Articles ● Building Strategic Partnerships between Civil Society and Key Stakeholders for an Effective COVID-19 response in Kiribati: Levita Levi, Kiribati

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Building Strategic Partnerships between Civil Society and Key Stakeholders for an Effective COVID-19 response in Kiribati: Levita Levi, Kiribati

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of life around the world and the Kiribati Islands are no exception. In these trying and difficult circumstances many communities are struggling to keep up with the pace of how fast things are changing. In many countries,  LGBTIQ people  are  facing different kinds of struggles across the board and are oftentimes left behind and neglected. While these are arduous times, activists and leaders from the LGBTIQ communities have been working tirelessly to address these struggles. One of these hardworking activists is Levita from the Republic of Kiribati.

Kiribati is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. Laid out in the Pacific Ocean like pearls they consist of 32 atolls and one coral raised island with a population just over 110,000 and is the only country in the world to be situated in all four hemispheres. Levita has been extremely active during this pandemic taking part in many projects to help with any effects of the pandemic on Kiribati and its residents. She has been involved with BIMBA, a non-governmental organization working to increase the visibility of the binabinaine community in Kiribati.

Some of the work that she’s been working on include helping with the drafting of the Kiribati National COVID-19 Response Plan. She is also assisting the Government of Kiribati and various NGOs in carrying out awareness raising programs to keep the communities updated on the present global pandemic. Furthermore, she has also been involved in simulation exercises coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Airport Authority on handling and preventing COVID-19 cases.

Levita and her organization practiced social distancing, regular handwashing, and provided information about COVID-19 to other organizations. . Moreover, she has been working together with the government and civil society organizations, to establish and formalize the Kiribati National Covid 19 Response Plan and to bring it  to the Cabinet for endorsement. This plan will serve as a guideline for all Government Ministries, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs and development partners on responding to the indirect and direct impact of Covid 19. The National Plan  incorporates all Government Ministries’ COVID-19 preparedness and response plans and looks at  the health and social-economic impacts of Covid 19.

Levita  highlights the individual responsibilities of everyone to practice the required health protocol to help curb the spread of COVID-19. “Like in many countries, Kiribati is having some difficulties while managing the effects of the pandemic on the economy and society. Specifically, the problems stem from public compliance to the required health protocols, the limited supplies of personal protective equipment, and the limitations to  the provision of services,” says Levita.

“Task-forces were established to coordinate and manage the government’s response to the pandemic. There are 8 task-forces that cover 8 sectors such as Health, Communication, Transport, Finance, Education, Nationals stranded outside Kiribati, Public Servants,” Levita explanis.

As a lot of the work of the CBOs have now moved online, many new challenges are being faced. Levita mentioned  that working online has now become somewhat of a norm for almost a year and has proved successful at times. However she believes that unstable internet connection, absence of technical experts to carry out face-to-face training to improve and enhance technical capacities to prepare and respond to Covid 19 did make working efficiently somewhat difficult.

Moving forward through this pandemic, one of the most important things to keep in mind is human rights and human dignity. According to Levita, it is critical to continue to  be inclusive in the work that is being  done. The National Covid 19 Preparedness plan which Levita worked on. supports inclusivity, which includes supporting the LGBTIQ community. Moreover, The National Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Act considers the needs and protection of the LGBTIQ community during disasters. Furthermore, to ensure that communities are not left behind, Levita feels it is critical that LGBTIQ people are involved in the planning, implementation and monitoring  of  Covid 19 related processes and issues. As part of her work, she strives to make sure they are also involved in decision making processes.

Job well done to the team for being able to deliver essentials for handwashing (bar soap and hand sanitizer), recharge…

Posted by BIMBA Members, Allies, Families & Friends on Thursday, December 24, 2020

 Levita believes that they are still not ready for the new normal considering that most of their basic needs such as medication, food, fuel, etc are sourced from countries elsewhere. She says that technical support in water engineering, medical services, finance, etc requires the presence of experts in the country for capacity building of their people and so she feels that they still have a long way to go to meet the new normal.

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     John Michael is one of the current board members of Youth Voices Count and holds officership positions as President in ALIVE Support Group, member of Network Plus Pilipinas, and YPLHIV United Nation Youth Advisory Board Ph Sector Representative.

     As part of the organizations mentioned, JM advocates in providing safe spaces for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and continuous education on HIV/AIDS awareness to eradicate the stigma and discrimination surrounding it.  

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      He was recognized as the Outstanding Coach/Adviser of the Student Organization and received an award in Research and Extension of the University of Capiz State University, Roxas City Main Campus.

     Heart is currently taking up her undergraduate at West Visayas State University with a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies. At her third year in the university, she co-founded the first and only student-led organization towards gender-sensitive, responsive, and progressive aims known as DUAG-WVSU. 

    She is the interim Secretary of Iloilo Pride Team and Chairperson of DUAG-WVSU which are both organizations in the city of Iloilo that have already established their significance in advocating for gender equality. Her contributions to her advocacies have led her to receive awards such as the 2017 Rotary Club of Iloilo City Boys’ and Girls’ Week Celebration (City Administrator) and the Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee 2018.

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     Aside from being YVC’s Advocacy and Network Engagement Officer, Karon is also currently working on her thesis to complete her Master in Arts of Sociology.

    As the longest serving member of YVC, Brian takes pride in championing for the rights and welfare of LGBTQIA+ youth in the Asia-Pacific region time and time again. Our resident scholar and academician has a master’s degree in Sociology and is a licensed professional teacher in the Philippines. He believes that education helps people to be enlightened about basic human rights that everyone must enjoy and thus explains his interests in working for the academe. He is also an active member of various organizations helping community members of LGBTQIA+ and people living with HIV in the Philippines including being the former OIC-Executive Director of Pinoy Plus Advocacy Pilipinas, Inc.

     Jan is passionate about seeing through the potential contributions of psychological sciences and human rights advocacy in LGBT people’s lives. He is currently Program Associate of ASEAN SOGIE Caucus and is a member of the LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group of the Psychological Association of the Philippines. He has written for various platforms and publications on a diverse range of topics from gender and sexuality to human rights experiences in different contexts. Jan’s desire is to engage in productive and meaningful work that bridges scholarship with practice rooted in people’s real experiences.

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Due to her outstanding contributions to her advocacies, she received the National Volunteering Award by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Government of Nepal in 2020, and Youth Change Maker Award by the United Nations Youth Student Association Nepal in 2018.

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     Bloom finished their Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Auckland with Second Class/First Division Honors, and their Masters in Education in Adult Learning and Community Development at the University of Toronto. They successfully launched Asia’s first application for queer gig workers, successfully advocated for the inclusion of queer migrant workers for Vertie Southeast Asia’s study about the situation of migrant workers in Thailand during pandemics, and successfully helped Non-binary Thailand partner with queer CSOs overseas especially in the South East Asia region. Currently, they are the consultant of ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, and the Head of the IR Unit for Non-binary Thailand.
 
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   Adams Phan graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education majoring in Teaching English as a Foreign Language in 2017. During  his 4 years in the university as the Chairman of the Department’s Student Union, and the Vice President of the University’s Student Association, he took part in planning and implementing many social and cultural activities and events as well as having a former background in coordinating non-profit projects and organizing events. 

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   He always longs to contribute his youth to help enhance and improve the rights and healthcare services for LGBTIQ+ communities nationally, regionally, and worldwide.

   Fila Magnus graduated as cum laude at Upper Iowa University majoring Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communications. She served as the Director of Communications for the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP) for over 6 years and is currently working at Mental Fitness Hub. 

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   He is a Co-Founder of the 2030 Youth Force Network and has practical experience in the United Nations in digital communication. He was also a U-Report Learning Consultant for UNICEF Indonesia from 2021 to 2022, and has been featured on TIME Magazine in their article entitled “Eight Young Leaders on How They Want to Shape the Decade Ahead”. He was also awarded the N-Peace Award in 2016.

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     She is a graduate of AB Political Science from West Visayas State University (WVSU), in Iloilo City. In her days in college, she was the founding Prime Minister of WVSU Debate Circle, the ROTC Corps Commander and later a Volunteer Instructor in the Air Force Reserve Command. When she ran for the first time in their University Student Council, she was elected number one councilor. Her interest in leadership grew when she joined the 10th National Youth Parliament, organized by the National Youth Commission in 2014, where she later on became the Regional Convener for Western Visayas.

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     A learner for life and a seeker of knowledge, Justin graduated his Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science at West Visayas State University, Philippines and took on a Master’s of Arts in Human Rights and Democratisation (International Program) at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University, Thailand under the APMA / European Union Scholarship. At present, Justin is pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree (Law Degree) from the College of Law, University of San Agustin, Philippines.

    Justin entered Youth Voices Count, Inc. in 2018 while studying in Thailand. He later took on the role of Executive Director beginning 2019 and successfully set up the legal registration of the organization in the Philippines under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Since then, he has been leading the organization in various programs and projects centered around LGBTIQ children, adolescents, and youth. Outside Youth Voices Count, Inc., Justin is active in other initiatives in the field of research and law. He was a law student fellow of the Legal Education Advancement Program (LEAP) of the Legal Education Board and the UP Law Center in 2022.

    As an aspiring lawyer, he hopes to one day be instrumental in providing legal support for marginalized populations. Justin has also published reports, journal articles, commentaries, and book articles in the fields of law, HIV/AIDS, LGBTIQ, and Human Rights.

        In 2018, he was awarded the Young Achiever HERO Award by APCOM Foundation during the HERO Awards reception at the Royal British Embassy in Thailand for his outstanding work on equality and human rights. He is one of the Youth Council members of the Global Fund, an international financing and partnership organization that aims to “attract, leverage and invest additional resources to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria”, and a Board Member of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Committee.