Young Leaders for a Sustainable Fiji, Fiji

The project marked the launch for the Youth Parliament Alumni of Fiji with the theme of 'Young Leaders for the Sustainable Fiji'. On October 28th, 2005, 26 young people from all of the Fiji divisions took part in a training workshop where they discussed important issues and committed to 3 youth campaigns, the beginning of many more to come. Such an initiative is the first for the Pacific Region and is an important step in empowering island youth to make a difference in their communities.

The topics discussed during the workshop included:

• The roles & functions of the National Youth Advisory Board
• How young people can make a difference in environmental sustainability
• Impact of HIV/AIDS in the Region and how young people can make a difference

The 1-day workshop culminated with the official launching of the Youth Parliament Alumni of the Fiji Islands. Invited guests, corporate sponsors, Ministry of Youth staff, the media, families and friends were all present to support this worthy cause.

The Chief Guest, Acting Secretary to Parliament Mr. Edward Blakelock in his speech challenged the young people to take stock of their achievements and move forward with a greater sense of passion and commitment to build a better Fiji.

The Alumni members then embarked on 3 youth campaigns in their efforts to collectively address their own issues. The campaigns were:

• Clean-up and social interaction at the Suva Boys Center held on 19 November 2005
• World Aids Day Awareness Campaign & Sports, in partnership with the Support & Empowerment Network for Peer Educators, in Fiji at the Raiwaqa ED's Court, a densely populated housing area, on the outskirts of the city of Suva. This was held on 3 December 2005.
• Clean-up campaign at the Suva City Foreshore on 25 February 2006.

The Youth Parliament Alumni of Fiji has created:

• A forum where the past participants of the National Youth Parliament programme can continue to 'voice' their concerns, discuss issues and formulate innovative ways to address issues that affect them at community, provincial, national, regional and international level.
• A network of empowered and motivated young leaders.
• An influential role in the decision-making process of policy formulation for young people and also for the nation as a whole.
• The cultivation of leadership qualities and skills that will enable young people to aspire and actively participate in leadership roles and in decision making processes.

"The Alumni aims to have empowerment programs, workshops discussing key youth issues, skills workshop, camps and concerts, constant networking, and strengthening our community work amongst so many other things that we can do. Let's not limit ourselves, let's engage ourselves in activities we thought were beyond us. Lets be of service to those around us in the hope that they to may realize their potential to succeed."

- Jacque Koroi, member of the Youth Parliament Alumni

For more information:

Contact Vani Samuwai: vsamuwai@youth.gov.fj

Final report [.pdf 115Kb]
Youth Parliament Alumni, thematic workshop sessions, conclusions

Background information
Objectives, activities, progress reports, workplan, project proposal

Catherine Nisha

Fiji:
Facts & other
youth projects

Detailed map of the Pacific [188Kb]
Source: Geoatlas Graphic-ogre

Members of the Youth Parliament Alumni at the launching ceremony, 21 October 2005; seated centre is Mr. Edward Blakelock, National Secretary general of the Parliament of Fiji

More photos