Dylan Kava maintains the Young Pacific Leaders program is one of the few that truly bridges the North and South Pacific.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
In a region so vast and diverse, Dylan Kava maintains the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) program is one of the few that truly bridges the North and South Pacific including the United States-affiliated Pacific and French Pacific that are often missing from regional discussions.
As the US Government’s signature initiative to strengthen leadership and networking in the Pacific, YPL alumnus Dylan says it is effective in creating regional solidarity among the future generation of Pacific leaders.
“Over the years, it has helped sharpen my advocacy, expand my network, and ensure that the work I do is part of a collective push to center Pacific voices and leadership in global spaces,” Dylan says.
Originally from Pangai in Ha’apai, Tonga, the 30-year-old has maternal links to Kulukulu, Nadroga in Fiji – where he was born and raised.
Currently, he works as the Strategic Engagement and Communications Lead at the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN), a regional alliance of civil society, non-government organizations, faith-based groups, community-based organizations and youth groups, working across the Pacific.
“My interests and expertise lie at the intersection of policy and communications,” Dylan says.
“I believe engaging with regional policy doesn’t require being technical and that’s where I focus my work – connecting the technical and policy space to our people and communities.
“It’s about making discussions accessible, but more importantly, bringing our communities on that journey with us.”
It is a role Dylan does not take lightly.
“We have been entrusted to engage in these spaces by our people, and that responsibility includes amplifying their voices at every level and keeping them informed every step of the way,” he adds.
Next month, Dylan will join a 12-strong cohort from around the Pacific to take part in the YPL Alumni Roadshow, to engage on multilateral policy discussions and engagements to bolster connections and relationships between the US and other Pacific countries contributing to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Pacific region.
The Roadshow will visit four regions in the US, including stops in New York City, Washington DC, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles where the YPL cohort will meet with existing and potential stakeholders, to expand its network, and create new opportunities for the US through YPL and Pacific stakeholders in the region.
Leading up to the Roadshow, the YPL cohort has been participating in a virtual leadership program, looking at collaboration, advocacy, and raising awareness of the Pacific region.
Having previously taken part in YPL’s Regional Workshop in Samoa in 2023, Dylan is looking forward to meeting fellow YPL alumni and sharing the incredible work they are undertaking.
“Travel between the North and South Pacific can be costly, and most programs tend to focus on one subregion, so opportunities to connect are rare,” he says.
“That’s why this event is so exciting – it’s a chance to connect with my North Pacific family and, being held in the US, also a chance to engage with our Pacific diaspora community there…and to create space for the diaspora to stay connected and engaged with us.”
For Dylan, the Roadshow is also a chance to highlight the capabilities of Pacific communities in shaping the global agenda.
“My focus is on making policy spaces accessible, amplifying our truths, and creating pathways for youth and frontline voices to lead because I believe firmly in the notion that those closest to the natural disaster crisis must be central to the solutions,” he says.
Visit the Young Pacific Leaders website for more details on the US Department of State initiative.
