KPS Co-Founder & Business Leader, Malcolm Byford, says that in the near future he’d like to see the organisation continue to grow into a collective hub.  

“We are a new organisation and our vision is to become a more established Pacific hub for families to utilise as a resource centre." 

KPS has developed its own model and structure that responds to family violence, making the organisation unique in its own right. Byford and fellow Co-Founder of KPS, Tevita Faka’osi, come from similar backgrounds working in the space of family violence, and it is a shared passion of theirs.  

Kainga Pasifika currently run programmes for people who find themselves in family violence situations and the programmes are tailored for both the victims and offenders. Faka’osi feels that at times within our Pacific cultures, the lines can be blurred when it comes to what is healthy and what is unhealthy in relationships, motivating him to change this after enduring his own situations in his personal life. 

“Our old beliefs need to change and if we do not know or have the tools to change them, then we will not move forward. Our vision is to provide the tools and guide our participants to enable them to make healthy changes and adjustments in their relationships.  

Here in our Kainga Pasifika safe relationships programmes we aspire to challenge what is healthy and unhealthy in our culture, spirituality and our relationships." 

There have been rewards that have come with the safe relationships programming despite the organisation only being around for a short time. 

“We have seen a positive shift in the people who have been through the programme, we provide them with alternatives such as forms of discipline for children and how to guide them, communication methods and looking to identify and be aware of our emotions and feelings. We also discussed the practice of just walking away to have some cool down time," says Byford.  

Faka’osi says that the immediate rewards he has noticed from the safe relationships programme is the shift in perspective from participants.  

“It’s so rewarding when we see our community changing their lives; these programmes allow vulnerability into the relationship space and it’s very heartening to see people discover themselves and share those vulnerabilities openly.  

My job has taught me the power of love instead of the love of power and it's rewarding to see that lesson shared amongst the community we serve." 

Byford is grateful for the relationship with PFL, saying that PFL funding has provided vital support for the work that their organisation is passionate about, as well as timely resources throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Faka’osi relays that Kainga Pacific is for Pacific and that they will be ready and waiting for anyone who is ready to walk through the doors of their growing hub for Pacific people.