Three months ago, we were sitting on an airplane heading to Melbourne, Australia feeling nervous, excited and honestly, overwhelmed. It was our first time in Australia, and we kept hearing that nearly 6,000 people would be at the Women Deliver conference. For two boys from Fiji and Solomon Islands, that number felt huge.
When the plane landed, everything suddenly became real. The cold air hit us first, a sharp reminder that we were far from our warm tropical home. Then came the hotel, which was a massive 41‑floor building that made us feel tiny the moment we walked in. We barely had time to settle before heading straight to the Melbourne Convention Centre to register. It was only a ten-minute walk, but everything around us felt big, fast, and new. We were travelling with our co‑chair, Michelle Muller from UNICEF, and when we reached the registration desk, the staff handed us a tote bag and an ID with our names printed on it.
It was such a small thing but seeing our names there made us feel seen - like we belonged in that global space.
The Girls Pre‑Conference
The next morning, we woke up early because we didn’t want to miss the Girls Pre‑Conference and it was actually the first time Women Deliver hosted a pre-conference for girls to be able to share their issues and ideas. The hot shower felt like a blessing because the cold weather was something we were still adjusting to. Breakfast at the hotel was good, but the fruits tasted so different from the tropical sweetness we were used to back home.
Walking into the Convention Centre again, we realized just how massive it was - three floors, escalators on both ends and rooms big enough to hold hundreds. When we entered the Girls Pre‑Conference room it was already almost full and we met UNICEF delegates from all over the world, which was incredible.
Then suddenly, the former Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, walked in. Everyone rushed to take photos and yes, we did too with our friends Sabina, Pacific Girl Reference Group Representative, and Dianne, Papua New Guinea Youth Representative. The session was powerful where girls spoke with so much courage and one quote stayed with us:
"Participation is not representation, and representation is not power."
For us, this quote really meant a lot. From a Pacific context, young people are usually called in high level meetings not to be heard but as tokenistic representation.
We heard that quote again and again throughout the week. Trudeau also said something that stuck with us: "Stand up tall." We took those words to heart, believing at the time that he meant to stand tall and be confident.
After the Girls Pre‑Conference, we rushed to John’s panel discussion, where he spoke about how boys can support girls in climate leadership. For us, that message was personal because accountability is part of our code of conduct in the Young Pasifika Wayfinders and this accountability includes male allyship.
Youth Pre‑Conference
The next day was the Youth Pre‑Conference. All the young people gathered, and we heard powerful reflections especially about how colonial harm erased language and culture across generations. One of the young delegates said:
"Our presence is asked, but our power is missing." This felt painfully true. In the Pacific, young people are called in meetings to raise their concern or issues, but we feel that no substantial actions have been delivered from it.
During the conference, we spoke in a few different sessions about gender equality, climate change, and allyship.
At one panel, we talked about how boys can challenge harmful stereotypes and support girls to lead, especially in climate action.
At another session, we shared a Pacific perspective on what allyship really looks like.
Every evening after the day ended, we facilitated a Talanoa session with the UNICEF delegates. Talanoa is a traditional Pacific concept of inclusive, open dialogue. We talked about our key takeaways, what challenged us, what inspired us, and what we wanted to carry forward. Those conversations grounded us, and they reminded us why we were there.
Out of all six days, the Cultural Night was our favourite. Samoan and Cook Island dancers filled the room with energy and joy. Seeing Pacific Island people dancing, singing, and wearing traditional clothes made us feel like home had followed us to Melbourne.
Now, three months later, the lessons from Women Deliver still feel clear:
- Climate change and gender inequality are deeply connected.
- Gender equality isn’t just about girls, as it benefits everyone.
- Boys and men have a role in ending violence.
- Young people should be seen as leaders not decorations.
- Real allyship means working with people not speaking for them.
Since coming home, the conversations haven’t stopped. At the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting, John shared insights on the Young Pasifika Wayfinders regional initiative and highlighted Seek the Ways, a platform supporting adolescent boys across the Pacific. Decisions should reflect what young people are actually going through, not just what others assume. Having experienced the conversations and activities during Women Deliver, Walter has started to show what a ‘good ally’ is for girls in his community and raised a lot of awareness on the importance of the Seek the Ways website to boys.
The challenges we saw and reflected on at Women Deliver are still here. Back in Melbourne, "stand up tall" sounded like confidence, but now we understand it differently.
Standing tall means telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable, and it also means challenging systems that exclude people. It means pushing for real change and most importantly it means standing together.
Not boys on one side and girls on the other but all of us shoulder to shoulder because a future without violence and inequality will not just happen, we must build it.
Our journey has begun.
