2025
๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฒ
The United Nations Association of Fiji (UNA Fiji) successfully launched its Junior Diplomacy Training Programme (JDTP) 2025 on Saturday, 29 March 2025 at the Dudley High School, Toorak, Suva, marking another milestone in its mission to cultivate future leaders and diplomats.
The orientation was led by the President and Founder of UNA Fiji, Mr. Akmal Ali, who provided an overview of the associationโs journey since its establishment in 2014.
With a vision to create active and engaged global citizens, UNA Fiji has trained over 473 individuals through its diplomacy training Programmes.
Mr. Ali mentioned that UNA Fiji has been a key player in environmental conservation, planting over 27,000 mangroves to date.
In a significant development, Mr. Ali announced that UNA Fiji has received confirmation of its induction into the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) in May 2025.
This historic achievement makes UNA Fiji the first UNA in the Pacific, strengthening its commitment to global citizenship and sustainable development.
The trainees were honoured to be addressed by the Chief Guest, the Permanent Secretary of the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Raijeli Taga, who highlighted the far-reaching impact of diplomacy on national and regional progress.
She underscored Fijiโs leadership in critical areas such as renewable energy, education, and connectivity, citing the successful partnership that brought Google to Fiji.
Dr. Taga emphasized the necessity of collaboration between governments, the private sector, and international organizations to achieve shared objectives, particularly as Fiji prepares to host the upcoming Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting.
Samoan High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency Mr. Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, encouraged the trainees to embrace empathy, humility, and a commitment to service.
He urged aspiring leaders to elevate their voices, seek collaborative opportunities, and master self-governanceโan essential foundation for effective diplomacy.
In closing remark, His Excellency Mr. Elisaia posed a thought-provoking challenge, asking whether they were up to the task and had what it takes to be leaders and diplomats.
Joining the event virtually, Secretary General of WFUNA, His Excellency Mr. Ariel Philippos Goulandris announced that UNA Fiji will become WFUNAโs 96th member in May 2025โa historic moment as it marks the first-ever presence of a UNA in the Pacific.
He stressed the importance of understanding diplomatic processes in solving global issues and highlighted education as a key driver of peace and sustainable development.
Mr. Goulandris also emphasised the crucial role of lobbying and advocacy in shaping international policies, urging young diplomats to harness their influence for meaningful global change.
Basic Diplomacy Training Programme (BDTP) 2024 graduate trainee Ms. Naomi Sinutalei shared three key lessons: embrace your background as a strength, value human connection in diplomacy, and commit to lifelong learning.
Ms. Sinutalei also reminded trainees of their responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of attendance, punctuality, curiosity, and community serviceโthe core values of diplomacy.
The event concluded with an inspiring address and vote of thanks UNA Fijiโs Peacebuilding Advisor, Hon. Ms. Koila Costello who reminded the trainees that their participation in JDTP 2025 was both a privilege and a responsibility.
She urged them to embrace their roles as future leaders of Fiji, recognizing the significance of their contributions to shaping the countryโs future.
With Class, Dignity and Elegance
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐๐) ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ #๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
This weekโs class was initiated by the Honorable President Mr. Akmal Ali, who held a discussion on the core values of leadership to the JDTP trainees of 2025. His focus extended beyond traditional leadership definitions, emphasizing the crucial role educators play in fostering active and engaged Fijian citizens.
President Ali emphasized the need to cultivate not just knowledgeable students, but individuals prepared to participate meaningfully in their communities and contribute to the progress of Fiji, highlighting a responsibility extending beyond the classroom and into national development.
The class was also facilitated by the Honorable Secretary of UNA Fiji Mr. Vipin Maharaj who engaged the trainees in a comprehensive discussion encompassing community impact projects, beginning with an analysis of past successful projects such as those of BDTP 2024 and those that have preceded before, and culminating in the design and planning of a new one.
The discussions about the community impact project highlights three main points to the trainees:
1. Aligning their proposed project with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and understanding how their efforts could contribute to tangible progress on social, climate, and development issues.
2. The facets of project management - defining logistics, establishing operational protocol, and developing compelling pitches to potential donors.
3. Emphasis on leadership skills, collaborative teamwork, and effective communication both in presenting their plan and securing necessary support and providing a practical understanding of how to translate good intentions into measurable community benefit and SDG advancement.
The class was also facilitated and concluded by Mr. Ram, whose session complemented leadership discussions by providing essential training on United Nations protocols and organizational structure, alongside practical instruction in the standard diplomatic etiquettes such as formal dining and Protocol, which included formal methods of greeting and addressing and proper salutations.
With Class, Dignity & Elegance
#UNAFiji
#ActiveFijianCitizens
#ActiveGlobalCitizens
#JDTP2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐๐) ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ #๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Hon. Mr. Shivnesh Ram began this weekโs session with a foundational overview of the United Nations, ranging from its inception to its functions as an international body, followed by instructions on the application of diplomatic language.
The session then transitioned into an introspective and transformative module titled โAll About Youโ, led by Hon. Mr. Akmal Ali, President and Founder of UNA Fiji. This session emphasized that leadership must begin with the understanding of self.
Mr. Ali articulated that true diplomacy and leadership stem from self-awareness, integrity, and personal responsibility. He asserted that effective leaders must first recognize their own limitations, cultivate emotional intelligence, and practice continuous self-improvement.
Mr. Ali further imparted valuable leadership principles, emphasizing that genuine leadership is defined by service to others, rather than the expectation of being served. He challenged trainees to embody these principles, differentiating the trainees from conventional leadership models.
The afternoon session was particularly powerful, focusing on self-reflection and emotional resilience. Trainees engaged in open conversations about their personal challenges, with Mr. Ali encouraging them to acknowledge their flaws, ignore negativity, and embrace their truth.
He reinforced that self-love and forgiveness are critical to personal growth and authentic leadership. Importantly, he reminded trainees that, โOne must have enough for themselves before they can share with others,โ highlighting the need for internal strength before external service.
With Class, Dignity & Elegance
