Expanding Community Outreach in the Pacific Islands Joeli Veitayaki University of the South Pacific

Mainstreaming Community Outreach Pacific Islanders are responsible for managing a significant part of the world’s largest ocean Pacific Islanders are responsible for managing a significant part of the world’s largest ocean Pacific Islanders are dependent on marine resources Pacific Islanders are dependent on marine resources The best lessons for Pacific Islanders are from Pacific experiences and people The best lessons for Pacific Islanders are from Pacific experiences and people Pacific Islanders are owners of the resources Pacific Islanders are owners of the resources Pacific Islands experiences and aspirations are similar Pacific Islands experiences and aspirations are similar Regional Organisations can spearhead the regional community outreach Regional Organisations can spearhead the regional community outreach

Regional Community Outreach Activities Regional Organisations all have community outreach activities Regional Organisations all have community outreach activities –Noumea-based Secretariat of the Pacific Community – human welfare, health, marine fisheries research and management –Suva-based University of the South Pacific (USP) - education, training and research –Suva-based Pacific Islands Forum – summit for independent states –Suva-based South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) – technical research on non living resources such as water, integrated water management, coastal management and mapping –Apia-based South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) – environmental management –Honiara-based Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency - manage the tuna resources of the region and assist member countries –Suva-based Tourism Council of the South Pacific – coordinate tourist development

Regional Community Outreach Activities South Pacific Games South Pacific Games Pacific Festival of Arts Pacific Festival of Arts USP Centres in all member nations USP Centres in all member nations USP Open Day to be observed across the Pacific USP Open Day to be observed across the Pacific National Youth Assembly National Youth Assembly National Conservational Areas were set up in each country National Conservational Areas were set up in each country Turtle Conservation Campaign Turtle Conservation Campaign Environment Week Environment Week International Waters Project International Waters Project Locally Managed Marine Areas Network Locally Managed Marine Areas Network IOI-PI assist women activities in Samoa (workshop on MDG), Solomon Islands (women souvenir outlet, Vanuatu (micro finance) IOI-PI assist women activities in Samoa (workshop on MDG), Solomon Islands (women souvenir outlet, Vanuatu (micro finance) Exchange and internship programmes Exchange and internship programmes

Future of Community Outreach Successful community development is critical Successful community development is critical Awareness has been created sufficiently and good lessons learnt Awareness has been created sufficiently and good lessons learnt Appropriate action that take the lessons learnt into consideration is required at all levels Appropriate action that take the lessons learnt into consideration is required at all levels Financial support is required Financial support is required Failures have to be minimised Failures have to be minimised Better coordination is required Better coordination is required Partnership is more effective Partnership is more effective Better use of university and school students has potential Better use of university and school students has potential Youths need to be engaged for future is theirs Youths need to be engaged for future is theirs