Pacific youth in Aotearoa/New Zealand are the fastest growing population with the potential to create innovative solutions for the most current pressing challenges. Affirming Works, a Pacific social enterprise in Aotearoa/New Zealand established since 2001 with 18 years’ experience, and Charis Mentoring Inc., a Pacific (or Pasifika) not-for-profit Youth organisations established in Melbourne since 2012, are Pacific-indigenous initiatives that are today’s innovative solutions for supporting Pacific youth to fulfil their greatest potential. Church and Christian Faith are highly valued by Pacific communities and understanding how Pacific youth draw on this as tools for mental health and wellbeing is the focus of this symposium. The Symposia Panel consists of: (1) Taua and Tia Suemai (Founder, Charis Mentoring Inc.), (2) Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o (Founder of Affirming Works and PhD Candidate), and (3) Hulita Tauveli (PhD candidate). Together they will collectively exemplify the importance of Pacific Youth development and empowerment in their presentations.

Presenter 1: Mr Taua Suemai and Mrs Tia Suemai (Charis Mentoring Inc. Founders)
Charis Mentoring Inc., a non-profit Pasifika Youth Organisation was established to support the growing needs and challenges faced by the increasing population of Pasifika young people in Melbourne Metropolitan. A scarcity of Pasifika youth research and culturally responsive services within Victoria, Australia, led to Tupulaga Pasifika, a profile report we developed and wrote focusing on Pasifika Young People in Brimbank – a Local Government Area within Victoria, Australia. Charis Mentoring Inc. utilizes Tupulaga Pasifika to help amplify the voices of Pasifika youth through the sharing of their aspirations, identifying Pacific cultural strengths and issues currently at the fore. Together with their own recommended solutions towards a successful future, Tupulaga Pasifika contributes to the much-needed research around Pasifika Youth in Australia and aims to lead conversations, aiding better understanding of Pasifika youth and informing ways to best support their journey towards sustainable wellbeing.

Presenter 2: Mrs Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o
(Affirming Works Founder & PhD Candidate, School of Psychology)
Affirming Works (operated by Emeline and her husband Alipate Mafile’o) has been operating for nearly 20 years providing Pacific-based mentoring programmes for Pacific youth in Aotearoa/New Zealand; offering support, guidance and appropriate care so youth are able to reach their full potential. Affirming Works’ approach are based on Pacific cultural principles of love; humility, respect and support to provide Pacific Youth opportunities to develop as influential leaders in their communities. Expanding on youth development, Emeline and Alipate own and operate Tupu’anga Coffee, an ethical trade product that forms the basis of their social enterprise Community Café, which contributes back to enabling community development programmes. This internationally renowned social enterprise runs five Community cafes in Auckland New Zealand through their co-operative coffee farms in Tonga.

Presenter 3: Miss Hulita Tauveli (PhD Candidate, School of Psychology)
Pacific youth come from a Church or Christian Faith-based background therefore it is reasonable to suggest faith-based tools such as prayer; choir practice, church activities and bible reading as appropriate alternative coping strategies for Pacific youth. Hulita’s research project hopes to capture the perceptions; stories, and values of faith-based approaches for Pacific Youth across the Pacific-indigenous organisations of Affirming Works and Charis Mentoring Inc. to find out how Pacific youth are empowered through their faith. This will help inform practices and provide a culturally safe space for awareness and understanding in creating healthy communities for youth of the Pacific diaspora.

Chair: Dr Siautu Alefaio (Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Massey University)