Investing In Youth
Investing in Youth
3 Oct 2005 23:54:47 Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, says young people are the region's biggest investment for the future and the Pacific has no choice but to tackle youth development issues. Mr Urwin was speaking after formally receiving the Pacific Youth Statement today from delegates who attended the recent Pacific Youth Summit in Apia, Samoa in May. "Pacific youth are sometimes seen as the problem, rather than as change agents for positive developments. "Our challenge is to give our youth the opportunity to be those change agents, in sectors such as education, employment, leadership and governance," Mr Urwin said. Mr Urwin also thanked the United Nations agencies and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for facilitating the recent Pacific Youth Summit on Millennium Development Goals held in Samoa. "Pacific communities recognise the need for youth development programmes, but we do not often have opportunities to hear from young people themselves," he said. The Pacific Youth Statement will be incorporated into other work being undertaken on developing a draft of the Pacific Plan. The draft Plan will go to Pacific Islands Forum Leaders at their meeting in Papua New Guinea in October. Forum Secretariat, Suva 30 June 2005 |
2005