The principal scientific and technical organisation in the region, the Pacific Community, has relaunched a youth ambassador programme to alleviate unhealthy habits in Pacific communities.
The initiative provides opportunities for Pacific youth to share creative ideas to address unhealthy habits linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
In 2011, Pacific Island leaders declared that NCDs had become "a human, social and economic crisis" in the region, that required an urgent and comprehensive response.
Tobacco, harmful use of alcohol, and poor diets combined with lack of physical activity, are the leading risk factors for NCDs.
The initiative is taking candidates between the ages of 18 and 30 to become ambassadors.
Launched in 2017, with financial support from the Pacific Fund (France) and the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and implemented by the Pacific Community, the programme is being restarted after being paused due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Non-communicable diseases adviser Solene Bertrand said ambassadors are given financial assistance to be deployed across the Pacific so that their project can happen.
"They are volunteers, but we take care of everything in terms of movement, for example if they have to go on an island, the trip is taken care of. We pay the hotel fees, we give them money, so they can eat morning/lunch/dinner. The spending on the project itself is also being taken care of."
Through the Pacific NCD Youth Ambassador initiative, a team of youth from Tongatapu island in the Tonga have set up a project to raise awareness regarding NCDs by organising an art workshop in schools.
The artclass workshop focused on painting, healthy food, painting murals, dancing, singing, and sport activities.
A youth ambassador from the Wake Up project in Fiji, Atueta Rabuka, facilitated an NCD prevention and control workshop in Sabeto village near Nadi.
Participants were taught basic art techniques and, through games, learned about healthy habits.
They then focused on heart diseases, lung cancer, diabetes and linked them to create artistic pieces of work to convey and create awareness messages.
Rabuka says his project used local animals known to the clan to use as motifs.
"In amongst all these images are animals, that belong to the clans in Sabeto village, in amongst all images are interdesigned motifs that are interwoven from the land the big bula, right up to the turtle who is the person's journey, to signify that every single decision made affects everyone."
Another member of the Wake Up project, Ratu-Neiqama Lalabalavu, said the project has helped build a foundation for local artists to create their own art and continue the programme's legacy.
"Us going just kind of gave them the mental boost they needed. This is because they were feeling a bit down that some of the products they were making weren't going out. So they really appreciated that some artists who are familiar with that field came back to visit."
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