MINISTER FOR YOUTH & SPORTS HON. PARVEEN KUMAR'S ADDRESS AT THE CLOSING OF THE EMPOWERMENT TRAINING ON SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & RIGHTS AT SOROKOBA VILLAGE, BA

Master of Ceremonies
Trainers and Staff
Youth Participants
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.

We are here now to close this week of training on Sexual and Reproductive
Health and Rights. It is my sincere hope that the young people who have gathered this week have developed their own minds in regards to this subject
matter.

At the outset, I must thank the trainers and our staff serving the Western Division for this training which will benefit many of our youths and I’d also like to thank the village elders for allowing us to have our three-day workshop here.

I also sincerely wish you good health and blessings for the new year .In 2020, we have all experienced extremely difficult times due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Despite such difficulties ,the Government and frontliners worked day and night to make a COVID free nation.

The nation has come through such difficult times in recent months when we’ve had to face and deal with cyclones and floods, and therefore I urge all of you unite behind our Honourable Prime Minister and dedicate ourselves to the task of nation building for our future generations.

You all have seen the level of development by the government and I need not to elaborate more.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Government is committed in providing workshops and short courses to individual’s and this workshop is another example to support the on-going development of young people, this empowerment training has focused on empowering the youth participants with information to help them make healthy lifestyle choices and skills so that they are better able to actively contribute to their communities and society.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to note that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has conducted a total of 13 Empowerment trainings on SRHR for this financial year.

From these 13 trainings, a total of 469 youths have benefitted and have been empowered as a result.

The Fijian Government, through our Ministry, is determined to strengthen the youth sector here in Fiji. This is not limited to providing non–formal education but includes the areas of sports and development of sporting facilities too. Our vision is to build values that lead to success.

I encourage you all to remain focused and use what you have learnt this week to your advantage. I also urge our youths, set your priorities and always strive for the best.

With those words, I congratulate you all and hope that the skills learnt during the training assist you in your future endeavours.

Vinaka