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Pacific Empowerment
Pacific Empowerment Podcast was founded by a Tongan woman entrepreneur, Akanesi Kaufusi, to uplift and inspire Pacific Island people to take bold action, chase their dreams, and dream as big as they dare. This podcast challenges the limitations of traditional thinking and cultural expectations that often hold our people back. It’s a space to break free from fear, take risks, and rewrite what’s possible - no matter your background or environment. Your situation doesn’t define you. Your vision does.
Pacific Empowerment
Episode 17 - The Dark Side of Faikava and Tou‘a
In this powerful and deeply moving episode, I read out the testimonies of women who have served as tou‘a in faikava circles and bravely shared their experiences of sexual abuse. These are stories that have been silenced for too long - stories of pain, exploitation, and trauma, but also of courage in speaking out.
By giving voice to these women, we confront the darker side of faikava that many in our community would rather ignore. This episode is not about shaming culture but about protecting our women, raising awareness, and demanding accountability.
It’s a call to action for families, churches, leaders, and our wider Pacific community to recognize the harm, break the cycle, and create safer spaces for future generations.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains testimonies of sexual abuse that may be distressing for some listeners.
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You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment