates and their aiga for their future journeys in these exciting fields.
Over 31,000 online gamers, cosplay enthusiasts, comic collectors, esports champions, and genuinely interested New Zealanders packed into the Auckland ASB showgrounds for this year’s Winter Armageddon expo event.
A photo booth allowed patrons to capture special moments with their family and friends, eye-catching holograms showcased some of the Mana Restore discord server content and a dedicated wellbeing space gave respite from the large crowds. One patron commented on the wellbeing space being a life saver.
Over 230 new members joined the Mana Restore discord server over the 3-day event and 600 signed up for more information about the Mana Restore project. The overall Mana Restore project is a mental health literacy solution for young people and their families to increase social inclusion, decrease stigma and enhance help-seeking behaviour. With a website to complement the new Discord server, young gamers and their families have greater access to mental health information and tools.
If you are an online gamer and want to learn more, join our discord server today https://discord.gg/ManaRestore or visit our website at www.manarestore.nz.
Honestly listen. It’s as simple and complex as it sounds. Sometimes we don’t need solutions, we just need someone to listen with an empathetic heart.
– Kasi Valu
Do we really know what our young people are going through? Le Va had the privilege of connecting with a spoken word winner and leader in the Pasifika community, Kasi Valu. This is the the unedited story of his dreams, how he is coping with the pandemic and his advice for parents to better support their child’s mental health and wellbeing.
What are 5 dreams you have as a Pasifika young person?
Dreams are forever flourishing in and out like endless rivers washing the shores of my mind, every single day.
Taha – One dream that has planted its seed and mounted its immovable roots is to go back to Tonga and live there for some time. In the current climate we are living in this seems to become more out of reach. However, I tend to gravitate towards things that are not easy to attain, it’s embedded into who I am, it’s embedded into the excellence of every Pasifika person.
Ua – I dream to continue to tell stories for a living. I did not choose to pursue the arts, it is my calling. I have tried many other avenues of study and profession, however my soul is fulfilled by the nutrients of storytelling. This directly links to my work with Le Moana where I am mentored and nourished by one of the best Tupe Lualua, and with my brothers in Talanoa Toko. Both hold unique and special ties to the core compass that helps me navigate a variety of spaces within the arts and society.
Tolu – Win an Oscar. We are the original storytellers, need I say more?
Fa – I dream of writing and publishing a collection of poetry/short stories that is reflective of my experience as a sexually fluid Tongan child of the Pacific diaspora in Aotearoa in collaboration with other Pasifika artists, writer and poets because nobody hold a pen to paper like we do. Our experiences deserved to be and will be platformed within every stream of media, platform and avenue, in galleries, scholarly articles and stages, whatever it may be, our ancestors were, to allow us to be.
Nima – To choose joy, drink water, mind my business and stay connected to my family, to our people, our community, to our oceans.
How have you coped with the pandemic and how has this impacted your self-journey of personal growth and development?
I’m privileged to have had the support of my siblings and family during this pandemic. That’s how I continue to cope. Connecting with my family. In a world where there is so much uncertainty darting across our glass screens and the unpredictability of what may come next within our arts industry, it’s a privilege to have a foundation, sedimented in immovable and unconditional love.
Describe an environment that makes you most happy.
There’s an array of environments that make me most happy. Being inside my room with my books, incense, candle, and some butcher’s paper. Having time to Talanoa, eating junk food and watching a movie with my siblings, my nena, my family. Spending time with my chosen family in Wellington, who have nurtured in place of my siblings, in our falekā.
How could a parent better support their children’s mental health and wellbeing?
Honestly listen. It’s as simple and complex as it sounds. Sometimes we don’t need solutions, we just need someone to listen with an empathetic heart.
We know school responsibilities are one of the top stressors that contribute to worsening mental health.
– Denise Kingi-Uluave
The Toloa Secondary School Scholarships programme supports Pasifika youth to further their studies and careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths).
Chief Executive of Le Va, Denise Kingi-Uluave, says this first of its kind partnership between MPP and Le Va is a great recognition of the important role positive mental health and wellbeing plays in the academic and career trajectory of a young person.
“We know school responsibilities are one of the top stressors that contribute to worsening mental health,” Denise says.
“With a dedicated approach to nurture the wellbeing of our young people, our Pasifika youth are more likely to reach their full potential.”
Continuing to build on the importance of resilience, Le Va’s Niu Wave is a holistic programme to support young people’s wellbeing.
Le Va, a not-for-profit Pasifika-led mental health and wellbeing organisation, will work alongside students, schools and families to build connected, resilient and well-supported villages of young Pasifika people across Aotearoa.
Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon Aupito William Sio says getting more Pacific people engaged in education is critical for the sake of achieving a thriving and prosperous Pacific Aotearoa.
“This will build our rising Generation 6Bs – of Brown, Brainy, Beautiful, Bi-cultural, Bilingual and Bold Pacific students,” Minister Sio says.
“I celebrate Le Va’s efforts in building resilience and wellbeing.”
Le Va’s Niu Wave for the Toloa recipients will be launched in March 2022.
Read more about Le Va youth programmes here: https://www.leva.co.nz/youth/
ENDS
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About Le Va
Le Va supports New Zealand communities to have improved health and social outcomes and is highly regarded throughout the health sector with a proven track record of success within mental health and addiction, disability, workforce development, public health, violence prevention and suicide prevention.
Together, they reflected on what lies ahead and shared their hopes and dreams for their future. If their reflections are any indication, our future is looking brighter already. Below, they talk about what they’ve been missing and their dreams for their voyage ahead.
My hopes and dreams are a kingdom and sunlight.
– Cooper, 6
I hope that Covid goes away soon because it’s boring and I want life to be normal again. When I’m older I want to be a business owner and build things like my Dad. Then I will be able to own a big gaming PC so I can play lots of cool games.
– Blake, 10
My hope this year is to get better at maths and better at keeping my things tidy so I can get more things. My dream for this year is to get more fidgets. For next year my hope is to look after my stuff so I can keep it. My dream is to be faster.
– Sunny, 9
I hope to be the smartest in school. I’m definitely trying to be better than last year.
I dream of being an anime character.
– Prezley, 11
I hope to wake up earlier than I usually do, work on my health and grow my brain (knowledge) and my confidence. I dream of becoming the next Elon Musk and owning a dog.
– Honour, 9
I want everybody to stop fighting and having wars with each other. We should all just be kind and stick together, look after each other and just love each other.
– Lily-Manaia, 8
I hope we see better days with all that’s happening and that we can go to school and sports as normal.
– EJ, 9
I want to get out of isolation. It’s getting really boring and have more interesting vocabulary in school.
– Luke, 11
I hope I can come back to New Zealand. I miss my family. I miss Rainbow’s End and McDonalds and the parks and the pools and having fun with my mum and dad there.
– Lotomalie, 7, Samoa
I haven’t got any, just get through high school.
– Caylin-Rose, 13
My hope is to not copy Charlie, and to be smart. To be good and I hope that my sister is still Sunsun because I love her.
Next year my hope is to bring my togs and swim, and to be smart… and go to the doctor and learn, and read all my books and listen to Whaea Kendall.
– Mahina, 6
Learning how to speak more Japanese and my dream job is to be a professional volleyball player.
– Tyrell, 10
To have a good year and for Thayne to stop fighting with Tyrell.
– Taylor, 8
Like toys?…Um, my birthday, going on holiday, playing with my cousins and friends, dancing. For next year, the new year, movie nights and gymnastics.
– Cleveland, 6
I want to get through the last years of school successfully and prepare to serve a 2-year full time mission when I turn 18.
– Thayne, 16
I hope to make the top netball team this year and become better at baking.
I dream of bungy jumping from the highest building.
– Armani Jade, 13
I hope to make the premiere netball team for school this year and to endorse with Excellence in NCEA level 1.
– Paris, 15
I hope to learn my times tables, and maybe get a puppy.
– Mariella, 7
I’d like to do ironman by myself. I want to be the smartest kid in my class and post on YouTube and create content.
I dream of earning heaps of money and creating games on Roblox. And I also want to work with Dhar Mann.
– Lake, 8
I hope for Covid to leave us alone and to make the Basketball A Team in school this year.
– Tristan, 8
I hope to be able to learn all my timetables up to 12 off by heart and to become a future Anime clay designer.
– Roman, 10
I just hope that I can do good at school and stop wearing masks all the time. I’m a bit over Covid and all the restrictions. I miss all the family get-togethers and playing with my cousins all the time.
– Presaeus, 14
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