Help get Aigagalefili to the Global Young Leaders Conference in New York!

Talofa lava, my name is Aigagalefili or Fili, and I'm a 17-year-old Samoan from South Auckland.

I'm a published poet, award-winning orator and indigenous activist. In 2019 I won the National Storytellers title, was a founder of 4 Tha Kulture (a grassroots indigenous South Auckland high school-based collective) which focuses on social issues like climate change and brought the Pasifika and South Auckland voice to the School Strike 4 Climate Strike. I was also announced as a Lead Prefect for Aorere College.

Now, after an extensive application process, I've qualified and been given the one of a lifetime opportunity to represent New Zealand at the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C and New York this coming June/July!

I recognise that through this conference, I have the responsibility to be a vessel for perspectives from New Zealand - Pasifika, indigenous, South Auckland, low socio-economic views - that don't get heard from on a world stage.

The skills and connections I will develop at this conference are invaluable. Not only will I be able to represent Aotearoa, but all the communities that don't often get heard from that have raised me too. I want to dedicate myself to grow as a leader, artist and activist so I can bring back this knowledge to do more work for our home and encourage other disadvantaged youth to attend this conference.

With these donations, I promise to do that to the best of my ability through constantly educating myself!

Any help to bring our communities to the forefront would mean the world to me❤️