A STRONG foundation in relationships with people always starts with respect for elders and having an ear to listen.
Kiribati High Commissioner to Fiji, David Ateti Teaabo stressed this while addressing 30 student and civil society members at the Third Next Generation Leadership (NGL) Breakfast program which was hosted by PIANGO at Café 30 in Suva last Saturday.
The breakfast program known as “Breakfast with David” was a way for emerging leaders from civil society in welcoming Mr Teaabo and celebrating his appointment not only as a relatively young diplomat.
Mr Teaabo shared his life experiences with key lessons including listening to and obeying his parents when they wanted him to pursue life in the clergy had helped shape his life.
“When I decided to listen, that was the start of my leadership career,” Mr Teaabo said.
“Listening is being open and embracing. It helps embrace decision making that are inclusive.
“And whatever you do, you do it wholeheartedly,” he said.
He said it was important as civil society advocates to be committed when pursuing one’s goals and doing good to communities.
Meanwhile Fiji Council of Social Services executive director Vani Catanasiga said it was encouraging to take lessons from Mr Teaabo’s experience, adding it was a misconception that “you have to be perfect”.
“In the process of learning we tend to give up so easily. We appreciate such spaces that are created for us to learn from such experiences and forge ahead,” Ms Catanasiga said.
PIANGO began developing the NGL program in 2016 with the objective of nurturing, mentoring and providing dialogue spaces for younger members to be schooled as the next generation of civil society leaders as part of rethinking and reshaping the Pacific towards 2030.
Its executive director, Emele Duituturaga, said PIANGO wanted to invest in the future and that means nurturing leadership.
She encouraged participants the future was in their hands to shape.
“You can be everything you want to be. This is your time, your generation to make a difference in the Pacific.”
