“We All Have a Voice Here”: Tuvaluan Auckland Community Trust Brings Generations Together to Tackle Family Violence

How do we stop harm that hides behind closed doors? For the Tuvaluan Auckland Community Trust in West Auckland, the answer is found as a collective: island leaders, church leaders, community elders, parents, and youth - all facing it together, discussing possible ways to address the issue.

At Tuvalu Hall in Henderson, and with a series of workshops , a powerful shift is taking place. Rooms filled with laughter, language, and legacy, Tuvaluan youth are no longer just observers in conversations about family violence - they are active voices. Surrounded by elders and leaders, they listened to expert insights, heard confronting statistics, and came together to to reflect, respond, and present their own thoughts back to the wider room.

The series of workshops are held entirely in the Tuvaluan language. The sessions became a living classroom - rich with cultural expressions and mutual care. Young people who need support with translation were gently helped by peers and adults sitting beside them. It is more than just a gesture, it is a powerful example of what intergenerational solidarity can look like.

At the heart of the evening was Dr Manuila Tausi, Rev. Suamalie Iosefa Naisali, Mrs Litala Eliuta and Mrs Asita Molotii, the newly appointed secretary of the Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust. They facilitated the space with strength and care, honouring the wisdom of the elders while making way for youth perspectives to rise.

It wasn’t just a talanoa — it was the beginning of a wider shift, where community solutions are driven by those who live and breathe them daily. As the workshops increase, so does the attendance of the youth. It is clear that they feel safe to speak up on what they see and feel in their homes, the silences they’ve grown up with, and the hope they carry for a future where violence is replaced with connection, love, respect and care. Their courage gave the evening weight - and their insight gave it direction.

“Family violence doesn’t just hurt one person,” said one youth participant. “It affects the whole village. If we’re going to change that, we need to talk about it. We need to be part of the solution.”

When young people are invited to share their lived experiences without shame or fear, they are not just releasing their stories - they are reclaiming their mana. When elders make space for those voices, they are not just guiding - they are growing alongside them.

This is what collective wellbeing looks like. It’s not just about ending violence; it’s about replacing it with stronger relationships, cultural confidence, and open channels of communication and inviting, open and respectful talanoa. It’s about building a future where youth feel safe, seen, and supported — and where healing can take root within the family, not outside it.

The gatherings were more than just events — they were signposts. Signals that the Tuvalu Auckland community is ready to evolve together. It’s a recognition that trauma can’t heal in silence — and that wellbeing grows when truth is shared, not hidden.

The intergenerational sessions during those workshops were intentionally targeting the inclusion of youth into the conversation. And that shift matters. Because when young people are trusted with responsibility, and elders are open to listen, change becomes possible.

Asita Molotii explained that there is no one magic bullet to tackle the issue of Family Violence because it is multi-tiered, multi-faceted, deep rooted to the cultural upbringings and many other factors. However, she is confident that creating a conducive space for all to have respectful sharing of experiences and talanoa is crucial for fostering a culture of prevention, care and support.

Coming together; youths, leaders, perpetrators, victims, professionals helps everyone to gain a deeper understanding about the issue. It’s also about valuing and engaging the diverse perspectives and experiences while collectively planning to develop effective solutions, changing societal attitudes, building safe and protective environments that will ultimately lead to peaceful homes and safer communities, where everyone matters.

One of the Well Being, Family Violence evening workshops, was proudly supported by the Olaga Lei initiative, which uplifts 12 Pasefika-by-Pasefika organisations working to strengthen wellbeing in their communities. It is backed by the Le Moana West Collective — a powerful network committed to empowering Pacific-led, systemic change in West Auckland and beyond.