Suzanne Turaganiwai
Fiji Oceans Champion — November 2024
Meet Suzanne Turaganiwai, our Fiji Oceans Champion for November 2024.
Suzanne's journey with the ocean began in her early years, a connection that blossomed into a passion for marine science. As a devoted outrigger paddler and a valued member of Uto Ni Yalo's volunteer crew, Suzanne has not only sailed the seas but has actively participated in coastal clean-ups across Suva and various island communities.
Her involvement extends beyond the waves, co-founding POLYP, the Pacific Ocean Litter Youth Project. POLYP, based at the University of the South Pacific, brings together Pacific youths to combat marine pollution through a unique blend of science and art. Suzanne, a Media and Graphics Assistant at USP, has seamlessly integrated her artistic talents into the fight against ocean pollution.
Her love for the “Waitui” (Ocean), marine studies, being part of the Uto Ni Yalo family and an artist in her own right all intersected during the second wave of COVID-19 in 2021. Inspired by the marine debris she encountered during beach walks, she transformed these discarded items into captivating art pieces which she then shared through her Instagram account, "Benu Ni Waitui" (meaning rubbish/waste of the ocean), aimed at raising awareness about marine pollution in the Suva.
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In a conversation on the Women Mind the Water podcast, Suzanne emphasised the need to shift societal attitudes toward pollution. "Most people see the rubbish and think it's somebody else's job…they think it’s the government’s responsibility or other organisations to clean it up," she said. "We have to change that mindset of being so used to seeing rubbish and thinking it's okay."
What began as an individual artivism initiative evolved into POLYP, a collective effort aimed at categorising and quantifying marine litter. The group chose the USP Marine Campus foreshore, which neighbour's the Uto Ni Yalo's Suva home at the National Sailing Centre, as their study site, contributing valuable data to a broader research study on the Suva foreshore.
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Suzanne said that the rubbish collection project hoped to bring about behavioural change in people and encourage more Pacific youth to become better stewards of the ocean and the natural environment.
POLYPs mission is clear – to inspire change and alter societal paradigms around marine litter pollution. The heart of POLYPs initiatives lies in coastal clean-up campaigns, where young volunteers take up gloves and trash bags to remove litter from the shores. Weekly coastal litter assessments and brand audits at the USP Marine campus foreshore provide essential data for research purposes. To add an artistic touch to their advocacy, the project incorporates “Artivism Talanoa spaces,” where the collected debris is transformed into impactful marine debris art. These artworks serve as powerful awareness tools during clean-up campaigns and community events.
Suzanne's leadership and the dedication of POLYPs youth volunteers have not gone unnoticed. Over two years, they've collected over three tonnes of rubbish through their study and public clean-up campaigns.
In an interview with Pasifika Environews, Suzanne said, “With an ongoing issue like pollution, we are engaging the youth in advocacy and awareness, using science and art. Our work is essential in changing the narrative and behaviour around pollution in Fiji. We know the drive that is within our youth to be activists, who use their talents and skills to make a difference in their community.”
Their impactful work has garnered support from key partners, including the Uto Ni Yalo Trust, Suva Harbour Foundation, Suva SUPers, Pacific Conference of Churches, and more. POLYP recently secured funding from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) under their Committing to Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific (SWAP) Programme to implement theFiji Coastal Litter Project in partnership with USP, highlighting the recognition of their efforts in the broader environmental community. The year-long project will include several surveys in coastal communities around Fiji’s main Island of Viti Levu, along with educational aspects for the communities.
Suzanne embodies the values of Uto Ni Yalo as a true guardian of the ocean and a matua (elder) in the making.
We look forward to continuing our collaboration with POLYP in their projects and celebrate Suzanne as a daughter of “Mama Uto” and this month's Fiji Oceans Champion.
About Blue Prosperity Fiji and Uto ni Yalo Partnership
The Uto ni Yalo is collaborating with Blue Prosperity Fiji, a programme led by the Government of Fiji, to build awareness and support for a healthy ocean, thriving communities and prosperous economies in Fiji. This includes incorporating community engagement, bolstering Ocean Champions, supporting scientific research, and traditional knowledge to support the Blue Prosperity Fiji programme's efforts to sustainably manage 100 percent of Fiji's ocean space and designate 30 percent in fully protected areas while supporting ocean industries and fisheries management.