Niue

Tom Junior Misikea, RYC for Niue:

Being an active member of the youth he was required to be at the forefront of their youth work, encouraging and supporting other youth to become active members as well, not just at the government level but also at the grassroots community level. Niue's Youth Ministry (in the Department of Community Affairs) were also aware of his  work and involvement with young people in the community, hence the opportunity to be RYC member for Niue. 

Tom's activism was sparked when he was nominated to be the Youth Parliament Member for his village in the Niue National Youth Assembly as part of Niue’s Youth Parliament project funded by UNDP in 2009. All 20 Niue  youth who were elected as Niue’s first Youth MPs were encouraged by the former National Youth Officer to stand up and “take the lead” during the Youth Parliament.  The love he has for the youth in his village and also for the rest of the youths on his island motivates him to constantly support youth activities and to help their government and communities, because there is severe depopulation on Niue with the majority of Niue people permanently residing in New Zealand. He wants to make a change in the youth in his village, he wants the youth to come together as one and work together to keep their culture going as he can see that the youth are one of the main factors in preserving their unique culture.  The youth can preserve and sustain their Vagahau Niue, customs, traditions and protocol unique to them.

Tom was elected as the Youth President for his village because he's the only active member left in the village to run the youth, as many of their young people have migrated for further studies. He acknowledges that without the nurture of his parents and family he wouldn’t be in the place he is today. The education of his parent’s family and everyone in the village helps him through the challenges of the youth today. As the President of his village youth he is involved with village meetings, church activities and youth workshops which helps him with decision making as the leader of the youth.   

Tom is most proud of his parents. He is proud of the youths in his village because they support him in every activity happening on the island. He would like to contribute to making a difference for Niue's young people and for all to engage in a unified group to switch on, be involved and get active in community activities. His career highlights so far include participating at the 11^th PIPSA in Auckland last year, the youth meeting in Wellington and now being the RYC Representative for Niue. The Commonwealth Youth Programme is great in the way it fosters an environment that promotes teamwork and partnership.

Tom is very passionate about getting young people to come together and share their experiences. He is looking forward to telling the youth of today to start getting active and let’s work together, let’s have our voices heard, for our young people around the Pacific to become advocates. He is looking forward to seeing young people take the lead. He would also offer CYP an opportunity for Niue to one day host the Programme so other youth can visit his beautiful island, dialogue with their youth, share and exchange ideas and take Niue’s youth to the next level.