South Auckland Youth Ambassador endorsed for participation at the APNEC Asia-Pacific Summit 2011 in China

Twenty one year old - Alafale Andrew Lesa –
APNEC10 Inaugural Asia Pacific Youth Summit 2011
19th-23rd
November 2011
The Republic of China (Taipei)

APNEC is an inter-regional NGO society that aims to foster continued dialogue on environmental challenges cross-sector. The Japan Environmental Council (JEC), European Environmental Bureau (EEB), and environmental experts of several other countries in Asia recognised the importance of such a vehicle and introduced the APNEC forum for the very first time in 1991. Since then nine forums have been hosted throughout the region; marking this year's forum as the tenth overall.

In acknowledging this tenth-year anniversay APNEC leaders have introduced an APNEC Asia Pacific Youth Summit to coincide with every forum. This aims to promote a healthy youth reflection on the various discussions and a valid input into as many outcomes. It is being organised and delivered by the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition with the assistance of other national youth agencies and organisations.

Alafale Andrew Lesa is an up and coming community champion with over six years experience in community and youth development. He is passionate about Pasefika development especially and considers the programme an opportunity to advocate for small-island nations across the South Pacific.
Alafale says “the onus is on regional and international solidarity to oversee the challenges
facing our small-island nations. Water security, soil erosion and the protection of our wildlife is absolutely essential. Understanding the benefit of development complimentary to sustainability is key to the security of tomorrow's environment. As young people this is a challenge earmarked for our generation.”

Co-director of the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition, Grace En-Tien Chang, said “in choosing speakers for the summit it was very important to have a proportionate geographical balance. Alafale has valid experience at a grass-root community level and strong ties to public policy. His passion for Pasefika affairs reinforced his suitability for the programme.

We firmly believe that given his credentials he will be an exceptional ambassador for New
Zealand and the greater Pacific”.Highlights from Alafale's six year tenure as a community champion include:

• Inaugural South Auckland Youth Awards 2011 Recipient.
• Young New Zealander of the Year 2010: Medallion for Services to Community and Youth Development. 
• New Zealand's exclusive ambassador at the recent Pacific Islands Forum Meeting as apanel contributor to the Inaugural Youth Side Event. 
• New Zealand Ambassador at the 2011 Global-Changemakers Asia-Pacific Youth Summit (New Delhi, India).
• New Zealand Ambassador at the 2010 Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme (Rwanda, Africa). 
• New Zealand Ambassador and Workshop Host at the 2010 FIFA Pacific Youth & Sports Conference. 
• Democratically elected to the Manurewa High School Board of Trustees in 2010 and to South Auckland's local government in 2009 as a Samoan councillor to the Pacific Islands Advisory Committee.