Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work and Sivendra Michael is known in the region for just that.
Last Friday, his hard work, dedication and commitment in the development of individuals in Fijian communities and across the Pacific region was recognised when he was awarded the Inspirational Leadership award at the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards ceremony in Suva.
For this PhD research student of the University of Auckland and a solo-dad, life hasn’t always been a bed of roses, but the support of his family, his friends and this community has moulded him and shaped him to be the person that he is today.
According to Sivendra, his leadership journey has been a transformational one.
“To be recognised as an inspiring leader means a lot, , it’s all about having the direction, perseverance, and ability to motivate other people to achieve a common goal ,” he said.
“ The award means a lot because I have older siblings that I always look up to and mentors within the climate change spaces such as my fellow peers at Pacific Climate Warriors, who genuinely and passionately have helped me become the person I am today”
“In the Pacific, we always say, it takes a community to raise a child, and I am a living definition of a child raised by a community of leaders, and today, I carry their legacy on my shoulders”
“The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action — an unconventional strategy — even as the rest of the world wonders why you’re not marching in step with the status quo. In other words, real leaders are happy to zig while others zag” ”
He said to be the recipient of the award was a recognition of many things.
“One of it was my journey as disaster researcher back in 2012 and then later undertaking the Active Citizens Programme in 2016”. In many ways, the Active Citizens programme had transformed my life and perspectives of lived realities”.
I grew to become more confident in the climate change space and leading climate change action.
“All of which had accumulated to working with communities on various climate action projects and other issues that concerned them. So, in other words, people centered development.
The AC Pacific programme is designed to show people how their actions at a local level can have lasting effects and social action projects are an important part of making that happen.
“Till date, we have about 10,377 people that have gone through the active citizenship leadership training across 10 pacific island countries.
“ As a researcher and development professional, I have nurtured my leadership skills over the years and no doubt that we all are leaders in our own way, it is just a matter of nurturing different skills. ”
He said there were many other inspiring leaders out there that also deserved the award for their inspirational leadership.
“There is this young man called Abel Lalagvesi who uses his stand up paddle every day to clean the ocean that actually provides for us.
“He is a clear example of a born leader. He does not wait for anyone but just goes out on his own, advocates through his own social media channels and people like him deserve to be recognized.
“The Prime Minister’s Youth awards is an excellent platform to not only appreciate the hard work that people are doing but to also acknowledge the work and the passion that drives individuals to do the work that they do.”
The Journey
He said his journey in leadership had started from Primary School, taking up positions like prefects and the student council body.
“It also continued in the community being amongst young people organizing little events like charity and fundraising those qualities in leadership which all accumulated to define the qualities of a leader.”
“I then went on to lead projects at the United Nations ILO and British Council. These projects were also transformational in its own way but it gave me a footing to start my own journey with the Active Citizens Pacific Programme.
“After founding the project in the Pacific, it has really grown to be recognized across the globe. In 2018, I was selected as a Young Global Change Maker to the World Policy Forum because the G20 leaders needed innovative thinkers and more importantly those connected to the grassroots.
“I worked with 100 young fellows from around the world to develop solutions for our leaders. Similarly, in 2019, the University of Auckland recognized my efforts for community work through the premier award of Outstanding Leadership and Service and Most Outstanding Pasifika students.
“I urge young people to continue stepping up and joining discussions happening in spaces around us. It is our generation that needs to step up to issues like climate change and these issues need to be addressed by our generation.”
Attributes
He dedicated his award to his mother and eight-year-old daughter.
“In the community my mum has been through a difficult life and she doesn’t want the same for her children. Not any parent would want that.
“My mom has been my biggest inspiration and I dedicate it too to all the young people out there, particularly my 8-year-old daughter Sophia.”
He advised youths to seek opportunities and be the change that they hoped to see.
“You are the future of tomorrow and you are the ones that can shape the future today.”