The world realises that despite variants and outbreaks, all must have a more responsive and responsible outlook.
Minister for Youth and Sports, Parveen Kumar Bala, while officiating at the opening of the Capacity Building Workshop for the Assistant Youth Officers (AYO), said, "Our high vaccination rates, and this workshop, will be helped considerably by the continued adherence to COVID-safe health measures in place, will continue to allow us to return to a new normal setting within the pandemic."
The four-day workshop will empower the AYOs and strengthen their knowledge of the contemporary measures, processes and resources that organisations and communities need to survive and adapt during this pandemic period.
It will provide an opportunity for the AYOs to be well informed on the various initiatives the Government has in place in terms of Youth Development during COVID-19.
The program will bring together key Government Ministries and Departments to work in a coordinated way towards achieving the strategic goals for Fiji’s youth sector.
Minister Bala thanked the youth workers for their continued work during the pandemic, saying that this has been evident in the Ministry’s outreach programs to youth clubs and groups across Fiji.
"We have prioritised programs within a COVID safe program that focused on foundational aspects of development and training. This has included work to build on food security as well as resilience and awareness of climate change. The program has also been a useful learning tool for our youth officers to work on the ground on these programs, and better target our programs for maximum local as well as national impact. The focus of MYS is always on the maximum impact of its programs."
The workshop was funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the theme: “Rising beyond COVID19- Contemporary Measures to Success”.
UNFPA Representative, Dr Adriu Naduva was also present at the workshop.