Profile: Jope Tarai

(published by Wansolwara)

ON a panel to discuss national politics last month, a largely unknown young man sat shoulder-to-shoulder with three of Fiji’s prominent political figures, Sitiveni Rabuka, Shamima Ali and Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi.

Jope Tarai was the young charismatic voice that represented USP students and by the end of that evening, he had the room silent in admiration. Human rights advocate Faye Volatabu was particularly impressed and encouraged to find a positive young youth who called for youths to do what they can, in the community.

That voice belonged to Jope Tarai, a postgraduate governance student and teaching assistant at USP. An advocate for youth and youth participation, Jope stamped his place as an inspirational young speaker and as a commendable panelist among his seniors. As expressive and outspoken as he is on stage, he seems to be a humble person at heart, as he kept shying away from speaking about himself.

Though a son of Tailevu, Tarai chose to identify himself with his mother who is from Waikete. He talked about how closely he was tied to his mother. He seemed disinclined to discuss his father, but later briefly explained some of the hardships he faced growing up.

“My father was a very ruthless man, he said. “I had to go through a classic case of domestic violence and my paternal family was where certain families were for certain children really don’t care.”

It was curious that Tarai initially pursued a degree in science for his undergraduate study.

“I pushed myself to do it because it was my mom’s wishes and my mother was the driving force behind everything for me,” he says.

Unfortunately, Tarai’s grades dropped because of his lack of interest in the subject and he became more interested in other things.

“I would notice issues that I would usually feel weird that my friends didn’t notice especially around campus and around the country,” he explains.

“There are a lot of things you notice but just to talk about those things compounded with the cultural barrier that we have there are some things for us  young people that we don’t talk about.”

Towards the end of his last semester, Tarai had one more elective he had to do and that was politics.

“The politics electives had a much higher grade and I knew that this was a turning point for me,” he said.

Sandra Tarte was Tarai’s lecturer in 2011 in two of his undergraduate courses for Politics and International Affairs Program.

“He is mature, thoughtful and hardworking and is deeply interested in current affairs and world and regional politics,” she says candidly about him. “I can confirm that Jope is an exceptionally talented student, who has an obvious aptitude for the subject of international affairs.”

Tarai graduated with his degree in Science and began working part-time, as well as a tutor for Korean students.

After realising his passion for politics, Tarai returned and enrolled for an undergraduate study in Politics. During his studies in his 300-level, he was approached by a lecturer who suggested for him to apply for postgraduate studies.

“I applied, a few months later a response came that they accepted my application,” he said.

Taiai says politics was a learning point for him.

“Politics opened it up for me why these things were not that way,” he said. “The more you know the more you want know about other things.”

Tarai began his advocacy work trying to get young people to learn how to ask questions. He started with the Inter-disciplinary Climate Change group and was involved in FALE and Radio Pasifika. Radio Pasifika still continues to run the climate change program called Talimagimagi.

Tarai became involved on more public platforms like student debates where he met Glen Finau during the FBE inter-school debates.

The FBE team was approached by the journalism department for a debate on the topic, “Media Freedom is essential for democracy.” Finau asked Tarai’s assistance for the debate team because he felt that the topic was outside the field of economics.

“He graciously accepted my request and was instrumental in getting the team ready and the main reason for our victory in that debate,” Finau says.

Tarai captained the USP debate team that won the 3rd Europa shield last year and also won Best Debater Award.

Finau said that Tarai was the heart of the team and a great leader.

“He has a true gift in public speaking. Anyone who is in attendance when Jope speaks cannot help but be mesmerised by his eloquence and inspired by his ideas,” he said.

Tarai continues to strive for youth participation and promotes their engagement with the happenings of society.

“We can’t drive any organisation, we can’t drive any student movement without the students so that was basically the first piece of what I want to learn to just get people to think or talk and not rely so much on other people to think for them,” he says.

Finau said that he could see Tarai becoming a leader for society in the future.

“In a time when there is a lot of uncertainty and a lack of true leaders, we need more youths like Jope. He is making a great change and he is empowering and giving a voice to many youths in Fiji.”