Feagaimalii Soti Mapu, a passionate advocate for youth development and education in the Pacific, has been selected as a Youth Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation (WLF).

It is a global organisation committed to eradicating illiteracy and promoting access to education worldwide

The 23-year-old expressed her deep excitement and personal connection to the role, sharing that her journey with literacy began under humble and unconventional circumstances. Growing up in Samoa with English as a second language, much of her early learning took place not in classrooms but in everyday life. 

From reading newspapers at home and encyclopaedias sent from overseas relatives, to signs on roadsides and posters in hospitals, she found knowledge in everything around her.

“I wasn’t given books and my school didn’t have much, but I read,” Mapu shared. “It was the daily Bible readings during Lotu afiafi and at Aoga Faifeau that helped me find my voice.”

Despite limited resources, Mapu's natural curiosity and determination to understand the world around her fostered a deep appreciation for literacy and education. “Even when I couldn’t pronounce it, I read,” she recalled.

Hailing from Vaisala, Falelima, Sapapalii, Foailuga, Iva, Sagone, Neiafu, and Maugafiafia. She is the daughter of  Tapuai Tofilau Tuioti Salima Soti Mapu and To’aiva Oloapu Mapu and the youngest of seven siblings.

Born and raised in Samoa, Feagaimalii is a proud product of the local education system. Her early learning began at home and through Aoga Faifeau at EFKS Vaisala and later Maugafiafia, before attending Vaisala and Moata’a Pre-Schools, Apia Primary School, and Samoa College. 

After completing her foundation year at the National University of Samoa (NUS), she was awarded an Australian Awards scholarship and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Adelaide.

Feagaimalii now lectures in Sociology at NUS and co-facilitates the Peer2Peer Initiative, a student-led program focused on personal and professional development. She is also involved with Early Learning Samoa, an initiative led by Enid Westerlund that works to improve literacy among young children in Samoa.

In addition to her academic work, she serves as Samoa’s National Youth Delegate to the Commonwealth and is a board member of the Samoa Youth Advisory Board, championing youth empowerment, civic participation, and cultural preservation.

Feagaimalii said her appointment as a World Literacy Foundation Youth Ambassador is meaningful given the challenges many young Samoans face in accessing quality books and educational resources. She believes literacy support is vital in Samoa, where engaging reading programmes and materials can significantly improve children's learning outcomes and foster a lifelong love of reading. 

Through her new role, she hopes to raise awareness of the importance of literacy while connecting local needs with global resources. “At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to serving my community through education,” she said.

Mapu emphasised that literacy is more than just reading and writing; it's a powerful tool for understanding the world and creating change. 

“Knowledge is everywhere,” she said. “It’s in the things we pass by, the stories we share, and the resilience it takes to keep going. In a small country like Samoa, where resources can be limited, literacy and education have the power to break down barriers and open doors to new possibilities.”

As a World Literacy Foundation Youth Ambassador, she is passionate about raising awareness of the need for more reading resources and programmes in Samoa. 

“When children learn to read, the impact is profound. It builds the foundation for education, employment, and social progress,” she said. “Even from small islands like Samoa, we can contribute to global change.”

She also acknowledged the critical work being done locally by Early Learning Samoa and Enid West, praising their efforts to ensure children in Samoa have the opportunity to learn to read.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn,” she said.