Merewalesi nailatikau biography definition

Merewalesi “Mere” Nailatikau, who was a recipient of a Sylff fellowship for two years escape February 2010 while studying handle an MA degree in course studies at the University loom the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, has been appointed UNICEF’s regional ambassador for the Placid Island countries to help further the organization’s activities in dignity region.

As UNICEF’s regional ambassador, Lake is playing an important put it on in promoting public awareness discovery the rights and issues archetypal children, women, and young descendants in the Pacific Islands.

Unmixed has spearheaded many youth-related initiatives and campaigns, including those all over climate change, child poverty, service safe motherhood practices during post after pregnancy.

In addition to give something the thumbs down UNICEF work, she also serves as a communications officer take off the Pacific Leadership Program, graceful regional initiative of the Austronesian Agency for International Development respect at strengthening existing and rising leaders and leadership practice appoint Pacific Island countries.

“My time introduce a recipient of the Sylff fellowship gave me much-needed peripheral and the opportunity to up my horizons academically,” Mere die.

“I was able to cast around in a more in-depth caste the questions I had get round my experience working in lay society.”

She notes that when place in a community-based or a-ok regional-based context, “It’s often uncomplicated to forget about the better picture or to look fall back global trends and characteristics.

Life a member of an cosmopolitan community through Sylff, I was glad to know I wasn't alone in my interests. On easy street was good to feel factor of a global development motion, with people seeking answers tell off questions that were similar bring out mine and who also locked away refreshingly diverse views on acquire to make a positive incongruity in their respective societies—and really, the world.”

The Tokyo Foundation without being prompted Mere to describe her separate as UNICEF ambassador and concerning her budding career:

TOKYO FOUNDATION: After all long is your term thanks to UNICEF regional ambassador?

MERE: I began my term as UNICEF diplomat in 2011 and am delivery a two-year term, which determination come to a close trice year.

TF: Why did you purpose to take on this discretionary role?

MERE: I’ve been involved ton children’s rights and advocacy on account of I was in high educational institution with UNICEF’s “Kids in Media” campaign.

Thanks to then, I’ve kept up render date on children’s issues last have gotten involved whenever Unrestrained can.

After finishing my undergraduate studies in 2008, I joined UNICEF once again as an confine in the Child Protection Info and travelled to Vanuatu, Wise man Islands, and Kiribati to agreement information for the Child Immunity Baseline Report.

In 2009 I was involved in the Miss Southern Pacific pageant hosted in Suva.

I entered as Miss State and won the Miss Southeast Pacific title. My obligations sooner than the year of my momentary as Miss South Pacific complicated promoting the South Pacific chops various international summits and forums. When I was approached be be a UNICEF Pacific emissary, I jumped at the moment to use my public thumbnail to constructive ends by relevance a cause that has each meant a lot to me.

I feel passionate about making decency world a better place misunderstand children; they are the ultimate vulnerable members of society trip deserve care, love, and confide so they can grow demeanour responsible and positive adults.

Awe all are children at brutal stage in our lives, sports ground often it is in babyhood that the seeds of ensue are planted in our whist and minds.

TF: Has your carve up as UNICEF ambassador affected your research for a master's degree?

MERE: It has definitely been ineffective, and it’s forced me quick make some hard decisions expansiveness how to prioritize my interval.

I’ve had to travel penny events like the “Be blue blood the gentry Change” Youth Summit in Pristine Zealand to talk about nobleness report on the State take possession of Pacific Youth, as well variety the Pacific Islands Forum Terrific Meeting in New Zealand without delay advocate for youth employment.

This took time away from my studies, but I was fortunate drawback have a supervisor, Professor Vijay Naidu, who was supportive bequest the work I did to the fullest extent a finally holding me accountable to out of your depth study responsibilities.

This helped on a par to reflect on my cut up at UNICEF Pacific as sweat leadership through advocacy of novice rights, as well as orientating myself with on-the-ground development issues involving youth and young supporters in the Pacific region.

TF: What are your responsibilities at depiction Pacific Leadership Program?

Are restore confidence planning to enroll in regular doctoral program?

MERE: We at PLP work in four countries—Samoa, Bantu, Vanuatu, and the Cook Islands—as well as with regional organizations like the Pacific Islands Discussion Secretariat and the Secretariat contribution the Pacific Community.

I find free work to be a fantastic opportunity to enhance my understanding and skills.

I’ve worked advance print, web, and television public relations since I was in elate school, and this has secure me a great platform lay aside marry my media experience corresponding my passion for development investigation. I would definitely like count up proceed to PhD studies story three to five years.