WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS: DEJEALOUS SILI PALOTA-KOPA

DEJEALOUS SILI PALOTA-KOPA

LAW & PACIFIC STUDIES STUDENT & 

PRIME MINISTERS PACIFIC YOUTH - COMMUNITY STAR AWARD RECIPIENT 

SAMOAN 

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Dejealous is 23 years old, of Samoan descent and is currently studying Law and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland. She has been an active volunteer, mentor and leader for a wide range of charities and organisations. From being the President of ASTRA Auckland (community service club), coordinator of health packs for Starship, being an ambassador for the Heart foundation, being a Marshall for the annual PRIDE Festiva and being a blood donor to shaking a bucket for the breast cancer foundation, all this was done out of her passion to love and serve others.

She’s always had a particular passion for working with youth with disabilities and for the past 5 years, has worked closely with the special needs community through volunteering for Recreate New Zealand, Star Jam, and the Auckland Down Syndrome Association. In 2016, she received the Sunpix Emerging Leadership Award, and more recently became the first runner up for the Miss Samoa New Zealand pageant.

Why do you do what you do?
I attribute everything I do in life to the lessons and values my parents instilled in me from a young age. Their message to my 2 younger siblings and I has always been simple: to love and serve others wholeheartedly. I share the story of many Pacific people who live in the diaspora where parents came from Samoa to NZ with nothing, yet through their love, hopes and dreams they somehow gifted my brothers and I with a beautiful life. They’ve encouraged me to pursue boundless opportunities, supported me in all my crazy endeavours, and have prayed for my dreams to manifest and become a reality. This selfless love they have shown me is the love I wish to share with others.

I’m a strong believer that our micro efforts ultimately have a macro effect and I wish to use my heart of service and invest all the time I have around studies and work to make a positive difference in the world, especially for my Pasefika communities. This is where my passion for service sprouted from and I have loved being amongst diverse communities over the years. In High School, I was the President of ASTRA Auckland Inc. and also a Head Prefect which placed me in an awesome position to facilitate and coordinate volunteer efforts not only within the school, but also the local community. Being able to work closely with local charities really solidified my passion to serve the local community.

I had a blast being an assistant Samoan Language and Polynesian Group Tutor for primary kids for 3 years and also worked as an After-School Care Assistant working with young children. I was on the Executive Board for the University of Auckland Samoan Students’ Association for 4 years as an Academic Officer, Spiritual Officer and Vice President which sprouted from the love I have for my Samoan culture. For the past 7 years I’ve been an active volunteer for Dementia Auckland, Variety, Breast Cancer Foundation, Hospice West Auckland and Girl Guide NZ. I served as a MATES mentor for 4 years in low decile high schools and I also have a particular passion volunteering for StarJam, Recreate NZ and the Auckland Down Syndrome Association working with youth with disabilities. I am now a Recruit Volunteer Firefighter in my local community to give back to the community I grew up in. All these things I do are for the love I have for people.

Love is the seed in which all good things grow and blossom from and a bible verse that drives me is Galatians 5:13: “You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love”. How can we aim for world peace without love? How can we prevent gun violence and terrorism without love? How can we advocate for Climate Change action without love for the earth and the generations to come? How can we change ideas around racism, homophobia and prejudice without love for each other? It’s simple in concept and a cure to many of the issues we face in this day and age. Small steps first, to conquer the mountain ahead.

Why is it important for Pacific people to be repped in this way?

I love celebrating Pasefika success and seeing the amazing things our young people are doing to effect positive change in their communities. Through the act of celebrating, sharing and exchanging stories of triumph through trials, success and achievement, we are able to inspire and be inspired. The Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards are an awesome way for other young Pacific people to be inspired to strive and push past their known boundaries to seek new horizons of success. Often the successes of Pasefika people are downplayed and cast as understudy to negative outlooks on our brown brothers and sisters. I love being surrounded by young people who are also passionate to serve and make a difference.

What are the coolest things you think about young Pacific people in Aotearoa today?
I’ve seen a surge of passionate young Pacific advocates in Aotearoa recently.  It gives me great pride and hope to see the passion young people have to bring about climate change action at a national and international level. It gives me hope to see young Pacific people stand beside our Maori brothers and sisters at Ihumatao. It gives me hope to see young people stand beside their teachers to improve teaching standards, environments and pay. These efforts are a testament that our young Pacific people are engaged, aware and passionate about the many local and global issues we face. I’ve loved following the journeys of Pacific students leading local community projects, thriving in academia and also our up and coming young Sports stars using their platform to inspire others. We’re used to hearing “you are the leaders of tomorrow” but it excites me to know that our young Pacific people are definitely the leaders of today.

What excites you about being a young Pacific person in Aotearoa?
The thing that excites me most is seeing the dreams of my migrant parents come into fruition.  As a young Pacific person in Aotearoa, I know that I am one of many seeds of migrants who came to New Zealand searching for a better life. It makes me so proud to see that the leap of faith of the migrants

What are your plans and dreams for the future?
In everything I do and hope to do in the future, I am certain that I want to be a strong advocate for our Pacific people. Whether that is through navigating the legal system and advocating for justice or whether it’s through working in Policy to have a say in bringing about better outcomes for our people in New Zealand, I am 100% sure that I want to help people. I wish to continue working closely with young people with disabilities, continue as a volunteer firefighter, be an advocate for mental health for wahine in New Zealand and also continue to share my passion for my culture with others.