A Young Kiwi Indian Urges Youth to Tackle Climate and Food Poverty

A 19-year-old from Palmerston North is calling on young New Zealanders to take action against the growing crisis of climate change and food poverty, which he describes as a humanitarian emergency demanding urgent youth-led solutions.

Joel Titus, a passionate advocate for social change, recently traveled across Aotearoa to inspire students to participate in World Vision New Zealand's 40-Hour Challenge. The initiative raises funds to support children in the Pacific, particularly in climate-vulnerable nations like the Solomon Islands.

"It's such a big problem," Titus said. "It's not a political crisis but a humanitarian one, and at its heart, it affects people, especially women and children."

This year, Titus volunteered for 40 hours at Everybody Eats in Onehunga, an Auckland-based charity that transforms rescued food into three-course meals on a pay-what-you-can basis. Together with the team, he helped cook over 2000 meals to address food poverty in Auckland while also raising funds for the Solomon Islands.

"Food is such a vital part of Indian culture and, for me, it's a way to connect with people," he said. "So, I really wanted my challenge to be around food this year."

Titus has been involved in the 40-Hour Challenge for several years. "Even one year, my twin brother and I were tied to each other for 40 hours," he said with a smile. "So, I've done some pretty crazy challenges in the past."

In December 2024, Titus traveled to the Solomon Islands as a World Vision youth ambassador and witnessed firsthand how climate change is endangering children's futures. "The people there are so incredible," he said. He noted that limited access to clean water and food has brought many young lives to a standstill, with 1 in 6 children in the Pacific living in poverty.

"That statistic stuck with me," he said. "But numbers never tell the whole story — it was only when I met the children behind those numbers that it truly hit me."

Since returning from his trip, Titus has shared their stories across New Zealand, speaking at more than 40 schools and reaching thousands of students with a message that they too could make a difference. "As a youth ambassador, my role is about equipping young people with the tools to truly change the world," he said.

Born and raised in Palmerston North, Titus' family is originally from Kerala, India. Now based in Auckland, he is pursuing a degree in biology and health at the Auckland University of Technology, but he remains deeply connected to his roots.

"I just love being Indian — being brown is my superpower," he said. "I wear a mundu or sherwani to work sometimes, because knowing who you are gives you a kind of strength," he said, referring to examples of traditional Indian clothing.

"Growing up in New Zealand, people might say things that make you doubt yourself, but I want young people to know that being different is powerful."

Titus is calling on young Kiwi Indians to rise up and be part of the solution. "We're not just dairy owners or accountants," he said. "We are leaders, we are policy makers and we are change makers. We're everything we want to be. And I want to encourage young Indians to believe in that."