A youth-led online campaign, ‘Yut Rise Up’, is reshaping Vanuatu’s digital space with fresh, inspiring content created by young people for young people.
From a press release it states that the campaign, led entirely by local youth aged between 10 and 19, promotes key messages of healthy relationships, respect, and conflict resolution through engaging online posts and creative videos.
Launched in 2024, ‘Yut Rise Up’ has grown into one of the country’s most successful online awareness campaigns, with its social media posts reaching over 300,000 views on Facebook alone — a figure that surpasses the total number of users in Vanuatu.
Empowering Youth Voices
The campaign’s content is developed by a team of 26 young creators and advisors from communities across Port Vila, including Anamburu, Erakor, Freswota, Ifira, Mele, Manples, Seaside, and Teouma. They meet weekly to brainstorm ideas, film videos, and design social media content that connects directly with their peers.
“Our goal is to make content that young people can relate to,” said Sandra Kalopong, a 20-year-old youth administrator from Erakor Village.
“The workshops give us the opportunity to be creative and use our talents to spread positive messages that encourage respect and understanding.”
Learning and Creating Together
Under the guidance of campaign coordinator Jaimeen Kenni, the team has participated in a series of content creation workshops, learning skills in video scripting, camera work, and digital storytelling.
“I’ve learned so much about working with people from different backgrounds and how to share stories that matter,” said Esther Atuary, a 19-year-old from Freswota.
Another youth advisor, Frederick Lango from Teouma, shared that ‘Yut Rise Up’ changed his perspective on how social media can be used for good.
“The campaign opened my eyes to how social media shapes us — and how we can use it to spread something positive about preventing gender-based violence.”
Online Success
Since its launch, ‘Yut Rise Up’ has built an impressive online following — 17,000 followers on Facebook, 28,500 likes on TikTok, and growing numbers on Instagram and YouTube.
The campaign made a strong impact during the 2024 Fest’Napuan Music Festival, where youth ambassadors engaged with festival-goers and recorded over 250 short interviews. Two videos went viral, attracting over 98,000 views, sparking nationwide discussions about gender roles and shared responsibilities in families.
Supported by Local Icons
The campaign also has the backing of some of Vanuatu’s biggest names, including football star Brian Kaltak, Vanuatu Women’s Cricket captain Selena Solman, and local musicians Metoxide, Shazza, and Jesta from Sele Stringband. Their support has amplified the campaign’s reach and encouraged youth engagement across the islands.
Government and Partner Support
The ‘Yut Rise Up’ campaign is implemented by Save the Children Vanuatu, in partnership with Youth Challenge Vanuatu and Wan Smolbag Theatre, under the leadership of the Ministry of Justice and Community Services through the Department of Women’s Affairs. It is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the VAN: COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project.
Director of the Department of Women’s Affairs, Rothina Ilo Noka, praised the initiative, saying,
“A new dawn has broken for young people, families, and communities in Vanuatu. The ‘Yut Rise Up’ campaign is giving youth a voice to shape a peaceful and respectful nation.”
Looking Ahead
The team is now preparing for the upcoming launch of Wan Smolbag’s new musical film, ‘Wan Haos blong Lav’, which carries messages of love, respect, and gender equality — core values of the ‘Yut Rise Up’ campaign.
As the campaign continues to grow, Vanuatu’s young people are proving that change starts with their voices — using creativity, collaboration, and courage to inspire a more respectful and equal society.
