A group of New Zealand law students has launched a project aimed at inspiring young Pacific students into the law profession.
The Malosi Project, an initiative of the Pacific Island Law Students Association, or PILSA, at the University of Auckland, is aimed at redressing the under-representation of Pacific people in the field of law.
Dylan Asafo, a co-President of the Pacific Islands Law Students Association. PILSA recently launched the Malosi Project at the University of Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet
A co-President of PILSA, Dylan Asafo, says there are institutional and structural barriers in education that Pacific students need to break down.
"It's been born out of this frustration, and seeing in the media all these different stories of Pacific people being homeless, of Pacific people being on minimum wage and not being able to afford the bus money for their children and all the other devastating stories that we see about us," he said.
"And so the motive behind it is trying to have Pacific people speak on their own issues and have those voices out there for people to hear."
Dylan Asafo said the project will see university students going into schools to inspire students to aim for tertiary study.
Mr Asafo said there is still a long way to go to ensure Pacific students and other minorities don't feel alienated when attempting the tough bachelors programme.
He said there's been some positive achievements but the Malosi Project will look at reaching students in high schools.
"There still remain those significant educational barriers for Pacific students at the high school level who still aren't achieving the requisite literacy and numeracy requirements to get university entrance and that really comes down to poor curriculum and poor addressing of the needs of Pacific students throughout New Zealand at secondary schools," Mr Asafo said.
The Malosi Project will see law students in schools inspiring students to aim high Photo: Malosi Project / PILSA
