'True passion and dedication will show when times are hard'

Marinda Imakulata Tagiilima Leiataua is a 22-year-old environmental advocate from Samoa who is attending the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions COPs with Global Environment Facility support. In a GEF Voices interview, she shared life lessons from her work to support youth engagement and community action on issues including waste management, chemicals, and climate change. 

What do you do for a living, and what do you enjoy about it?

Talofa lava and the warmest Pacific greetings. My name is Marinda Imakulata Tagiilima Leiataua, 22 years young and from the beautiful islands of Samoa, located in the heart of the Pacific. I am a full-time employee at the Samoa Qualifications Authority where I am serving as a Senior Moderation Officer. What I enjoy about my work is being able to oversee how the students and leaners in post-school education and training are being assessed so that what they are learning is appropriate and that they are armed with the relevant and appropriate skills and knowledge prior to entering the workforce. 

When did you first become interested in environmental issues? 

I spent most of my childhood outdoors, having enjoyed being outside, fascinated by my surroundings and its vibrancy. This is why I dedicate my time to do what I can for the environment, including my involvement in youth networks and groups that work towards the goal of saving and protecting the environment and everything in it, as well as being in policy and decision-making spaces. Most of the time, these decision makers set goals that most of the people working in grassroots work hard daily to achieve. It is rewarding working with people doing community work and meeting people who have lasting impacts on my life. 

How did you get into this line of work?

Samoans are very cultural people, and we are rooted to our environment and surroundings and so for me, the need to care for it comes naturally. Growing up I experienced cyclones and extreme weather changes. While studying, I looked into the biggest issues in the Pacific, including climate change and climatic issues. I studied environmental sociology and did a deep dive into the triple planetary crisis, interlinking biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. Since then, I have been involved in environmental advocacy and work and have been able to attend processes such as the Convention on Biological Diversity COP, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP, International Conference on Chemicals Management, and now the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions COPs. 

Has anyone you have met through your work made a lasting impact on you? 

Everyone I meet through my environmental work has an impact on me because they all are doing something, and contributing to environmental protection, combating pollution, and climate action. But I met someone, a young person, back in 2019 who told me about the struggle of environmental advocates and activists in his country, and that doing the work they do is also risking their lives. Environmental advocates and activists are being targeted and attacked but despite that, he is still out there doing the work, knowing the risks. This made me realize how much freedom I have to do this advocacy work and how I should do a lot more with it and it inspired me to be consistent with my work and make use of the freedom that I have to do it. 

The state of the global environment is concerning. What gives you hope?

Working together with young people and meeting youths from all around the world with different backgrounds, expertise, experiences, and cultures, coming together for one purpose, is very inspiring to me. They show passion, drive, optimism, and trust in the work that they do. That is what gives me hope to keep doing what we can for the environment, for the people, for the coming generations. Because without passion, inspiration, hope, and trust in making the world a better place, nothing can push you to excel in what you do.

What advice would you give a young person who is interested in a career related to the environment?

My advice would be, whatever it is that you want to do to change the world, it starts with you. Every journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, and the only person who should be taking that first step is you. By doing that, you will have to identify your purpose, and your “WHY.” It is not easy, but your true passion and dedication will show when times are hard and it will go back to you, and your “WHY.”

What changes do you hope to see in the world by the time you retire?

A world where people take responsibility for their actions, and where nature thrives due to peoples’ drive for environmental conservation and protection. A world where children and youth are the top priority when it comes to decision making.

Could you describe a GEF-funded initiative that is close to your heart?

The GEF Small Grants Program, because of the many initiatives that were born from it. It allows local communities to take part in addressing several environmental issues. Many of our local communities have traditional knowledge in conservation and in addition to it, we love working together as a community and we are resilient. Having this program provides funding for people to be able to carry out initiatives planned for themselves and for their countries. 

What life lessons has working on environmental issues taught you?

There is a Samoan saying that goes "O le tele o sulu e maua ai figota" which translates to "the more the lights, the better the fishing" and it comes from the traditional Samoan way of harvesting shellfish, where villagers would take fire torches to the sea to help shed light while harvesting shellfish, and the more torches there were, the more they could harvest. This saying means that "my strength does not come from me alone, but from many." One can work alone well, but even better together with others. The more people we work together with, the more effective our work will be and the easier we can reach our set goals. The people we meet and the networks we make can open doors to opportunities and success, and they can also give you hope, as the saying goes: “your network is your net worth.”

What do you enjoy doing on your free time?

I enjoy listening to music of all kinds, reading, karaoke, good times with friends and families, watching movies, and any true crime documentary or National Geographic Explorer episode. I also enjoy learning random facts about things and/or people, and being present in natural spaces like beaches, forests, or just on the green grass at home.