From Vision to Action: Supporting the Formation of Faamelea Molia Trust

One of the aims of ANCAD’s Pacific People’s capability-building programme is to help emerging community leaders turn their vision into structured, sustainable action. A standout example of this in 2024 was our work alongside Faamelea Molia, who approached us seeking guidance to establish a charitable trust dedicated to improving outcomes for Pacific youth and elderly communities in West Auckland.

Faamelea and her whānau had already been active in supporting their community but were ready to formalise this work to increase their reach and impact. What they needed was practical, step-by-step support through the often-complex legal and administrative processes of trust formation.

From the outset, our engagement was grounded in talanoa values – trust, respect, and open dialogue. In-person meetings were held at Faamelea’s workplace to ensure accessibility and comfort, reflecting a culturally appropriate, relationship-first approach.

Our Pacific Peoples Capability Lead, Clark Tuagalu, provided tailored mentoring, guiding Faamelea through the essentials of setting up a charitable trust: from drafting a compliant trust deed and completing registration paperwork, to organising JP witnessing for legal documentation. Easy-to-understand resources and templates were also shared to help demystify the process and build confidence in navigating the charitable sector.

In addition to one-on-one support, we connected Faamelea with wider networks. She was introduced to expert advisors like Stephanie Mailtand (Maitland & Associates) and encouraged to build connections with other Pacific organisations – creating pathways for peer support and future collaboration.

By the end of this journey, Faamelea had successfully drafted her trust deed and progressed the formal registration of her charitable trust. More than just ticking boxes, she gained clarity on governance, confidence in her legal responsibilities, and a strengthened sense of connection to the broader Pacific community sector.

This story is a powerful reminder that when relational mentoring meets practical tools, emerging leaders are empowered to step forward. By walking alongside Faamelea, we helped move her vision from concept to concrete structure – building long-term capability and community strength in the process.