Date: 26 Jun 2025
The National Youth Council of Fiji (NYCF), through its operational arms, the Youth Assemblies of the Fiji Islands (YAFI) and the Provincial Youth Forum of the Fiji Islands (PYFFI), continues to play a vital role in advocating for youth development, amplifying youth voices and strengthening youth participation in national governance and decision-making. With a diverse membership base, the Council recognises the importance of building strong and accountable governance structures to ensure meaningful representation and sustained impact across Fiji.
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen these structures and empower young women in leadership, NYCF has partnered with the Balance of Power (BOP) to deliver a series of two-day divisional trainings on governance and adaptive leadership. This initiative reflects BOP’s commitment to shifting harmful power dynamics, fostering inclusive leadership and creating space for more women, particularly those from diverse and marginalised backgrounds to lead within national and local systems. Through adaptive leadership, youth are encouraged to lead beyond formal authority, address the root causes of systemic challenges and mobilise others through inclusive, transformative approaches.
The first day of the training, held on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 in Labasa, included a session facilitated by BOP Operations Manager, Shradha Sharma on Financial Narrative Reporting using the MANGO framework. The session introduced participants to the fundamentals of budgeting, the importance of transparent and accountable reporting and how to effectively use data to tell compelling financial stories. These skills are essential for strengthening governance practices and ensuring that youth-led initiatives are both credible and impactful.
Day two focused on adaptive leadership in practice, with sessions covering self-reflection on leadership identity, leading beyond authority, distinguishing between authority and leadership, strategies for mobilising others, managing conflict and applying adaptive leadership through real-life scenarios.
Participants described the workshop as both empowering and transformative. Mere Babale, Vice President of the Cakaudrove Provincial Youth Council, shared that the experience was an eye-opener, especially as a young woman in leadership.
“This workshop has really broadened my mind about leadership. As a young female leader, it encouraged me to stand my ground, speak up and represent others, not just myself. If we don’t speak now, then when? I’m grateful to NYCF and the Balance of Power Program for this opportunity.”
Luke Uluiburotu, Youth Representative of Namalata Village in Kubulau District, Bua Province, echoed similar sentiments.
“This has been a very informative and inspiring experience. I’ve learned that leadership is not just a role, it’s something within all of us. It’s about taking ownership and being an agent of change in our communities. I’m thankful to Balance of Power for this power-packed workshop.”
The training series provided a crucial platform for the participants to enhance their leadership capabilities, strengthen governance practices and become active agents of positive change in their communities.
End.