Pacific Islands Young Economic Empowerment Leaders-Cohort 2

Under the theme of Post-Pandemic Equitable and Sustainable Economic Recovery, 10 Fellows, from 8 Pacific Islands will take part in a 5-week program that included cultural/educational activities, a 3-week customized work-placement, and extensive networking opportunities. The program will wrap-up with 5 days in Washington, DC. The East-West Center's Professional Development Program, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Young Pacific Leaders (Facebook page), is conducting a Special Professional Fellows Program Opportunity for Young Economic Empowerment Leaders from the Pacific Islands. This program is bringing three cohorts of young professionals from the Pacific Islands to the United States for intensive experiential programs that build significant new capacity and facilitate enduring professional bonds between industry leaders in the United States and the Pacific Islands.

Fellows [See full bios]

Australia

Zhanae Dodd, Chief Executive Officer, Groove Co. Work Placement: Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Kapolei, Hawai‘i.

Fiji

Paulini Turagabeci, Writer & Editor, Kulawai Press. Work Placement: Bess Press, Honolulu.

Bulou Draunidalo, Owner and Software Consultant, Unicorn Technology Solutions. Work Placement: Hatch Blue, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i.

Kiribati

Teemwari Tanentoa, Lead InCountry Program Coordinator, Kindling Kiribati. Work Placement: Pacific Business Center Program, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu.

Nauru

Marah Fritz, Foreign Service Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Work Placement: Girls Who Bake Next Door/Cake Works Bakery, Honolulu.

New Zealand/Aotearoa

Joshua Peauafi, Community Partnerships Lead, Fujitsu Oceania. Work Placement: Blue Startups, Honolulu.

Papua New Guinea

Jordan Becks, Managing Director, The EDidiman Initiative. Work Placement: Hawai‘i Public Health Institute.

Clare Guria, Self-employed Freelance Graphic and Visual Designer. Work Placement: National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York.

Solomon Islands

Paul Sukulu, Livelihood Development Coordinator, SCALE-NRM/Winrock International. Work Placement: Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i.

Tuvalu

Sagaga Charles Safega, Youth Manager, Government of Tuvalu. Work Placement: INPEACE Center for Entrepreneurship, Kapolei, Hawai‘i.

This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by the East-West Center.

Pacific Islands Young Economic Empowerment Leaders-Cohort 2

Under the theme of Post-Pandemic Equitable and Sustainable Economic Recovery, 10 Fellows, from 8 Pacific Islands will take part in a 5-week program that included cultural/educational activities, a 3-week customized work-placement, and extensive networking opportunities. The program will wrap-up with 5 days in Washington, DC. The East-West Center's Professional Development Program, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Young Pacific Leaders (Facebook page), is conducting a Special Professional Fellows Program Opportunity for Young Economic Empowerment Leaders from the Pacific Islands. This program is bringing three cohorts of young professionals from the Pacific Islands to the United States for intensive experiential programs that build significant new capacity and facilitate enduring professional bonds between industry leaders in the United States and the Pacific Islands.