PAYA Officially Opens Its First Branch: PAYA Naoero
Eirububwin Tréannah Dabwido, Chair of PAYA Naoero, and Dominic de Moura McCarthy, PAYA President
Menen Hotel, Republic of Naoero, 19 August 2026
On Wednesday 19 August 2026, PAYA officially opened the PAYA Naoero Branch, our first branch beyond headquarters. The launch was held at the Menen Hotel on Ibumin Earoeni, the Day of the Tribes, the public holiday honouring the twelve traditional tribes of Naoero, the same twelve tribes represented by the star on the national flag.
The launch
Thirty five guests attended the breakfast launch, with interest from more than fifty people, beyond what the venue could hold. The room included young people from across the island, our founding committee, and representatives of the Government of the Republic of Naoero, the Australian High Commission and the United Nations.
The morning opened with prayer, the national anthem and an acknowledgment of the Day of the Tribes. The Hon. Charmaine Scotty, Minister for Community and Youth Affairs, officially opened the PAYA Naoero Branch and cut the launch cake with the founding team. In her remarks, she acknowledged the work of PAYA and the Naoero National Youth Council in uplifting the youth of Naoero.
Over breakfast, PAYA President Dominic de Moura McCarthy delivered a keynote on the founding of PAYA in 2020, its growth across twelve Pacific Island countries, and why Naoero was chosen as home to the first branch.
The MoU signing
The central moment of the morning was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between PAYA HQ and the branch by Eirububwin Tréannah Dabwido, Chair of PAYA Naoero, and Dominic de Moura McCarthy, PAYA President. The agreement sets out how the branch will operate: led locally by young dei-Naoero, connected to PAYA's regional network.
Speaking after the signing, Tréannah addressed the room on leading and serving as a young person in Naoero and the branch's vision for youth voice, culture and community.
The champions of the four night 3x3 basketball competition then received their prizes, sponsored by Neotel. Australia's High Commissioner Lisa White gave the closing address, reminding guests that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders today. A closing prayer ended the morning.
A registered local NGO
The day before the launch, the Department of Justice and Border Control signed off the registration of PAYA Naoero as a local NGO. The branch now operates under Naoero law, led by a dei-Naoero committee of young people, and is planning its first programs for National Youth Day on 25 September and Angam Day on 26 October.
Thank you
A special thank you to UNDP, who sponsored the launch event and the travel of PAYA President Dominic de Moura McCarthy to attend on island, and whose support carried this project from a charter on paper to a registered branch.
Thank you also to the Government of the Republic of Naoero and Minister Scotty, the Department of Justice and Border Control, the Australian High Commission in Naoero, Neotel, and Naoero Media News NTV for sharing the day with the nation.
To our dei-Naoero committee and members, this branch is yours: of Naoero, for Naoero, connected to the Pacific. Tubwa kor.
