Aiga Toomalatai and Tulua Sekone-Fraser could be the most energetic people in Invercargill.

The pair both work at the Pacific Island Advisory and Cultural Trust, although work is probably not the right word.

Both women are passionate about what they do – connecting the Pacific Island community in Southland.

Ask them what they do and they will downplay their role – they are just part of a team working towards a common goal, they say.

But it is clear to anyone who takes a closer look that these two are the driving forces. Talking to both women is like an ongoing brainstorming session. Ideas flow thick and fast and nothing is discounted as too hard, too ambitions, or too crazy. If their community want it, they get in and do it.

And that’s exactly what has been happening this year. They have been working with Healthy Families Invercargill community activators on a range of activities.

In January the Trust ran a two-day youth fono aimed at finding out what Pacific Island youth in Southland were interested in, wanted to see in their community and were passionate about.

Day one was for youth aged 13 to 17, and the second day was for youth aged 18-24.

The result was clear – youth wanted to feel connected, feel part of their community, and to be informed.

From there, it was action stations as a series of events and activities were set up to support and facilitate what the youth wanted.

A Pacific Island youth group has been set up, for 13-17 year olds and the group immediately proved popular.

The group meets fortnightly, on Friday nights, and have already taken part in a large range of activities, including an Amazing Race-style event to learn about youth services in the city, a movie night, and a sports night at Russell Square.

A hugely popular Pacific Island Sports Tournament was held earlier this year, with the help of Sport Southland, and brought together teams across a range of ages to play a variety of sports.

When Aiga and Tulua noticed younger people starting to come to the youth group, they realised a separate group was needed for children. So they set up the kids club for 5-12 year olds.

This group has also proven popular, so much so that they have had to limit numbers and they are starting to see people who have never been involved in any PIACT events or activities coming along.

But the community connection doesn’t stop there.

An adult group, made up primarily of the parents of kids club members, has recently been set up. Its first activity was an eight week pre-Christmas challenge.

Getting people physically active and informed about good nutrition was only one part of the challenge, the pair say, as it was also about connecting a group of people who may otherwise feel isolated and showing them that you don’t need gym memberships or special equipment to be active and healthy.

‘’It’s really about bringing awareness to what we can use in the community that’s free. Everyone’s saying how awesome it is to be in that group.’’

Healthy Families Invercargill manager Jared Cappie said it was important leadership opportunities were developed in the community as this was how sustainable change occurred.

‘’It’s great to see the Pacific Island Advisory and Cultural Trust taking an active role in connecting their community, and working collaboratively to create real change.’’

‘’Creating healthy, sustainable change can only be achieved by working together.’’

Caption: Participants in the Pacific Island Sports Tournament warm up with some zumba at ILT Stadium Southland. Photo supplied by the Pacific Island Advisory and Cultural Trust.