PPN-UTS Pasifika Mentoring Program
Our Pasifika Mentoring Program EOI has launched today!
Mentee sign up: Click here
Mentor sign up: Click here
Applications close: 2 February 2023
A couple of years ago a few friends got together with the vision of increasing Pasifika representation in corporate workplaces and providing the resources and networks to help guide Pasifika youth to enter into and complete university studies.
It has been in the works for a couple of years now and we’re so proud and happy to be able to partner with UTS to offer this opportunity. Thank you to Amanda Moors-Mailei for being a great mentor and advisor to us and for taking a chance on PPN to achieve this vision together.
Our mission is to facilitate a network of professionals and students across a wide range of industries within the Pacific Islander community because we believe that by sharing stories of Pasifika Professional excellence, we empower all of our people to navigate their way to success.
Why is this mission necessary and important?
Mainstream media and TV shows have typically highlighted Pasifika peoples in confined categories, either as elite athletes, troubled youth or not representing us at all;
The criminal system and law enforcement views us as troublemakers and unfortunately when statistics show that people of Pacific Island heritage are overrepresented in anti-social behaviour and crime, we risk perpetuating such negative stereotypes; and
The workforce sees us in areas such as factory work, manual labour, security etc - this is honest and decent work and we are all thankful for our family members who work/ed tirelessly in these jobs to help pay for us to have an education and a better future.
But do we go into any of those pathways because we want to or are passionate about it? Or is it because that’s what is familiar to us and our families and what society expects of us?
We want to really dig deep and capitalise on the natural talents of Pasifika peoples, to provide examples of people who have taken those pathways and provide access to them to share with our youth what that journey looks like and how they did it.
What if you really wanted to be a lawyer, or a marketer or create your own startup company?
What if you met another Pacific Islander working in the line of work you were curious about but initially didn’t think it was a realistic pathway you could venture into? And what if that person was happy to help you map out your journey and introduce you to the industry and relevant companies?
This is exactly what PPN has been set up to help you with.
PPN is passionate about enabling and supporting Pasifika peoples to step out of the box, embrace your true passions and forge new pathways that will fulfil you and lift you and the community up as a whole.
Our Pasifika Mentoring program is one of the ways in which we will achieve this together.
To all Pasifika university students, please check out the EOI and sign up as a mentee.
To our professional members and network, please check out the EOI and sign up as a Mentor.
Help us lift the Pasifika community together.
