Gidienne
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Gidienne is a dedicated mental health advocate, psychology student and youth advisor who is passionate about strengthening wellbeing outcomes for rangatahi and Pasifika communities.

She is the founder of Akaitiiti, an educational mental health platform that works to decolonise care and uplift Pasifika wellbeing through culturally grounded learning and community education. She is a member of Aotearoa's Child and Youth Mental Health Youth Advisory Group, where she contributes lived-experience insight to help shape more responsive, youth-centred mental health systems.

Her work spans education, community care and youth support. As an administrative and learning assistant in a low socio-economic rated primary school, she works closely with students facing learning and behavioural barriers, helping to create safe, inclusive environments that support both academic and emotional growth.

Gidienne is working toward becoming an educational psychologist. Her advocacy is grounded both in lived experience — including surviving cancer and losing her mother — and academic training. Her mission centres on youth mental health, cultural identity, and collective healing through education.