The Embassy Youth Council was officially launched on October 23, 2020 by Ambassador Cella. During the Embassy’s International Youth Day celebration in August, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Pacific Community (SPC) and Peace Corps, the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Tony Greubel spoke about the Embassy’s ongoing youth programs and that the Embassy was embarking on its latest initiative to collaborate further with youth in its five accredited countries which is fundamental to the work that the United States is undertaking in the South Pacific. This initiative provides youth an avenue to voice their needs and challenges and help shape the Embassy’s youth outreach programs to address the current needs of young people today. The Embassy Youth Council now has 23 Members from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu. The council meets regularly both as a whole body and thematic groups. The councilhas four thematic working groups focused on Education and Arts; Environment, Disaster and Health; Entrepreneurship and Economic Development; and Good Governance. Members have a term of two years to serve on the EYC.
Members of the Embassy Youth Council are:
- Moieez Almaz Ali – Fiji
- Sheldon Chanel – Fiji
- Annette Gock – Fiji
- Maanvick Gounder – Fiji
- Kolotina Halaifonua – Tonga
- Ilaisa Kauyaca – Fiji
- Aneet Aklesh Kumar – Fiji
- Avikesh Kumar – Fiji
- Verenaisi Kunavue
- Apolosi Lasei – Fiji
- Hayli Lucas – Fiji
- Broderick John Mervyn – Fiji
- Inikasio Nadavelevu – Fiji
- Kartik Nand – Fiji
- Krishneil Narayan – Fiji
- Mele’alofi Samate – Tonga
- Ruci Senikula – Fiji
- Abdul Mufeez Shaheed – Fiji
- Bulou Salanieta Suguta – Fiji
- Tapua Vavale Pasuna – Tuvalu
- Alpha-Gwein Jose – Nauru
- Elvina Omirete – Kiribati
- Triveshni Sharma – Fiji