Elizabeth Kite (activist)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elizabeth Kite is an advocate, environmentalist[1] and a leader in the Pacific region from Tonga, who founded Take The Lead, Tonga's first youth-led Non Government Organisation, that empowers the voices of young and vulnerable people in Tonga.[2] In 2017 she was presented with a Queens Young Leader Award, and in 2023 became Tonga's first Obama Foundation Scholar, at Columbia University, New York.[3]
Kite was born in New Zealand, but grew up in London[4] then Tonga, where she attended primary school, and in Australia, where she attended secondary school.[5][6] In 2013 she moved to Tonga to work for non-governmental organisations there.[5]
In 2017 Kite founded Take The Lead,[7] formerly known as Tonga Youth Leaders, an organisation that enables young Tongans' voices to be amplified through training and grant provision.[8] In 2018 Kite spoke out about the issues surrounding drug use for young people in Tonga.[9] In September 2018 Take The Lead launched its She Leads Fale Alea (Parliament) programme, officially launched by the late Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu, the Pacific Islands only practice parliament for female youth[10][11] Its mission is to address the low representation of women in Tongan politics.[11]
In 2017 Kite was awarded a Queen's Young Leader Award, in recognition of her work on community empowerment.[12][13] 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.[14]
Kite served as the Pacific Regional Representative for the Commonwealth Youth Council from 2018 - 2021.[11]
In 2022, she became the first Tongan and Pacific Islander invited to speak as a special guest at the Commonwealth Day Service, hosted by the Royal Commonwealth Society at Westminster Abbey. [15]
References
- ↑ "Elizabeth Kite - Environmentalist". Nova Medical School. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ↑ "Take The Lead Tonga". ABC. ABC Pacific. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ↑ "Elizabeth Kite – Columbia University Obama Scholar 2023–2024". obama.org. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ↑ "Elizabeth Biography". South Pacific Islander Org. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Awareness of dangers of meth being promoted among Tongan youth". Radio New Zealand. 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
- ↑ "She Leads Fale Alea". Talanoa O Tonga. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Women of the Islands – Elizabeth Kite". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
- ↑ "Elizabeth Kite". 2021-11-13. Archived from the original on 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Hardman, Robert (2018-09-06). Queen of the World. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4735-4964-7.
- ↑ "Elizabeth Speaks at 2022 Commonwealth Day Service, Westminster Abbey". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 5 June 2025.