Interested in joining our 2025 Ta'iala Youth Exchange Trip? 

Here are our 4 steps to signing up:

1. Sign the Ta'iala Interest list

2. Attend a Ta'iala Informational event

3. Complete Ta'iala Application

4. Upon approval, pay program deposit & complete commitment contract

TUESDAY APRIL 30, 2024 - 

Our initial Ta'iala Youth group organized the Ta'iala Community Report Out event. The successful launch and implementation of the Ta’iala Youth Exchange program were greatly supported by the community. This is why we felt it was important to organize an event where our youth could share their experiences and the impact of the program.

We initiated the presentation of our Ta’iala Youth individual report boards, which showcased their reflections at the beginning and end of the trip, highlighting impactful, educational, and transformative aspects of the journey. Each young person was assigned to summarize a particular day in their report. Every Ta’iala youth addressed questions, and elaborated on different aspects of the trip as requested by community attendees.

Following this, the youth participated in a live Talanoa session hosted by our Essence of Mana family – marking their first in-person Talanoa Tuesday segment. They fielded questions from the community regarding their experiences in Samoa, discussing their expectations versus reality, favorite moments, food experiences, and emotional reflections from the trip. Additionally, we introduced a fundraising initiative to support our Brown Girl Woke Ta’iala youth exchange trip to the SF Bay Area. In closing, we shared financial and demographic insights from the inaugural trip. We expressed our gratitude to all the hosts in Samoa and listened to reflections from our Ta’iala Program Staff about the trip. Lastly, we unveiled the opening of the 2025 Ta’iala interest list that is now open to our Pacific Islander youth in the San Francisco Bay Area.