Pacific Youth and Sports Conference
1 - 8 December 2013
The Aoteaora Youth Leadership Institute is coordinating the New Zealand delegation to the second Pacific Youth and Sports Conference. Held in Noumea, New Caledonia, the conference will empower 1000 youth from across the Pacific to use sport as a tool to promote active citizenship and develop their communities.
This year, the conference will focus on three key themes: health, education and capacity building, and social inclusion.
The New Zealand delegates will be working with our delegation partners Aotearoa Football Charitable Trust, P3 Foundation and UN Youth New Zealand to create three changemaking projects using their new skills when they return home.
The PYASC will be held under the patronage of the United Nations Office for Sport for Development and Peace, and with the support of the Oceania Football Confederation, the New Caledonian Government and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
Read about our Pacific Youth and Sports Conference delegation's experiences in their blog posts!
Check out PYASC pics
on Facebook.
Head Delegates
LUCY AND DALLAS HAREMA
Lucy and Dallas got married this year, and together they are looking forward to co-leading the New Zealand delegation and helping to shape a dynamic and passionate group of young Kiwi leaders at PYASC.
Lucy Harema has a background in teaching and learning and is currently managing a children’s trust in the South/West of Christchurch. Her role includes managing staff of which there are over 70 youth volunteers, sourcing funding, strategic development and facilitating community participation. Lucy enjoys travelling the world and most recently travelled to Uganda, Africa, to work alongside an organisation helping formerly abducted child soldiers.
Dallas Harema has a background in social psychology and currently works within a clinical team in Youth Justice. He has been an ambassador for New Zealand in different forums on the world stage the most recent being the National Leader for the Ship for World Youth programme implemented by the United Nations. Dallas also has a background that includes rehabilitating formerly abducted child soldiers in Africa and lobbying against poverty. Most recently he's started voluntary work with an organisation tackling human trafficking. Dallas is passionate about developing people's potential and walking alongside them as they realise this for themselves, their communities and their nation.
Facilitators
KARRI SHAW
- P3 FOUNDATION
Karri is in her first year of a Law and Commerce degree at Victoria University in Wellington. When not with friends and family, Karri spends much of her time volunteering for a number of educational and developmental organisations. Karri's dream career is to work with the United Nations and/or in Human Rights Law, although she also has a strong interest in Economics and Public Policy.
EMMA WYLIE
- P3 FOUNDATION
Emma is a third year conjoint student at the University of Auckland, studying a Bachelor of Heath Sciences specialising in health promotion, and a Bachelor of Science majoring in human geography and environmental science. She is passionate about social justice and in enabling a world where the inherent value of every human is acknowledged, irrespective of background.
CHARLIE LIN
- UN YOUTH
Charlie is a second-year Law and Arts student at the University of Auckland. He enjoys badminton, shopping and musicals, and has been actively involved with UN Youth for a number of years
ELLA STOLWERK
- UN YOUTH
Ella, brought up in Langs Beach, is currently in her last year at Kristin School in Albany. Her interests include hockey, being social, and health and wellbeing. She hopes in future to get involved in politics within her electorate of Whangarei. She is currently chair of the Local District Councils Youth Advisory Group, and is a UNICEF Ambassador, UN Youth High Schools Ambassador, and member of Waipu Cove Surf Lifesaving Club.
VINNIE HUTCHINSON
- AOTEAROA FOOTBALL CHARITABLE TRUST
Vinnie is of Māori descent (Ngapuhi and Te Arawa) and lives in Kaitaia. He is currently studying towards NCEA Level 2 at the Abundant Life School. He loves soccer and has been playing since he was four - it's a passion close to his heart and he plans to play it as long as he can.
KANE WINTERSGILL
- AOTEAROA FOOTBALL CHARITABLE TRUST
Kane is a soccer coach with Coerver Coaching New Zealand, and also plays for Waiuku AFC - he enjoys anything to do with football. He is also passionate about trying to make a difference in the lives of those that are less fortunate than himself and those who require help to reach their goals in life.
Delegates
ZAHRA ATAI
Zahra Atai is a Masters of Public Health student at the University of Auckland. She is passionate about her studies and endeavours to improve the well-being of minorities and otherwise disadvantaged social groups. She is currently the youngest member of the Waitakere Ethnic Board, and is employed by YouthworX. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, baking, and undertaking a variety of DIY projects.
NICK BROOME
Nick is a Year 12 student at Lindsifarne College. His interests include playing football for the 1st XI school team and Marist Premier Mens Team, sailing, Laser Radial and athletics. He is at present also completing an Associate Diploma in Public Speaking.
STACIE ELLINGTON
Stacie is currently studying NCEA Level 2 at Albany Senior High School. She enjoys running and going to the gym. However her main passion is football, and so dedicates the majority of her time to it.
SAM FELLOWS
Sam Fellows is a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies graduate from the University of Waikato. He is currently completing a Master of Sport and Leisure Studies at the University of Waikato, investigating external providers of health and physical education programmes in New Zealand primary schools. Sam volunteers within several sports and community organisations including in rugby as a referee, in Paralympic sport, Camp Quality and the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust.
INDIA GILMORE
India, originally from Napier, is currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Anatomy, at the University of Otago. She has always been passionate about sport, and has been involved in netball, basketball, rowing, tennis, badminton and cricket, over the past 20 years.
MATTHEW GREIVE
Matthew is a student at AUT University, doing a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Social Sciences. He is passionate about sport and creating positive social change. He is familiar with international conferences, having been a member of the UN Youth New Zealand for three years. He is particularly interested in the PYASC theme of social inclusion through sport, believing that sport can unite people regardless of ethnicity, religion or disability.
HOLLY HENDERSON
Holly is attending St Andrews College in Christchurch. She has from a young age done a lot of travelling with her father's job as a rugby coach. While she enjoys a variety of sports, her current love is rowing, which she started just last year.
JORDYN HICKS
Jordyn, is in her second year at Unitec doing a Bachelor of Sport. Aside from loving sport, she is also a Youth Leader for St John, and enjoys baking and decorating cakes.
JOSHUA IGGO
Josh is in his last year at Albany Senior High School. He loves sports, but loves rugby especially. When he finishes school, he hopes to pursue a career in the field of sports and recreation.
ASHLEIGH JOHNSON
Ashleigh is a Year 13 student at Ellesmere College in Canterbury. She is most passionate about netball, playing for her club, school and region. Having finished school next year, she hopes to start a Bachelor of Nursing at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.
WIKI KURENE
Wikitoria, originally from Wellington, is currently in her second year of study at the University of Canterbury, studying Psychology and Education. Her favourite things include chocolate, basketball and large family gatherings.
SAUMANI MATATIA SIOELI
Saumani is the oldest in a family of six boys, and is in Year 12 at Tangaroa College. He is interested in sport, especially rugby, being involved with the school's 1st XV team. When he grows up he hopes to be both a lawyer and a professional rugby player.
NICOLE MCCALLUM
Nicole is a University of Otago student, studying law and politics. She loves getting involved in dance and drama. Her favourite things include family, friends and ice cream.
SLADE PLACID
Slade is in Year 12 at Shirley Boys High School in Christchurch. He enjoys playing sport, keeping active, and exploring different cultures.
AUDREY POLIKO
Audrey Poliko is proudly of Samoan descent, and currently resides and volunteers in Manurewa as a youth worker. She is passionate about working with youth, especially within her immediate community. She believes that youth have the potential to change the world and to transform their reputation within society to something positive. She especially believes youth have the ability to make posititive differences in our neighbourhoods through sport. She loves sport and is passionate about her culture and her community.
VICTORIA REA
Victoria is a first year student studying a Law and Arts conjoint, majoring in International Relations at Victoria University in Wellington. She has been involved in sport from a young age and recognises the place sport has in personal development. In her free time she participates in debating, volunteers for various organisations and spends time with friends and family.
LEILANI-GRACE RICHARDSON
Leilani-Grace is currently studying a Bachelor of Health Science degree at the University of Auckland. Having been a competitive swimmer all through her school life, she hopes to use this experience in her role as a delegate.
NICHOLAS SMIT
Nick is originally from Auckland, but has been studying in Dunedin for the last 2 and a half years. He is keen on sports and is looking forward to meeting everyone in Noumea.
SELENI TAGICABIKAU
Leni is currently attending the Hagley Community College in Christchurch, and hopes to further his tertiary education in either Teaching or Media and Communication. He enjoys music, sport, and spending time with his youth group.
HOLLY THORP
Holly, originally from Taupo, is now in her third year of a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago. She has always loved dancing, and as practiced jass, contemporary dance and ballet while at school. She is currently a zumba instructor, taking weekly classes in Dunedin.
TONY WONG
Tony is a political science student at the University of Canterbury. He has a keen interest in the areas of development and society. He is an avid traveller and loves adventure.
TRACY ZHANG
Tracy is a Year 11 student at Westlake Girls High School. She is a passionate table tennis player, having discovered it is more than just a game. She loves the impact sport has on her lifestyle, and believes in can be used within communites to improve a range of issues.