Solomon Islands

Noelyn Wagapu, RYC Chair for the South Pacific, Solomon Islands:

24 year old Solomon Islander Noelyn Wagapu is the Chair of the South Pacific Regional Youth Caucus. In having this role as a Pacific RYC Chair representative, Noelyn wants to learn more about youth issues and start contributing to some changes in the Pacific region.

Noelyn was a full time radio broadcaster on the national radio station SIBC for five years until July 2010. She was involved in a radio drama group called Dance with the Devil that is funded by the Secretariat of the Pacific Communities (SPC) raising awareness on issues affecting young people in Solomon Islands through radio and stage plays since 2002 to 2009. She has been involved in the making of a DVD raising awareness of domestic violence against women and girls and another raising awareness of HIV/AIDS funded by RAMSI and OXFAM. In 2008  she was awarded by the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI)  a certificate of appreciation because of her continuous support to the objectives of the PPF through maintaining a professional radio crime watch segment, International Wantoks and Character Voice that carried messages that assist police in public education on safety issues. The Board and Management of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation also awarded her with a certificate of appreciation for the efforts and professionalism demonstrated in the compilation of the programs The 100 Days Buildup to the Country’s Independence. In 2009 she was awarded the Young Female Solomon Islander of the Year Award for outstanding leadership and achievements in community development. In March 2010 she was part of the  Solomon Islands delegation who attended the Pacific Youth and Sports Conference in Manukau, New Zealand. She had the privilege to be part of the Pan-Commonwealth Mid Term Review Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka and also was part of the Nkabom 2010 Commonwealth Leadership Programme in Rwanda, Africa.

Noelyn studied radio broadcasting in New Zealand and completed Foundation Studies at the University of the South Pacific. She represented Solomon Islands in the Oceania Women’s Football World Cup Qualifier in 2004 and 2007.

Noelyn is always passionate about youth and believes that with the potential they have through their creativity, openness to new and different experiences and desire for change they have the ability to move beyond geography and time restrictions, and are undoubtedly the dynamic group of people that are the primary enablers of social change.Noelyn believes that young people have the power to look beyond old social divisions to forge a strong sense of nationhood and unity.

Noelyn believes that through communication we can reach out and connect with people, to listen, observe and to respond with respect. Ever since she has been involved in the media  industry and working with young people, she always had the dream to create an avenue or youth resource centre that youths could use, seek help from, speak and relate to each other.  Where all communication logistical support and a database of young people can be provided.  She would like to set up a radio station for young people as their means of communications.

The South Pacific is unique and has always had an underrepresented voice in the world. Noelyn takes this role as an opportunity to acquire new skills, recognise the unrecognisable and to raise the voice of youths in the Pacific region.  Noelyn admits that this was always going to be a challenge, but it was one that only encouraged her to move forward. The South Pacific is an oyster of peace, stability and good governance and that is something Noelyn is proud of in being an Islander