Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Monday, 11 November 2013 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Inaugurating the ninth Commonwealth Youth Forum, which is also the first international event in the run-up to CHOGM, President Rajapaksa along with Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma reiterated the importance of ‘Inclusive Development – Stronger Together,’ which was the theme of the event.
The forum stayed true to its theme, including not only the youth representatives from the Commonwealth countries but also ex-LTTE combatants, youth serving prison terms, those from the indigenous populace of the country, as well as the differently-abled.
The forum was attended by Ambassadors, Cabinet Ministers, Governors, Deputy Ministers, MPs, Provincial Council Members, Commonwealth and Government representatives, local and international youth taskforce and youth delegates.
Rajapaksa’s goal
“When I was young like you, I had a goal. I always wanted to achieve it,” President Rajapaksa said. “I entered Parliament as its youngest member, and through commitment and hard work, I progressed to become a Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and from there Prime Minister and now the President of our county.”
Just as he did, with the same strength of will, purpose and patience, the youth can reach their goals in the coming years, he said. And for this, he offered his support. “You have my assurance that during Sri Lanka’s tenure as Chairman of the Commonwealth, I will stand with you and support you every step of the way.”
War and its implications
on the youth
Dwelling on years past, Rajapaksa noted that the biggest blow dealt to the country during the three decades of war was its effect on the local youth. Children and youth were forcibly recruited as child soldiers, taken away from their rightful time of enjoying the beauty of childhood, or in the case of the youth, experiencing the transition to adulthood.
Sri Lankan youth have therefore been deprived of many valuable opportunities during this period, he said. “The children and youth who were forcibly recruited by the terrorists and who surrendered after rehabilitation were speedily freed to society. I strongly believe that society would help further refine them and bring them back to the mainstream as time goes on.”
For a country like Sri Lanka it is a need of the hour to rally the youth and engage them in a dynamic forum dedicated to the case of inclusivity. “This most energetic group of our population needs to be engaged, enabling them to contribute to the development process.”
Noting that the forum has chosen extremely relevant sub-themes on which to host discussions – with local and global value – he assured that while the core needs of the youth are addressed, a frank dialogue must be conducted on protection and safeguarding of young adults from the evils of society, some of which are associated with modern technology.
Education and skill development
With regard to education and creating quality youth employment, Sri Lanka made a landmark policy initiative in 2010, merging the subjects of youth development and vocational training under the purview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development. The long term goal of this is to engage youth who are in pursuit of higher education as well as others who are not equally contributing to the development process of the country.
The country also introduced ‘skills for life and jobs for skills’ initiatives to broaden the benefits for those who have been left behind as failures. Rajapaksa noted that keeping in line with Commonwealth principles these efforts will help narrow the gap in wealth now existing among different groups of society and contribute towards the creation of an equitable society.
Referring to the ‘Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2012 of UNESCO’ titled ‘Youth and Skills, Putting Education to Work,’ Rajapaksa stated that the report argues that for every US$ 1 spent on education, between US$ 10 to 15 would be generated in economic growth.
The report further says that what is needed is a concentrated effort to upgrade the skills of the whole population and a focus to provide better employment opportunities for most young people, once they have these skills.
“We, as you would note, place high emphasis on providing employable skills to youth,” he acknowledged. “A significant initiative in our youth development program is the creation of the Sri Lanka Youth Parliament. Along with this unique achievement, the establishment of youth clubs throughout Sri Lanka has proved to be a viable mechanism to engage young grass root level activists in policy formulation and to expose them to the values and norms of the Commonwealth.”
Rajapaksa continued: “Our policy in regard to youth development also takes us to the domain of modern technology and thus far, Sri Lanka has been steadily moving towards achieving a high literacy in Information Technology, aiming at 75% by 2016.” Literacy rate stands at 98% currently. “Virtual space granted through this forum is a facility offered to the youth for networking, thus promoting cross-fertilisation of ideas, through greater interaction.”
Equality
Commitment to gender equality is also one of the core values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. Efforts are being made across the globe among Commonwealth countries to remove inequalities among men and women.
“The Constitution of Sri Lanka strongly protects and guarantees gender equality. We have the proud record of producing the world’s first woman Prime Minister, which shows our commitment to gender equality, Madam Bandaranaike. Sri Lanka, as a party to international conventions on women such as CEDAW ensures that there is no discrimination of women in society or in Government.”
He noted that equal access to healthcare is of vital importance as well as health disparities fuel poverty and are damaging to the fundamental objectives of the Commonwealth.
“Spread of tuberculosis, HIV AIDS and Malaria has had devastating effects on our nations. Youth addicted to dangerous drugs has become commonplace. With new technological tools expanding and altering the ways youth can interact with the world, modern technology can be utilised to create awareness on health issues among the youth in the Commonwealth.”
Other avenues for development
Increased investment in recreation and sports facilities would further promote wellbeing and improve fitness among youth. The Youth Forum, which runs on for the next four days, will host a ‘diabetic walk’ and other sports activities for the young delegates.
“The Commonwealth Charter recognises young people because of their positive and active role and contributions they make towards promoting development, peace and democracy and in protecting and promoting core values such as tolerance and understanding, including respect for other cultures,” Rajapaksa said.
He noted that during Sri Lanka’s tenure of guiding the Commonwealth for the next two years, the country will put forward its best efforts to provide constructive and meaningful opportunities to the Commonwealth youth delegates to interact with their Sri Lankan counterparts in realising the objectives of the Commonwealth principles.
Youth in the
developing world
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma noted that the energy and optimism of the youth raises the ambitions of the Commonwealth for what we achieve together as a global family. “It gives us confidence that we can shape the future. It is by including all with respect and understanding for diversity and unity forged from shared rules that the true Commonwealth spirit is advanced.”
In the fast-moving closely-connected world of today, the contribution by the young people to match development, values of societies and development of the Commonwealth globally is pivotal. “Young people have never had such opportunity that this generation enjoys of communicating easily and instantly with fellow youth worldwide. This brings invigorating potential to our Commonwealth connections.”
Social media and access via handheld devices mean the vibrancy of the forum/gathering can be conveyed around the world. He expressed hope that Facebook and Twitter would be ablaze with discussion this week pointing to the Commonwealth and its potential.
“We look forward to learning from this forum how technological advances including our own Commonwealth connect platform and workspaces and can be more widely used to serve the common causes of inclusive development, accountable and responsible democracy and respect.”
‘What your generation
thinks matters more than
what we think’
Forums such what was inaugurated yesterday are designed to leave the process of building understanding and discovering wisdom less to chance. “Shared experience and learning from one another are sources of new knowledge and progress. This kind of process of creating mutual understanding and adding to the global wisdom are a continuing commonwealth gift to the world,” Sharma said.
“The theme of the forum reinforces the importance of a global family especially to our youth for a future in which none are excluded and none left behind.”
New global
development agenda
By the time the next Commonwealth Youth Forum and CHOGM happens in 2015, the world will have reached the target date of Millennium Development Goals.
Sharma expressed: “The gathering of many Commonwealth ministers over the last years including Commonwealth youth ministers, have considered the path before us to attain the MDGs by 2015 as well as path beyond with a new global development agenda. The road to inclusive development lies at the heart of your agenda and at the heart of this week’s CHOGM agenda.”
He noted that clearly defined Commonwealth priorities and shared values need to be carried forward into regional and international discussions to ensure distinctive Commonwealth contribution of shaping and implementation of the post 2015 global development framework.
“Youth development is a vital component in the national development of our member states. 98% of our youth live in developing societies and of two billion people living in our member states, 60% are in their 20s or less. We are an ever-younger Commonwealth.”
Sharma maintained that inclusive development means we work towards all young people having the opportunity to enjoy health and wellbeing, profit from education and training, to pursue devoting careers and to benefit from civic and political empowerment.
Sri Lanka: A hub for youth
Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister and National Steering Committee for Commonwealth Youth Forum Co-Chair Dallas Alahapperuma noted that with the country hosting the World Conference on Youth next year, Sri Lanka could be placed as the hub for youth of the world. Over 1,500 participants are supposed to attend this event in 2014.
He also pressed those attending to not let their views on Sri Lanka be tampered with by prejudice. “Don’t cloud your views on us by prejudice; judge and treat us by merit. Embrace us and let us be part of the global family by letting us contribute to the betterment of the world.”
Time to shine
Youth-led taskforce Co-chair Ellie Seckold addressing the audience told the youth to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves – with ideas, out-of-the-box-thinking and inclusive discussions. “We are often challenged with different perspectives, ideas and goals. There is nothing wrong with this, in fact it is good. Step out of your box. Challenge your boundaries,” she said.
Seckold noted that people are now scared of the youth because the potential of unleashing all their talents and powers would be revolutionary in the world we live in today. However, this should not stop anyone from going full throttle in terms of goals and drams.
“Gone are the days when the young people’s futures are mapped out by someone. Futures of the youth today are full of adventure and are paved by themselves. This marks a time when the world is undergoing change in numerous ways. This is our time to shine.”
Pix by Lasantha Kumara, Shantha Rathnayake and Official Photographer CHOGM 2013
