Olaga Lei: A New Chapter in Pasifika Youth Work Wellbeing
In a major step forward for Pasifika youth in West Auckland, the Le Moana West Collective has announced a $52,000 funding boost to support the Pasifika Olaga Lei Project—a transformative initiative that focuses on uplifting the wellbeing of 'by Pasifika, for Pasifika' youth organizations' in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Olaga Lei, a Tuvaluan term for wellbeing, embodies the heart of this project: strengthening community resilience and fostering holistic wellbeing among Pasifika youth. This initiative will be delivered in collaboration with 13 Pasifika-led organizations, ensuring a tailored, culturally grounded approach that aligns with Le Moana West Collective’s Pou of Wellbeing.
A significant challenge for many Pasifika youth workers and organizations is being under-resourced despite their tireless and impactful work in the community. Often, these service providers operate with limited funding, which can lead to the wellbeing of both youth and workers being overlooked. This project seeks to address that gap by providing the necessary support to sustain and enhance the critical work these organizations are already doing.
The Pasifika Olaga Lei Project is designed to create meaningful, lasting change by empowering Pasifika youth and the service providers who support them. Key objectives include:
Enabling Access to Holistic Wellbeing Programs: Providing youth with culturally informed initiatives that integrate Pasifika reo, tikanga, and matauranga.
Strengthening Service Providers: Equipping youth-focused organizations with resources to deliver impactful, community-led programs.
Co-Designing Solutions: Encouraging youth to take leadership roles in shaping initiatives that address their specific wellbeing needs.
With 13 dedicated partner organizations—including Ranui 135, Tuilaepa Youth Mentoring Services, and the Pacifica Arts Centre—the project leverages deep community connections to deliver programs rooted in Pasifika values of respect, reciprocity, and collective care. Programs will be youth-focused, ensuring that young voices and lived experiences shape the wellbeing initiatives.
Funding will be allocated equitably among the partner organizations, allowing each to develop tailored programs that reflect the unique needs of the youth they serve. Throughout the initiative, ongoing collaboration and support will ensure that organizations can adapt and refine their programs based on real-time feedback.
By investing in Pasifika youth through culturally grounded initiatives, the Pasifika Olaga Lei Project is not just funding programs—it is investing in the future of West Auckland’s Pasifika communities. The project reinforces Le Moana West's commitment to building resilience, promoting equitable outcomes, and upholding Pasifika identity through every aspect of its work.
As the project moves forward, Le Moana West Collective and its partners look ahead to creating a sustainable model of wellbeing that continues to uplift Pasifika youth and their wellbeing for generations to come.
