Talavou Village: Youth-led initiatives addressing health care problems

Pacific youth are still facing barriers in accessing crucial health and social services due to a lack of tailored engagement and responsiveness to their immediate needs.

In recognising this gap, the Talavou Village, a community of Pacific youth, took proactive steps to address these challenges and launched the Youth One Stop Shop (YOSS) Clinic for South Auckland.

Village Collective Youth Activators Faava Leong Tuigamala and Yvette Sapatu spoke to Pacific Mornings about how their free initiatives are helping youth to feel comfortable about speaking to the societal issues they face.

Sapatu says there are two main problems for youth; information and resource accessibility and the lack of validation when personal issues are voiced.

“Our Pacific youth are not aware of the services they have available to them. They don’t know where to go, where to find it or gain more information on it. And when we are in these health spaces we don’t feel heard, seen, or acknowledged."

She says YOSS is a stepping stone for young people wanting to reclaim health sovereignty and make independent, properly informed and safe decisions for themselves.

The collective was formed from the service agency FLEP (Family Life Education Pasifika) that started in 1997 as a response to the overwhelming STI rates and unintended pregnancies and are now working towards distributing sexual health and wellbeing information and services.

In addition to the clinic, Talavou Village organised various outreach programs throughout the year, fostering authentic connections with Pacific youth.

Tuigamala says the aim is to ensure every young person in South Auckland feels safe and encouraged to access the resources and support available at the Talavou Hub whenever the need arises.

“Providing a safe space for our Pasifika people and that comes in different shapes and sizes nowadays which we want to cater to.”

People can contact Talavou Village through their social media or find their services here.

Listen to the whole interview with Faava Leong Tuigamala and Yvette Sapatu below.