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Youth Visioning
is sponsored by:
  
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PROGRAMME & OUTCOME
Address by the
youth at the closing ceremony of Youth Visioning
for Island Living, 12th January 2005, Freeport,
Mauritius
(a) Introduction
presented by Mr. Ronny Rengasamy on behalf
of the youth from the AIMS region
Mr. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General,
Mrs. Annan, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director General
of UNESCO, distinguished Ministers and members
of government:
We the ninety-six youth from 31 small island developing
States and six other small island nations have
been meeting at the Pointe aux Sables recreational
centre since 7th January 2005 for the ‘Youth Visioning
for Island Living Forum’ which is a special event
of the UN International Conference on small island
developing States, ‘Small islands, big stakes’.
The Youth Visioning for Island Living initiative
has been facilitated by UNESCO, in partnership
with the Government of Mauritius, UNICEF, the
Indian Ocean Commission, the Caribbean Community,
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Secretariat
for the Pacific Community, Lighthouse Foundation
and other strategic regional partners.
We would like to especially thank Mr. Koïchiro
Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO and his staff
for initiating this process.
Our week has been exciting, has challenged our
assumptions about development issues in other
small island states and, quite tiring. Our activities
have included: panel and group discussions and
presentations, a field trip, and each evening
we have had cultural nights. We also participated
in the launching of the Indian Ocean AIDS project
– because, as you know, youth are a major group
vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Our delegates were also
given the honour of attending the official opening
of the UN International Conference on small island
developing States at Domaine les Pailles. We appreciate
this opportunity to link into this important global
decision-making forum.
The three themes discussed at the Youth Visioning
meeting were: Life and love in islands, My island
home and Money in my pocket.
Our groups identified several important issues
and projects as follow-up activities, which we
will carry out on our return to our home countries.
The forum has been really rich in terms of capacity
building. But above all, this tremendous sharing
of experiences has enabled us to learn first hand
about youth issues and solutions in other small
island states.
We know that we are very privileged to have been
selected by our countries to attend this meeting.
For many, this has been our first international
meeting, and we are committed to sharing our experiences
when we return home.
As a Mauritian youth, it has been a pleasure for
me to welcome the youth from the AIMS, Caribbean
and Pacific regions to my country. I had so much
fun trying to learn a few words from the different
languages and trying to teach Creole.
Now I have friends from all the islands around
the world.
(b) Findings
presented by Mr. Lyston Skerritt on behalf
of the youth from the Caribbean region
As youth of small island developing States, we
realise that we face a commonality of challenges
in environment, education, social and economic
issues.
This has been our opportunity to unite and discuss
our common problems such as:
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Difficulties in balancing traditional and
western cultural influences
- Insufficient financing for youth-based projects
- Brain drain of youth
- Deficiency of entrepreneurial opportunities
for youth
- Need for more educational and technical
projects
- Security problems in a globalised world
- Vulnerability to natural disasters
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Our discussions have resulted in us sharing diverse
and creative solutions to help address these pressing
matters.
Coupled with this has been the prospect to experience
foreign cultures and norms, to open parameters and
broaden horizons as to the exact role of youth in
society, our regions and the world. This conference
has provided small island youth with the capability
and capacity to return to our countries and be at
the forefront in our countries’ journeys to sustainability.
We understand that youth cannot bring about change
independently. However, youth are a vital resource
that should be better utilised. The strong message
that we wish to convey is that our participation
in decision-making is the key to good governance
in small island states and must in no way be marginalized.
(c) Where to now
presented by Ms. Fuarosa Tongi on behalf of the
youth of the Pacific region
We, the youth of SIDS have shared among ourselves
national issues and ways that development is influencing
our culture, environment and quality of life.
Our youth declaration for sustainable development
of SIDS has been presented to the UN International
Conference on small island developing States, Small
Islands – Big Stakes, today. And we are thankful
for this opportunity.
National commitments will be presented this afternoon
by national delegates.
We are strong in our agreement that the strength
of our cultural ways will be the cornerstone for
sustainable development and must guide the policies
and actions which will shape the future we want
for our children and for our children’s children.
Some of the key challenges to youth emerging from
our meeting are:
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- Transferring
the commitments we have made into solid community
based actions
- Working to ensure the participation of youth
at national-level decision making forums,
which is essential to achieve good governance.
We believe that youths’ views and concerns
must be taken into account in national decision-making
processes
- Providing for quality and relevant education
for youth. We need the chance to learn the
knowledge and skills that are necessary if
we are to work to ensure our economic security.
Achieving money in our pocket is a major step
to reducing the other negative effects relating
to unemployment including crime, HIV/AIDS
and social instability
- Creating and supporting youth employment
opportunities in the work force or private
entrepreneurial activities. These will include
small loans programmes for youth and investment
options.
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Lastly, we the SIDS youth sincerely thank our host
country Mauritius for making sure that we had the
best facilities for our meeting. Mauritius is indeed
a beautiful country. Our stay has been educational,
culturally enriching, comfortable and very, very
interesting. Thank you, merci
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