The recent amalgamation of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's (SPC) Women's and Youth Bureaus, Cultural Programme, and Community Education and Training Centre into the Human Development Programme (HDP) sets an interesting new direction, says the programme's new Advocacy and Communications Officer.

Tione Chinula says that with all the changes afoot, it's an exciting time to come on board. 'There's a sense of renewal. It's very motivating to be part of the process. The programme has created a new drive and an opportunity to tackle gender, youth and cultural issues and community education more efficiently,' Tione says.

One of her priorities is to portray this new way forward by highlighting the HDP's multi-sectoral approach. 'I will concentrate on bringing the programme's four key areas together and presenting them as interrelated fields that complement each other.'

Gender is a subject that is close to her heart. 'I have witnessed disparities between the sexes everywhere I have been but nowhere are they more obvious than in the developing world. Although it can be discouraging, I try to accentuate the positive. I admire and am inspired by all the women and men who have enabled progress towards a more balanced society.'

Having grown up in Southern Africa, she has always had an interest in cultural issues. 'Just as in the Pacific, culture is part and parcel of life in Africa,' Tione says. 'In fact there are many similarities between the two regions. African time is the equivalent of Pacific time and the bush wireless in Africa operates along the same lines as the coconut wireless here. On a more serious note though, they have similar values such as hospitality and, in both places, family, in the extended sense, is such an important component of society.'

Youth is an area she is familiar with, having worked for UNICEF New Zealand in 1996. 'Working on issues relating to young people is always very motivating. Young people are dynamic and always so keen to learn and evolve, so it's an area that involves a lot of energy, new ideas and constant change.'

Working at SPC is not a totally new experience as Tione has been involved with the organisation as a consultant in the past, working in what was then the Pacific Women...’s Bureau and for the HIV/AIDS & STI project.

Tione takes over from Julie Middleton who left SPC in June to return to New Zealand. SPC, 30/07/07.