Future Ancestors Program
$10,000 | May 2024
What do Future Ancestors Program do?
The Future Ancestors Program is a grassroots leadership initiative empowering Pasifika youth in Queensland to take on civic leadership roles and participate in high-level decision-making. By equipping young people with practical tools, cultural knowledge, and advocacy skills, the program ensures that the voices of Pasifika communities resonate in spaces that shape their future and that of the Pacific Islands.
Why is this work important?
Queensland is home to Australia’s largest Pacific Islander population, yet Pasifika youth face systemic barriers such as underrepresentation in leadership roles and high rates of generational disadvantage. These challenges are compounded by the direct impacts of climate change on Pacific Island nations. The program bridges these gaps by fostering civic participation, restoring cultural connections, and empowering Pasifika youth to drive change in spaces where decisions impacting their communities and homelands are made.
How is Groundswell supporting this work?
Groundswell’s funding will enable the Future Ancestors Program to scale up its impact, allowing more Pasifika youth to access this transformative initiative. Specifically, the funding will:
Provide resources for additional participants, ensuring wider access to leadership training and cultural restoration activities such as Vaka (traditional canoeing and navigation).
Help facilitate workshops, mentorships, and accredited training that prepare participants for leadership roles and election campaigns.
Support steps to establish the program’s long-term sustainability through activities like trademarking, media development, and creating a standalone website.
Enable engagement with Pasifika and Indigenous Elders for mentorship, honouring cultural protocols and building intergenerational relationships that ground leadership in tradition.