Youth Leadership In Fiji

Youth Leadership in Fiji National Youth Day Celebrations April 03 2009 Civic Centre

What we will be looking at… • • • • • • • •

The traits of leaders The individuality of leadership Youth leadership in Fiji Youth role models in Fiji – the debate Youth leadership models in Fiji! Youth leadership models in Fiji – Research Questioning leadership – Motivation What are we lacking?

The Leadership Name Game! • Write your name vertically down the side of your paper • Display all the pieces of paper • Walk around and write down leadership traits and styles that go along with the letters to each person’s name

The Leadership Name Game! • For example: S – Sincere H – Honest A – Active D – Devoted to the Cause I – Intelligent Y – Young at Heart A – Attentive to the needs of others

Reflect • How did you feel when you read your paper? Do you agree/disagree with the “leadership” traits that were listed? • Why did you write some of the things your wrote? Why did you pick this trait or that trait? Why is this trait important to you?

Apply • What do these traits tell us about our own styles of leadership? • How do these styles affect how we lead? • How can we bring out these styles in our teams and group?

Individuality of Leadership • Differences in what characteristics make up a leader • Differences in what characteristics make up a GOOD leader • Differences in the degree to which each characteristic is needed • My way or… • Who’s right?

Youth Leadership in Fiji • What exists? • To what extent do you take part in leadership activities? • What programs have you been part of? • How can these programs be strengthened?

Youth Role Models in Fiji – The Debate

Fiji Youths Lack Good Mentors: Fr Barr 23 March 2009 Fijilive.com

Fiji’s youths lack role models who could possibly show them the right path for a better future, says Father Kevin Barr. And this he says, is a major obstacle for youth leadership in the country. “It is a pity that Fiji youths do not have a good role model, there is just so much disharmony and opposition amongst political parties and religious groups which has left today’s youths in a vulnerable situation,” Fr Barr said. He said unlike United States President Barrack Obama, who is looked upon as a role model by many in the world, Fiji does not have any prominent figure on whose advise and footsteps the youths of the country could follow. There are mentors like Sevens maestro Waisale Serevi and some others but at a lesser level, he said. Youths he said should be encouraged to exercise their abilities to the best. He said youths should adapt President Obama’s motto of ‘Yes, we can’ in their lives to every opportunity they get to succeed. “Don’t be discouraged as there will be many ups and downs along the path to success. Be confident on your plan and work hard towards it,” he has advised youths. Fiji is today celebrating National Youth Day.

Posted By: Pardesi Posted On: Mar 23 2009 13:20:16 Comment: Whilst I agree with Father Barr in part, may I suggest that one of the reasons Fijian youth is besotted with crime is that they have no direction in life. People need jobs to have some meaning in life. I hope that as part of the multi party dialogue the youth of Fiji are discussed. With an abundance of land and sea everyone should be able to work, however little to contribute firstly for their own welfare and collectively for the good of the country. Might sound a bit idealistic, but when people are busy working they have not time, or need or are too busy to commit crime.

Posted By: localboy Posted On: Mar 23 2009 19:43:00 Comment: My views are slightly different from the above with regards to youth development especially in small island countries like ours. While some of the arguments are quite true, on the other hand, we need to assess this from a holistic approach. There are a lot of other factors that also need to be taken into account, all of which contributes to the current issues our youths are facing. The problems that we are facing in small islands developing states, for example, are very different to those faced by other regions. Fiji has a lot of good role models but sometimes, our government does not seem to recognise their efforts or they are not just not seen at all. Our economy and its status also have a lot to say with regards to youth development in Fiji.

Posted By: boe Posted On: Mar 25 2009 06:14:31 Comment: There is a role model. He/she doesn't realise his/her potential but he/she can be the biggest influence on all Fiji youth in Fiji and abroad. I am waiting for that person to stand up and take the podium, but he/she has to realise it. Look hard and you will recognise him/her.

Youth Leadership Models in Fiji • Local level – informal and traditional in nature • Institutional level - schools, churches and uniform groups • Formal and highly visible – Leadership Fiji and the Emerging Leaders Forum • Government level – National Youth Parliament

Youth Leadership Models in Fiji – the Research An Exploration of Youth Leadership Models in Fiji Dr. Patrick Vakaoti Vanisha Mishra • ECREA/ Pacific Leadership Program (an AusAID initiative)

Youth Leadership Models in Fiji – the Research Overall Aim The research aims to: • Explore existing positive and negative youth leadership initiatives in Fiji • Determine the extent to which leadership frameworks integrate gender equality objectives • Identify and address gaps in youth leadership initiatives • Contribute to the body of knowledge pertaining to youth leadership models in Fiji • Assist in building on existing successful youth leadership models

Youth Leadership Models in Fiji – the Research Specific Objectives The research objectives include: • Developing a directory of existing youth leadership models and initiatives • Undertaking a desk review of relevant published and unpublished work on youth leadership models • Identifying ways to strengthen and sustain positive youth leadership initiatives • Identifying strategies needed to engage women and girls more effectively in youth leadership initiatives • Developing policy recommendations for the development of relevant youth leadership models

Questioning Leadership – Motivation? The Leader Says – Motivational Activity

Questioning Leadership – Motivation? Reflection • When we first started playing, why did you do the task I asked you to do? • After we’d been playing for a while, why did you complete the task? Why not? • If I had told you there was money to be won if you completed the task, would you have completed the task? Why or why not? • Why does money- or some other reward- make you want (or not want) to do the task? Why does our motivation change with rewards? • How does motivation affect our work? Our attitude?

Questioning Leadership – Motivation? Apply • How does motivation affect what we choose to do as individuals? As members of a group? • What can we do to positively motivate ourselves? Each other? • How can we maintain high motivation as a group?

What are we lacking? • Where are the gaps?

Where are our strengths? • What do we have on our side?

Where to from here?!

Pacific Youth Festival Information Sharing Advocacy Personal Development Awareness

Keep in touch! [email protected] 323 2250 (work) Room H302 Faculty of Arts and Law Building University of the South Pacific