Jone Siqila: “Youths for Integrity” Role Model

As I enter his room to take my laptop, I just make the right amount of noise to let him know of my presence. As I turn, I see his dad standing in the doorway and he asks me politely if Junior should be woken up.  I firmly say that he should sleep. As I walk out Jone Siqila whispers, “Dr V!” A pause. “May you live long!”

Jone Siqila is like a rare bird you find as you walk up a mountain forest to be pleasantly greeted by the bird nestled on a rock close to a cool spring. This analogy also reflects Jone’s adventurous nature as he organizes the Youths for Integrity climate change / environment programs that result in mountain hikes either in Mt Korobaba or Coloisuva or other locations and the refreshing swim in the cool waterfalls or beaches. The films and pictures that result from these outings are produced by Jone. (He now works for FBC TV and this blog piece covers the period before he joined FBC.)

After writing so many stories about youth leaders in the national print media and on the YFI blog I received persistent queries from youths asking when I would get around to writing about Jone Siqila. The delay has partly been due to his humility.  I had asked to write his story so many times and he had requested for more time to think about it and it was only recently that he agreed.

I first met Jone in 2013 when I volunteered for an NGO called Transparency Fiji. Prior to that, Jone had worked at ANZ in the marketing department. At that time I did part time work as a lecturer and did some Board work. At TF, I worked with Jone on national surveys, civic education workshops and producing films on integrity and anti-corruption. The work on civic youth leadership later extended to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Youth Council and UNDP. These assignments took us all over Fiji. Three youth personalities (amongst the many) that stood out in their support of Jone’s work were Ratu Wiliame Nayacatabu, Tupou Nawaikula and Emily Erasito.

Jone is from Bau with maternal links to Rotuma. His mum is Tongan. He has three brothers; Kauata, Bill and Taniela with Jone being the youngest. When we first met, we had spoken to each other in English. I though he was Samoan and he thought I was from Tuvalu.

His Polynesian looks can have its funny moments. In a Tailevu village, some ladies asked in the iTaukei language (in his presence) if he ate rourou and other iTaukei foods. We had to explain that he is from Bau and most certainly eats all local foods! I have also had the situation of people asking me politely how my son was. After seeing my quizzical look, they would describe Jone and I would explain that we are work colleagues. His dad is handsomer! “But you are also handsome,” they often say. “You are too kind,” I reply sincerely.

Jone is very humble, hard-working and is a great role model for young people. He has a talent for producing short films that create impact on viewers in terms of getting across the messages of Integrity portrayed in them. He had attended the CPAC film production training conducted by Macquarie University in Tahiti and came back with valuable skills that matched his personal talent. One of our great music videos on Integrity starring Samu Walosio and Lusi Tupou was produced by Jone. All of our flash mobs, role plays were also choreographed by him.

The many young people who have gone through YFI trainings and have been inculcated film editing and production skills can thank Jone for those skills. I got to writing most of the films produced by Jone because he had taught me script writing skills.

One of the humorous side effects of working with him is that almost everyone thinks we are usually together. I will get phone calls or FB inboxes asking for his phone number or his whereabouts. When I am in the West or any other part of Fiji, youths will invariably ask me how Jone is and request that I give him their warmest regards. The requests can also come from unusual places! I had gone to watch a movie at Village 6 and in the packed crowd, a NYCF rep from Levuka asked me in a loud voice how Jone Siqila was. “He’s okay,” I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind. All the bystanders looked intently at me with eyes that were like sharp drills to see if there was a hint of sensitivity or delicateness in my demeanor. I had told Jone (drily) that with so many people asking me about him I should be his Manager! That might not be a bad idea, he quipped!

Dokanaisuva where Jone lives is a centre for Youths for Integrity training programs. The Australian High Commission had renovated their MYF Hall. This means that I and other facilitators and participants are billeted in homes including Jone’s.

He now works for FBC TV and speaks highly and is very grateful of the mentoring role provided by Andhy Blake.

His tight schedule means that he often is excluded from current YFI trainings and often sleeps late especially in the weekends. As I enter his room to take my laptop I just make the right amount of noise to let him know of my presence. As I turn, I see his dad standing in the doorway and he asks me politely if Junior should be woken up.  I firmly say that he should sleep.

As I walk out Jone Siqila whispers, “Dr V!” A pause. “May you live long!”