Ke Tau Talanoa

22/12/2025

19/12/2025

🎙️ Join us this Monday (22 December 2025) as we wrap up the year with the final session of Ke Tau Talanoa for 2025!!!!

As we come to the close of 2025, this marks our final episode for the year in the ongoing Ke Tau Talanoa Podcast Series. We are proud to continue featuring inspiring leaders and YPL Alumni, who share their journeys, experiences, and wisdom to guide and empower the next generation of youth leaders in Tonga.

Episode 13 brings our Ke Tau Talanoa sessions for 2025 to a meaningful close. Our girls power panelists reflect on the Ke Tau Talanoa Program throughout the year and the impact it has had on young leaders. With the support of Balance of Power, this program has created a safe and empowering space for young leader's voices to be heard, encouraging young people in Tonga to become strong leaders and choose positive pathways for their lives.

A heartfelt thank you to Balance of Power for their continued support, and to Lalo Niu Studios for the wonderful collaboration.

Don’t miss it!!!! join the talanoa and be inspired!

11/12/2025

🌟Meet the inspiring Young Leaders of the "KE TAU TALANOA" Program🌟

"Shaping the future with their vision and voices!"

👩‍💼 NAME: Peioneti Lui
🌍 VILLAGE: Fua'amotu - Tongatapu

About Me:
I am currently serving as a Senior Quarantine Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF). My journey in agriculture began with a deep desire to protect Tonga’s environment and support the growth of our agricultural sector. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of the South Pacific (2014) and a master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from the Tokyo University of Agriculture (2023). My education has shaped the way I approach my work, giving me a strong foundation to contribute meaningfully to Tonga’s development.

In my role, I specialize in plant quarantine, export supervision, and ensuring that Tonga’s agricultural products meet international biosecurity and phytosanitary standards. Every day, I take pride in knowing that my work helps protect our borders, safeguard our crops, and maintain Tonga’s reputation in global trade. It is a responsibility I carry with seriousness and gratitude.

One of the highlights of my professional journey was receiving the Excellence Award for Poster Presentation at the 14th International Society for Environmental Research and Development (ISERD) Conference. This recognition reminded me that hard work, perseverance, and passion truly pay off. It also motivated me to continue contributing to scientific research and representing Tonga at both regional and international platforms.

Beyond my duties, I am passionate about helping others grow. I enjoy mentoring young officers, sharing what I’ve learned, and encouraging them to see biosecurity not just as a job, but as a calling to protect our nation. My work is more than a career; it is my way of serving Tonga.

Inspirational Leadership
I believe that leadership begins with integrity, humility, and service. My leadership style is rooted in these values, and in the belief that we achieve more when we work together. I always aim to lead by example, by being honest, hardworking, and committed to excellence in everything I do.

Teamwork is very important to me. I make it a priority to create an environment where everyone feels supported, valued, and encouraged to share ideas. I believe that when people feel empowered, they contribute their best, and that is how we build strong and effective teams within the Ministry.

I also see leadership as an opportunity to inspire growth in others. I take every chance to guide younger officers, help them build their confidence, and support them in learning the skills needed in agricultural biosecurity. Seeing others progress and succeed brings me genuine joy and fulfillment.

My vision is for a resilient and secure Tonga, one where our agriculture thrives, our borders are protected, and our communities benefit from sustainable practices. Every decision I make and every project I commit to is driven by this vision for our country.

Leadership, to me, is not about position. It is about purpose. It is about serving with heart, lifting others up, and doing everything with honesty and dedication. And every day, I strive to embody the kind of leadership that creates positive impact, inspires trust, and contributes to a better future for Tonga.

08/12/2025

Ke Tau Talanoa – Episode 12🎙️

In this inspiring episode of Ke Tau Talanoa, our young leaders come together to share their personal journeys of leadership in Tonga.

The discussion highlights their experiences stepping into leadership roles and showcases real stories that encourage youth to actively shape the future of our nation.

Our panelists share their diverse experiences, Leadership Roles in
Tonga’s Government, Law, and Constitutional Framework Each story offers valuable insight, motivation, and hope for the next generation of leaders.

A huge thank you to Balance of Power for supporting this important initiative, and to our amazing panelists - Jessica 'Afa, Joycelyn Lomu & Peioneti Lui for openly sharing their stories.

We also extend our gratitude to Lalo Niu Studios for providing the recording and studio space.

📢 This episode was recorded prior to the Tonga 2025 General Elections.


Watch out for our final episode for 2025 dropping in soon!!!

04/12/2025

🎙️ Tune in Monday (8th December 2025) for another powerful session of Ke Tau Talanoa!

As we continue our ongoing Talanoa Podcast Series, we are proud to feature inspiring leaders and YPL Alumni who share their powerful journeys, experiences, and wisdom to guide and empower the next generation of youth leaders in Tonga.

In Episode 12, our panelists dive into powerful conversations about great leadership and resilience, fostering strong leaders and inspiring young Tongans to build a more balanced and inclusive society. This episode explores Leadership Roles in
Tonga’s Government, Law, and Constitutional Framework

A heartfelt thank you to Balance of Power for supporting this initiative, and to Lalo Niu Studios for the collaboration!

27/11/2025

🌟Meet the inspiring Young Leaders of the "KE TAU TALANOA" Program🌟

"Shaping the future with their vision and voices!"

👩‍💼 NAME: Rita Prema
🌍 VILLAGE: Anana - Tongatapu

About Me:
I am currently managing Adiloas Department Store, a family business that has proudly served Tonga for more than 30 years. My parents co-founded the store, and after their passing, I stepped into the role of managing it, now going on six years.

Growing up, I spent weekends helping in the store, watching my parents work tirelessly to provide for our family. Their dedication, sacrifices, and strength shaped who I am today. They were, and continue to be, my greatest motivation. They taught me that nothing worth having comes easy, and that perseverance, humility, and faith will carry you through every challenge.

Today, I handle the day-to-day operations, sometimes overwhelming, sometimes exhausting but always meaningful. As a young woman and a female entrepreneur, I’ve faced doubts and barriers. People often questioned how a “young girl” could manage a store. Instead of letting that discourage me, it became the fire that drives me to honor my parents’ legacy and build something even stronger for the next generation.

Inspirational Leadership
Leadership begins with purpose, faith, and the courage to believe in yourself. I’ve learned that you don’t need to start big, you start with small steps, small wins, and a strong vision. The challenges you face do not define you; they refine you. As young people in Tonga, we are blessed to grow up in a place where we can worship freely, live with family support, and build our dreams with God at the center.

To our youth and emerging leaders, set your vision. Find your purpose. Stay grounded in faith. Believe in yourself even when others doubt you. The world will try to distract you with negativity and noise but focus on the good inside you and keep striving toward who you want to become.

Dream big, pray hard, work faithfully, and trust that God’s plan for your life is greater than anything you can imagine. Your journey won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it.

25/11/2025

🌟Meet the inspiring Young Leaders of the "KE TAU TALANOA" Program🌟

"Shaping the future with their vision and voices!"

👩‍💼 NAME: Filipe Saafi
🌍 VILLAGE: Talasiu-Tongatapu

I am deeply passionate about working with young people and helping our communities grow stronger together through service, leadership, and opportunity.

My journey as a young leader began while I was still in school. At just 18, I started serving as a youth worker at our local Corps. In 2011, during my time at Takuilau College, I was honored to serve as a school prefect and as the Marketing Manager for the school’s business team in the National Intercollege Business Competition, where our team proudly won second place for Best Business Plan.

In 2013, I was selected to attend The Salvation Army “Time to Be Holy, Time to Serve” Conference in Sydney, Australia, and in 2015, I had the privilege to represent Tonga at The Salvation Army Boundless Congress in London, celebrating the movement’s 150th Anniversary.

Over the years, I have continued to dedicate my time and energy to youth and community development. From serving as Vice-President of the Talasiu Youth Community and Team Leader for Media and Technology with the Tonga Youth Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace, to working in national and regional youth-focused roles, my goal has always been to empower young Tongans to find their voice and purpose.

Professionally, I’ve served as Regional Youth and Children’s Secretary with The Salvation Army, Youth Assistant Officer with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Youth Development Country Coordinator for Tonga with the Pacific Community (SPC). I currently serve as a Senior Employment Officer at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, focusing on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Program.

In 2018, I was honored to represent the Tongatapu 10 Constituency as Minister for Finance and National Planning during the Tonga Youth Parliament, where I was awarded Most Inspirational Leader. Later, I joined the team that completed the Tonga National Youth Policy (2020) and represented Tonga as a National Youth Delegate to the Commonwealth Youth Council (2021–2022).

Outside of work, I remain active in my church and community, leading youth and children’s ministries, organizing community events, and mentoring emerging leaders. Everything I do is driven by one simple mission: to serve, to inspire, and to create opportunities for young Tongans to reach their full potential.

Inspirational Leadership
To me, leadership is not about position or power, it’s about service, humility, and purpose. My journey has always been people-centered: building relationships, creating opportunities, and empowering others to discover their own path to success.

I believe that true leadership starts with listening and understanding, especially when it comes to the voices of our youth. When young people are valued, included, and supported, they can transform their communities and lead with confidence and compassion.

Through my years of service in faith, community, and government. I have learned that leadership requires both heart and action. It means showing up for others, even when it’s not easy; it means leading with integrity and using every opportunity to lift others higher.

My hope is to continue inspiring and supporting the next generation of Tongan leaders, to help them realize that they are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the changemakers of today.

24/11/2025

Ke Tau Talanoa – Episode 11🎙️

In this inspiring episode of Ke Tau Talanoa, our young leaders come together to share their personal journeys of leadership in Tonga. The discussion highlights their experiences stepping into leadership roles and showcases real stories that encourage youth to actively shape the future of our nation.

Our panelists share their diverse experiences; Balancing Dreams and Responsibilities: Youth Leadership in Family and Business,” highlighting the realities, challenges, and triumphs of young leaders navigating both personal and professional worlds. Each story offers valuable insight, motivation, and hope for the next generation of leaders.

A huge thank you to Balance of Power for supporting this important initiative, and to our amazing panelists - Rita Prema & Filipe Saafi for openly sharing their stories. We also extend our gratitude to Lalo Niu Studios for providing the recording and studio space.


Stay tuned!!! Episode 12 drops on December 8th, 2025!

20/11/2025

🎙️ Tune in Monday (24th November 2025) for another powerful session of Ke Tau Talanoa!

As we continue our ongoing Talanoa Podcast Series, we are proud to feature inspiring leaders and YPL Alumni who share their powerful journeys, experiences, and wisdom to guide and empower the next generation of youth leaders in Tonga.

In Episode 11, our panelists dive into powerful conversations about great leadership and resilience, fostering strong leaders and inspiring young Tongans to build a more balanced and inclusive society. This episode explores “Balancing Dreams and Responsibilities: Youth Leadership in Family and Business,” highlighting the realities, challenges, and triumphs of young leaders navigating both personal and professional worlds.

A heartfelt thank you to Balance of Power for supporting this initiative, and to Lalo Niu Studios for the collaboration!

20/11/2025

Our marvellous young leader and Ke Tau Talanoa Alumni, Tuilautala Ma’u, had the incredible opportunity to represent Tonga at the 2025 Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Regional Workshop on Unlocking Funding: A Comprehensive Grants Workshop for Success this October 2025.

We are truly grateful for the opportunities our young leaders continue to receive to build their capacity and grow into strong, impactful leaders, not only for Tonga, but for the entire Pacific.

🤝 It's time to jump back in and meet the rest of the leaders who attended the 🔓2025 Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Regional Workshop on Unlocking Funding: A Comprehensive Grants Workshop for Success 🔓in October 2025!

🤝Meet Tu'iLautala Ma'u, who represented Tonga 🇹🇴

“The resilience, deep-rooted cultural values, and strong sense of community in the Pacific inspire me to serve and uplift our people through youth-led development.” – Tu'iLautala Ma'u 🇹🇴

🔓 In October, the 2025 Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Regional Workshop on Unlocking Funding: A Comprehensive Grants Workshop for Success 🔓brought together emerging leaders from throughout the Pacific Islands, Australia, and New Zealand to collaborate in a regional network, and apply creative approaches from intersecting aspects of the core YPL Pillars (Education, Environment and Resource Management, Economic and Social Development, and Civic Leadership) to build effective financial management strategies for successful outcomes.

U.S. Embassy Nukuʻalofa Cultural Vistas

17/11/2025

🌟Meet the inspiring Young Leaders of the "KE TAU TALANOA" Program🌟

"Shaping the future with their vision and voices!"

👩‍💼 NAME: Tevita Baravilala Kava
🌍 VILLAGE: Kolofo'ou - Tongatapu

About Me
My name is Tevita Kava, and I currently serve as the Chief Cook at Vaiola Hospital, where I lead the hospital’s kitchen operations and work alongside the clinical nutrition team to provide patients with healthy, balanced meals. With a strong foundation in hospitality and community service, I am deeply passionate about empowering young Tongans through leadership, discipline, and teamwork.

Beyond the kitchen, I express my creativity and humor through my social media platforms, where I share witty “Dear Diary” entries and relatable content about everyday Tongan life. My storytelling style blends humor and honesty, using laughter to shed light on real issues, spark conversations, and connect people through shared experiences.

I am also a proud family man, grounded by love and faith, and I strive to balance my professional responsibilities with my creative passions and community involvement.

Inspirational Leadership
To me, leadership is about serving with heart and purpose, whether in the kitchen, in the community, or online. Through my work at Vaiola Hospital, I’ve learned that true leadership starts with care, consistency, and accountability. By setting a positive example and staying humble, I aim to inspire young Tongans to pursue excellence in whatever they do.

Through humor and storytelling, I also encourage others to see that leadership doesn’t always have to be serious, it can be lighthearted, creative, and deeply human. My goal is to remind people that we can lead and uplift others not only through words, but through everyday actions of kindness, dedication, and integrity.

14/11/2025

One of our amazing Ke Tau Talanoa Alumni, the awesome Osaiasi Lolohea.

A true young leader with so many talents, from academics to art, and a total whiz in Maths and Physics over at the USP Tonga Campus!

Read Osaiasi’s full story and see how he’s inspiring the next wave of STEM superstars across the Pacific! https://www.usp.ac.fj/alumni/spotlight/

🔥 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Resilience, STEM, and a Calling to Teach!

Meet Osaiasi Lolohea from Tonga, a Bachelor of Science graduate who channeled the "hardships" of university life into a resilient mindset! Today, he is a Facilitator for Math & Physics at USP Tonga Campus.

Read Osaiasi's full story and discover how he's helping shape the next generation of STEM leaders in the Pacific: https://www.usp.ac.fj/alumni/spotlight/

***
𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗨𝗦𝗣 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟬'𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱?

Register and share your stories with your network: www.usp.ac.fj/alumni/arms/