After a successful fono held in May 2024, Pou Pasifika will be officially launched next month.
Pou Pasifika aims to champion Pasifika youth development workers and practitioners in Aotearoa, guided by their moana Pasifika way, resulting in ALL young people thriving. We will focus on building capability and capacity through workforce development such as:
● Professionalisation of Youth Work from a Pasifika lens
● Essential knowledge of the Code of Ethics and Mana Taiohi Training
● Qualification and Career Pathways
● Health & Wellbeing of Pasifika youth workers and practitioners
The initiative is in response to the lack of ongoing workforce, professional and personal development of Pacific youth workers in Aotearoa.
Pou Pasifika recognises that the workforce of Pacific youth workers and practitioners across Aotearoa is high in number including those who are qualified, registered with Korowai Tupu – Professional Association of Youth Workers in Aotearoa, government entities, NGOs, community groups, teacher aids, volunteers in sports & recreation, creative arts and faith-based.
The project identified several problems that continue to persist in our youth development sector impacting Pacific youth workers as a profession.
1. Pasifika youth development workers in Aotearoa don’t have an identity (Turangawaewae) that mandates our way (Te ao Pasifika) and harnesses our collective (village) expertise in working with Pasifika young people
2. The profession of youth development work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand, isn’t a respected and equitable occupation.
Pou Pasifika (national project) is a collaboration with Ara Taiohi – Peak Body of Youth Development in Aotearoa since 2021 and the national project is now backboned by a Pacific youth organisation – Ola le Ola Aotearoa Trust led by Youth Development Champion CE, Taitosaua William Peace in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Ola le Ola Aotearoa Trust CE and Tanoa Steering Group Chair, Taitosaua William Peace says “Our Pou Pasifika launch is significant. It’s not often we gather as Pasifika within the youth development sector. While we celebrate this significant milestone, there is much work to do to equip the Pasifika youth workers in Aotearoa”
Pou Pasifika, National Manager Chillion Sanerivi says “It is timely to create the solutions for our workforce by Pasifika youth development workers. The Pasifika collective intelligence and wisdom in our sector is deep and rich. We stand on the shoulders of Pasifika giants in our sector while also nurturing the next workforce generation.”
Youth Development Specialist & Know Your Status Community Trust Director, Candy says “I’ve been waiting for something like Pou Pasifika. There is a real need for our Pacific youth workers to be equipped and feeling confident in the work they do. Many practitioners have ongoing wellbeing challenges because of pressures of work and other external factors. It will significantly contribute to our connectedness and growth”
