In the Words of Luna-Rossa Lomitusi-Ape: “My message to senior leaders is: let us shadow you”

Image

Luna-Rossa Lomitusi-Ape is the Vice President of the Samoa Women’s Association of Growers (SWAG) and a youth leader on the topic of climate change, environment and gender equality. She joined the two-day intergenerational dialogue “Waves of Change: Pacific Women Lead Across Generations in Fiji” aimed at advancing women’s participation in leadership and decision-making and transforming gender norms which took place on 30 September and 1 October 2025 in Nadi, Fiji.

“To be very honest, when I graduated from university, I didn’t have much of a plan. The routine of work and home became repetitive, and I quickly grew tired of waiting for things to happen. So, I decided that maybe I should be the one to make things happen. 

It all started with my first Young Entrepreneur Workshop back in 2022. It was a business pitch competition, which of course, I did not win, but I didn’t stop there. The next one came around, and I secured funding to start my bee business, Pollinate Samoa. Since then, I’ve been taking care of beehives at home and learning the art of beekeeping, something that had almost disappeared from our islands.

Beekeeping led me to youth advocacy and leadership. I joined the “Global Shapers” the World Economic Forums’ Youth-led innovation branch, hosted climate education workshops, and later became Vice President of SWAG.

Through SWAG, we empower women in rural communities and on the outer islands, helping them strengthen livelihoods through agriculture and gardening.

Growing up, my biggest inspiration was my mother. She’s a real go-getter. I watched her lose a job, rebuild from scratch, and provide for us by selling homemade cakes just to get through the week. Watching her taught me that you can fall down, but you can always get back up again.

When I started beekeeping, it wasn’t easy. There were no mentors, few materials, and barely any women in the space. My first beekeeping suit was made from heavy cotton twill; it was not sting-proof, but it gave the illusion of protection simply by being called a “bee suit”,…so I got stung a lot. 

It was the same for the climate education project, Atamai Siosiomaga. Funding remains a huge barrier for young Pacific activists. Many youth groups do incredible work with little or no financial support, driven only by willpower. Their efforts often go unrecognized and underreported, but they’re out there doing important work.

Sometimes, as a young woman in leadership spaces, it feels like you have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. When a man presents an idea, people say, “He can do it.” When a woman presents the same idea, she has to prove herself over and over again. There are still jobs many people believe women should not do. In construction and engineering, it is rare to see women wearing harnesses or climbing buildings to carry out physical work. Some men say they are simply “concerned” about women’s safety, but this concern can also reflect discomfort or insecurity about changing roles if women enter spaces traditionally seen as men’s jobs. If women are never given the opportunity to try, how will we ever see more women in these fields?

That’s why I believe visibility matters. When younger girls see women leading — whether in Parliament, on farms, or in businesses, they will think “I can do that, because she did!”. I still remember being in school and memorizing the names of Parliament members. The only name I remembered clearly was Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa, because she was the only woman at the time, and because her name sounded beautiful. It was important to me.

Solidarity between women leaders is so important, whether it’s in person or online. I love seeing women cheering each other on, saying “You go girl!” or “Slay!” in the comments. That’s how we build solidarity, by showing up for one another. Women in Samoa are already CEOS, or leaders in their villages, churches, and youth groups. The challenge now is to channel that leadership into governance and parliamentary spaces. 

To young women and youth, my advice is simple: make friends and connect. You can’t do it alone. Network with people you meet at events, dialogues, and workshops, these are the spaces where opportunities begin. Don’t be shy. Talk about your ideas and the change you want to see. Even if people say you talk too much, keep talking. Eventually, that talk will turn into something more.

And my message to more senior leaders is: let us shadow you. Let us learn by being in the room, by watching and listening. We don’t always need workshops - sometimes, we just need to be beside you to learn.”

The Convening took place under the WYDE | Women’s Leadership initiative, funded by the European Union, which is a collaborative global effort aimed at advancing women’s full and effective political participation and decision-making at all levels, especially those most often left furthest behind.

Note: These publications aim to stimulate a constructive debate on key issues of interest for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. The views expressed by the individuals interviewed for the production of our editorial content do not necessarily reflect the official position of UN Women, the United Nations system agencies or the European Union.