Siotame Drew Havea is the board chairman of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga. He has extensive experience working with communities and the civil society sector. As a founding member of the Tonga National Youth Congress and Tonga National Leadership Development Forum, he has played a pivotal role in shaping platforms that empower youth and has been instrumental in organizing the Civil Society Forum of Tonga. In 2017, Havea received the Harris Wolfford Global Citizen Award from the U.S. National Peace Corps Association for his extensive work in supporting youth, democracy, civil society, and leadership in Tonga.
Havea served as a board member of the Pacific Island Association of Non-government Organizations for 12 years, including 8 years as board chair. He represented the Pacific in the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Governors in London, advising on matters of civil society for 6 years. He is passionate about community development, looking at communities from inside and promoting local governance and resilience. Currently, Havea works with farmers and youth farmers, promoting organic farming with a vision for the Kingdom of Tonga to be certified fully organic by 2030 and setting up social enterprises for the export market in organic virgin coconut oil and organic vanilla to employ young people in the Kingdom.
Talk About post by Siotame Drew Havea: