A delegation of young leaders from the Caritas Oceania Youth Alliance (COYA) have travelled to Sydney then on to Canberra to participate in the Pacific-Australian Emerging Leaders (PAELS) conference.
COYA members Amenda Havili from Tonga, Johannes Uili from Samoa and Winton Herman from the Cook Islands were in attendance.
The summit is part of DFAT’s Pacific Church Partnerships Program, which seeks to promote and build on the longstanding cultural and spiritual links between Australian First Nations and Pacific peoples. Now in its fourth year, the summit is organised by Micah Australia and the Pacific Conference of Churches.
Each year up to one hundred emerging leaders from Pacific Nations, all aged 22 to 35, gather to discuss key development priorities for young people and their communities. These discussions happen between Pacific and Australian First Nations peoples and lead up to a number of meetings with MPs.
Throughout a weeklong program starting on the 22nd of November, delegates were hosted by First Nations PAELS facilitators, allowing for intercultural sharing, and made a visit to Parliament’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy. They also attended church services in Stanwell Tops, the chapel of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, and Canberra Baptist Church.
At a Parliamentary welcome event today in Canberra delegates were addressed by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong before embarking on a full day of MP meetings. All delegates are being supported by the PAELs team, elders, and mentors, to prepare for and conduct those meetings. On the final day, groups of delegates from each country will visit the Pacific High Commission representative of each of their nations.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong welcomed the delegates stating that, “There is no greater authority on climate, there are no greater advocates for climate than the people of the Pacific. There are no more important voices than the voices of young Pacific leaders. We want Pacific perspectives on the global stage to ensure all nations do their part to reduce emissions and accelerate climate action.”
Johannes Uili, Co-Chair of COYA reflected on PAELS as an opportunity to “build that common ground with brothers and sisters of the Moana family” around our “one job, which is to protect our oceans. Joahnnes had the following advice to other young people, “Know your worth. Know that you are very powerful. Know that your voice can actually change the world. Start today to change tomorrow.”
Dan Skehan, Programs Director at Caritas Australia said, “PAELS undoubtedly contributes to the current and future success of a raft of Australian Government initiatives that are targeted at supporting resilience and prosperity in the Pacific. These initiatives are often activated through a rich tapestry of church networks in the Pacific, with many of these networks working in partnership with Caritas Oceania, Caritas Australia, and the wider Caritas federation. We are proud of the COYA delegates who have represented themselves, their families, communities, and nations at PAELS this year.”
DFAT works alongside churches in the Pacific through the Pacific Church Partnerships Program, as well as the Pacific Church Partnership Advisory Network (PCPAN), the Church Agencies Network (CAN), and the Church Agencies Network: Disaster Operations (CANDO).
To support climate vulnerable communities via Caritas Australia’s programs, click the link below or call 1800 024 413 toll free.
