From Language Barriers to Leadership Pathways: PAYA Partners with EnglishEquip

On the 9th of June 2025, Pentecost Monday, the Pacific-Australia Youth Association Inc. (PAYA) and EnglishEquip signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), laying the foundation for a unique collaboration dedicated to breaking language barriers and empowering youth across the Pacific. This partnership is the culmination of years of shared work and the beginning of an even stronger connection between two initiatives driven by the same mission: equipping Pacific youth with the tools to lead.

EnglishEquip was born out of a need identified by young leaders themselves. Despite the wealth of regional opportunities, such as PAYA’s Youth Leadership Summits, Young Pacific Leaders, and other international initiatives, many young people in New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna were missing out because of limited English proficiency.

Virtual MoU signing ceremony with EnglishEquip and PAYA

EnglishEquip tackles this issue in three phases: in-person workshops introducing the project and building basic English skills; online mentorship linking Francophone youth with peers from English-speaking islands through regular video discussions; and free online English courses tailored specifically for Pacific learners.

PAYA’s support will provide 15 English-speaking mentors to deliver the mentorship program from August to October 2025. These PAYA member will connect with the youth in New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna through fortnightly online English conversation sessions. Not only will the French-speaking participants build better English language skills, but they will also become part of a bigger regional Pacific network.

This partnership is deeply personal: EnglishEquip’s Project Lead, Malik Oedin, is an alumnus of PAYA’s first Youth Leadership Summit in Nouméa in 2022. PAYA’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Dominic de Moura McCarthy, serves as the Project Treasurer, and PAYA’s Board Member and Treasurer Fiolino Sinemoni Mavaetau is also EnglishEquip’s Project Secretary. Together, they previously collaborated on the Young Pacific Leaders-funded Mini TechCamp Wallis in 2023, building lasting trust and commitment to youth development.

The MoU formalises PAYA’s support of EnglishEquip, providing access to PAYA’s network of young leaders and volunteers. It means more young people will be connected, more voices uplifted, and more bridges built across the region. As workshops kick off in Koné and Mata’Utu, and online programs begin to take place with the support of PAYA’s network, the vision shared by both organisations becomes clearer: a Pacific where every young person can step confidently into regional spaces, make their voices heard, and contribute to their communities and the world.