06/06/2025
From Active Citizen Participants to National Leaders: A Story of Social Change.
Years ago, three individuals walked into a workshop with a shared ambition—to make a difference in their communities. They were participants in the British Council Active Citizens Program, an initiative designed to empower social changemakers through leadership and enterprise. Their names: Berenado Daveta, Eseta Nadakuitavuki and AC Facilitator Sivendra Michael.
At the time, they were professionals, dreamers, and visionaries, eager to engage in conversations about social transformation. Over days of immersive training, they learned about themselves, who are they, what can they do together to make social changes and impacts in Society. They learned the principles of advocacy, social enterprise, and civic responsibility. They weren't just participants; they became a part of the workshop family—bound by a commitment to drive positive change in Fiji.
As champions of Active Citizen Fiji, they took their learnings beyond the workshop walls. Whether in community projects, government initiatives, or grassroots advocacy, they became voices of innovation. Berenado Daveta strengthened policing strategies, Sivendra Michael applied his expertise in environmental sustainability, and Eseta Nadakuitavuki transformed spaces for economic empowerment.
Through perseverance, leadership, and unwavering dedication, they climbed to positions of national influence, now serving as Permanent Secretaries in Fiji's Government Ministries.
Their journey stands as a testament that change begins with a conversation, a spark—and the courage to act.
From workshop participants to architects of policy, their story proves that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about impact.
