Star of the Month: Cyrus Sevour – Turning Community Ideas into Next Impact
From youth leadership to community action, Mr Cyrus Sevour is turning lessons learned through the Bougainville Youth Federation (BYF) into practical initiatives that create positive change in local communities. Mr Cyrus Sevour, Chairman of the Kokopau Urban Community, is the founder of Next Impact, a sustainable development organisation established with a vision of creating local solutions for local communities.
Cyrus’s journey into community development has been shaped by his involvement with BYF and the various trainings and opportunities he participated in as a young leader. Through these experiences, he gained knowledge and skills that inspired him to take a more active role in addressing issues affecting people in his community.
From an Idea to an Organisation
The idea behind Next Impact is simple: create an impact, then move on to the next. The organisation focuses on developing practical, community-based solutions through awareness programs, small infrastructure projects and initiatives that respond to local needs.
Cyrus explained that the name “Next Impact” came from something as simple as scrolling through social media. He repeatedly came across the word impact, and a friend suggested adding the word Next in front of it. The name eventually became a reflection of the organisation's philosophy: complete one project, create an impact in the community, and then move forward to create the next impact.
Learning, Mentorship and Community Support
Cyrus credits much of his development as a young community leader to the knowledge and experience he gained through BYF trainings. He also received valuable guidance from BYF Program Coordinator Ms Nellie Onabake, while consulting with other individuals, including Mr Dominic Itta, as he developed the concept and direction for Next Impact. The journey has demonstrated the importance of mentorship; collaboration and partnerships in helping young people turn their ideas into practical initiatives.
Creating Impact in the Community
Since its establishment, Next Impact has implemented two key community initiatives. These have included law and order awareness activities and awareness on gender-based violence, with a focus on contributing to safer communities and supporting people affected by these issues. The organisation is now looking ahead to its next initiative: a proposed resource centre in Bonus, which would provide another opportunity for the organisation to support the community through practical development activities.
A Team Behind the Vision
While Cyrus is the founder of Next Impact, he acknowledges that the organisation's work is not a one-person effort. Four key individuals have supported the organisation's work: Mrs Magrette Bade, Mr Desmond Diga, Mr Dominic Itta and Ms Nellie Onabake.
In Next Impact four individuals are appointed as team leaders, with community members recruited under these respective team leaders when projects are available. The teams are then mobilised to carry out awareness activities and other initiatives in the field. This team-based approach allows Next Impact to bring together people with different skills and experiences to respond to community needs.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Youth Leaders
Cyrus Sevyor’s journey demonstrates how youth leadership development can extend beyond training rooms and into communities. What began as lessons and experiences gained through BYF has grown into an organisation focused on creating practical solutions and making a difference at the community level. Through Next Impact, Cyrus continues to demonstrate that young people can identify challenges in their communities, develop local solutions and work with others to create meaningful change. His message is reflected in the organisation's name: make an impact today, and then move forward to create the next impact. Bougainville Youth Federation congratulates Mr Cyrus Sevour as our Star of the Month and recognises his continued commitment to youth leadership and community development.
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