FOR Salanieta Sekiseki, leadership is not something she hopes to learn on a stage.
It already began at home, where as the eldest of six siblings, she learned early that leadership comes with responsibility, service and setting an example for others.
That upbringing shaped the 23-year-old final-year law student’s journey to the Hibiscus Festival, where she hopes to turn her sense of responsibility into a platform for change.
Ms Sekiseki proudly hails from Bua Lomanikoro and has maternal links to Funafou in Malaita, Solomon Islands.
Growing up in a large family, she says her parents taught her to remain humble, courageous and resilient in the face of life’s challenges.
“As the oldest child of six siblings, I have a strong sense of responsibility, and that responsibility has been my greatest teaching,” she said.
At the festival, Ms Sekiseki will advocate for climate justice, environmental sustainability and youth empowerment.
She hopes to encourage young people to use the tools and resources available to them to speak up on environmental and climate issues.
She says the festival is more than a competition for a crown.
It is an opportunity to bring grassroots concerns to a national platform while encouraging more young women to use their voices and make a difference.
