Elizabeth Kite (activist)

Elizabeth Kite is an activist and youth leader from Tonga, who founded Take The Lead, an organisation that empowers the voices of young people in Tonga. In 2017 she was presented with a Queens Young Leader Award.

Biography

Kite was born in New Zealand, but grew up in Tonga, where she attended primary school, and in Australia, where she attended secondary school.[1][2] In 2013 she moved to Tonga to work for non-governmental organisation there.[1]

In 2017 Kite founded of Take The Lead (TTL),[3] formerly known as Tonga Youth Leaders, an organisation that enables young Tongan's voices to be amplified through training and grant provision.[4] In 2018 Kite spoke out about the issues surrounding drug use for young people in Tonga.[5] In September 2020 TTL ran an educational programme encouraging more Tongan youth to vote.[4] Kite runs She Leads Fale Alea ‘O Tonga, which is leadership programme for young women, based on a mock parliament.[6] Its mission is to address the low representation of women in Tongan politics.[6]

In 2017 Kite was awarded a Queens Young Leader Award, in recognition of her work on community empowerment.[7][8] Her award was presented by Queen Elizabeth II. Kite wore a traditional tapa which her mother had worn when the Queen first visited Tonga in 1953.[9]

Kite is the Pacific Regional Representative for the Commonwealth Youth Council.[6]

References
  1. "Woman Is First Tongan Representative At Commonwealth Youth Parliament | Pacific Islands Report". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  2. "Founder of Tonga Youth Leaders, Elizabeth V Kite, launches Oceanic Leaders Alliance and Pacific Lead — South Pacific Islander Organization". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  3. "Tonga Youth Leaders: Bringing small projects to life in Tonga". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  4. "Meet 5 Pacific Women Activists Who Are Changing the World in 2020". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  5. "Awareness of dangers of meth being promoted among Tongan youth | RNZ News". Radio New Zealand. 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  6. "WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - ELIZABETH KITE — thecoconet.tv - The world's largest hub of Pacific Island content". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  7. "Elizabeth Kite". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  8. "Thinking Equal in Tonga: Elizabeth's Path to Inspiring Young Tongans". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  9. Hardman, Robert (2018-09-06). Queen of the World. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4735-4964-7.


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