(Youn Pacific Leaders Facebook) Elsei is a Palauan artist and designer who creates work inspired by Palauan lifestyle, culture, and environment. Since 2020, she has worked as a professional creator under her studio, Tiuladokow Artwork, named for a tree that grows in the sand by the sea (doko).
Strengthening cultural identity and resilience: As co-founder and president of Create Belau, Elsei cultivates artists and celebrates contemporary art inspired by tradition and culture — building the strong cultural identity that helps communities stay resilient against outside threats, including transnational crime.
Countering transnational crime through community engagement: Through exhibitions, workshops, and educational programs, Create Belau creates platforms for communities to engage with important social, cultural, and environmental issues — including raising awareness of the challenges transnational crime poses to Palau’s culture, environment, and way of life.
Empowering the next generation of artists: By cultivating artists and creating opportunities for creative expression, Elsei helps ensure young Palauans have meaningful, legitimate pathways to contribute to their communities — reinforcing the social fabric that strengthens resilience across the Pacific.