More than Five Hundred youths from diverse backgrounds converged at the Vodafone Arena in Suva today for the start of the National Youth and Sports Conference.
While opening the 3 day conference, the Minister of Youth and Sports Commander Viliame Nauvoo said the conference is a timely one as Fiji has undergone major reforms that target Fijian youth.
“Young people now more than ever are given prominence under the Fijian Constitution with the lowering of the voting age to 18 years as it ensures that more young people are now given the opportunity to influence national policy through the electoral process,” Naupoto said.
He told participants that there are many reasons for including young Fijians in decision making processes.
“Evidence shows that policies and programs designed after consultation with young people are more likely to be effective. By getting you to participate, we are more likely to get it right the first time and avoid wasting time and money on services young people don’t want to use” Nauvoo said.
“The conference is an extension of that process that will now mainstream youth in Fiji’s national development plans to ensure that youth issues are resourced and provided the needed attention by implementing agencies,” Naupoto said.
The youth minister said that the collective resolution from the participants during the conference will be integrated in the Ministry’s planning and implementation for the upcoming 2015 budget process.
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