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Writer's pictureDoris Tulifau

How Brown Girl Woke is Driving CHOGM 2024’s Long-Term Impact on Pacific Youth Engagement

Doris Tulifau - (She/Her)

Brown Girl Woke (BGW) is dedicated to translating the vision of CHOGM 2024 into lasting change by creating a blueprint for youth-led initiatives that can be adopted across the Pacific. Our programs focus on real, actionable strategies that empower young people to address critical issues like gender equality, mental health, and climate action within their own communities, making BGW’s work a model for youth engagement throughout the region.

 

With a strong, regionally focused approach and partnership with the We Rise Coalition, BGW is uniquely positioned to expand the reach and impact of youth-led action. By working with Pacific organizations that understand local challenges, BGW has developed culturally relevant programs that resonate with and empower youth. For example, our menstrual health initiative, funded by Canada’s Pacific Funds, and our performing arts-based program on gender-based violence, supported by the University of London, offer effective, adaptable frameworks that can be scaled across the Pacific.

 

BGW’s after-school programs play a pivotal role in building life skills, social inclusion, and human rights awareness among young people. Through performing arts, music, poetry, and plays, we teach essential skills and encourage youth to engage creatively and critically with the world around them. Our platform also includes a TV and radio show that tackles youth issues, providing a public space where young people can voice their concerns and solutions, further strengthening community engagement and advocacy.

 

We envision these programs as blueprints for other Pacific communities, proving that local solutions can inspire regional transformation. Through our collaboration with the We Rise Coalition, we are creating a Pacific-wide network of young leaders who are equipped to tackle regional challenges head-on, using strategies that have proven successful in Samoa and beyond. By offering mentorship and workshops on critical issues, we provide youth with the tools they need to replicate and adapt BGW’s initiatives in their own communities, ensuring a united and informed Pacific youth network.

 

By leveraging CHOGM’s platform, BGW is fostering a generation that is not just prepared to respond to local issues but to lead on the global stage. Together, we are building a Pacific-wide legacy of youth empowerment, resilience, and advocacy—ensuring that young people are not only at the table but driving the conversation forward.

 

About the Author

Doris Tulifau – Anthropologist, community advocate, TV and radio host, and podcaster focused on empowering Pacific youth. Founder of Brown Girl Woke (BGW), a young feminist organization based in Apia, Samoa, Doris leads programs on youth empowerment, social justice, and gender equality. Through workshops, after-school programs, and media platforms, BGW tackles issues like mental health, gender-based violence, and climate change, creating spaces where Pacific youth can raise their voices and drive real change. Passionate about challenging systems and building opportunities, Doris is dedicated to shaping a stronger, more inclusive future for her community.

 

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

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