Sanro Jovan Latarissa

From the coastal town of Masohi in Central Maluku, Jovan brings with him the vibrant traditions of his homeland, where ancestral wisdom like SASI, a local conservation practice and the ceremonial Pasukan Cakaleledance are more than cultural expressions; they’re life lessons about respect, community, and sustainability.

Growing up in this environment shaped Jovan’s values and inspired his journey into social work and leadership. Trained in Business Administration, he now serves as Treasurer and Program Coordinator at the Pohon Sagoe Foundation, where he channels his skills to create opportunities for children across Maluku. Whether it’s managing program budgets or leading outreach activities in remote villages, Jovan is driven by a simple but powerful mantra: “Be useful to many people.”

His passion for growth led him to the Indonesia Young Leaders Programme, a dream he held onto for two years before being accepted to this programme. Now part of the 2025 cohort, he’s eager to learn how New Zealand supports child protection and mental health, especially through policies and collaborations among government, civil society, and indigenous communities. He’s also drawn to the Maori way of preserving culture and empowering youth, hoping to bring those insights home.

Outside work, Jovan expresses his creativity through singing, voice-over work, and MCing events, often lending his deep, resonant voice to both spiritual and social spaces. With renewed motivation and a heart full of purpose, he’s committed to sharing everything he learns to uplift the next generation in Maluku and to show them that their dreams, too, are within reach.