Sui (top) worked at Youthlaw a few years back and is excited to return as Law Related Educator to continue the awesome mahi. She is proud to be from this whenua as tangata tiriti and loves representing the 685 (Samoa mo Samoa). Her parents migrated from the beautiful island of Samoa and she was raised in South Auckland, alongside her close-knit siblings who are heavily involved with community in their work and practice. Sui has worked in the youth sector for almost 15 years and is passionate about positive youth development. She loves being a mum and an aunty and enjoys op shopping. Top foods are a good bubble tea, fresh mango, corn soaked in butter and Vietnamese fried spring rolls. Samoan proverb: ‘O le ala ile pule o le tautua’ – ‘The road to leadership is through service.
Elijah has joined the team recently as the Civics Engagement Assistant. He says he is a full Samoan, God-fearing young man, born and bred in Otara South Auckland. He is studying law at AUT. Elijah’s heart is with the youth of the South Auckland communities, and says he has seen the need for youth in South Auckland to be aware of their rights and position under the law. This goes hand-in-hand with his role at YouthLaw under the “Civics in School” umbrella, where he gathers insights and experiences from young people to help push the need to teach civics in schools, and prepare our young people for a world where they are adults and making decisions on behalf of the next generation. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys singing with friends and family.