International Youth Day

In commemoration of the day, the general public was invited by the Active City Development Program (ACDP) to a day of events on the 13^th of August at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and culminating at Ela Beach.

The theme for this year’s International Youth Day is 'Green Skills of Youths’.

This was recognized by the United Nations where it sheds light on cultural and legal matters that impact young individuals. It underscores the importance of cultivating environmentally conscious skills among our youth.

District and LLG leaders voiced their support during the commemoration of the International Youth Day, which falls on the 12^th of August every year.

KVULLG observed the event on Friday, August 11^th, with a march pass from the Kokopo Secondary School roundabout to the market, where speeches were held under this year’s theme of ‘Green Skills for Youths’.

KVULLG Manager, Freddie Lemeki, said the theme points to skills at home or in the communities, where young people can tap into to add value to their lives.

The annual program was observed in Kokopo City on Friday, August 11^th, where hundreds of residents gathered to commemorate it.

“From day one, we at the provincial level began this program and have delegated to the districts and LLGs, and I must commend Norman Samson and your team in the Kokopo Vunamami Urban LLG (KVULLG) for embracing and sustaining this program every year,” Ainui stated.

The theme for this year’s celebration as promoted by the UN is “Youth Engagement for Global Action”.

The STREIT programme works in close collaboration with local partners including the provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock and Cocoa Board in Wewak and will commemorate this important day together with 110 boys and 90 girls of Numbohu LLG Adventist Youth of Numbo LLG, Yangoru-Saussia District.

The youth were supplied with essential start-up materials such as cocoa polybags and shade cloth for the establishment of a cocoa nursery to be managed by themselves.

“Young people have been frontline responders to the COVID-19 pandemic, mobilising across the world. They are health workers, activists, innovators and social and community workers,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on August 12^th.

“To reach and engage young people during this pandemic, we must share information, clarify misinformation and we must equip them to take action to contain the spread of the virus. We must validate the leadership of young people and uphold their human rights.

It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.

The celebration varies throughout the world. But activities and events are expected to take place to promote the benefits that young people bring into the world.

The UN defines the worlds’ youth as the age group between 15 and 24 years old, making up one-sixth of the human population.

Many of these young men and women live in developing countries and their numbers are expected to rise steeply.

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There is growing recognition that as agents of change, young people are critical actors in conflict prevention and sustaining peaceful partnerships between stakeholders, including youth organizations.

To commemorate this important day, UN Women together with the Sanap Wantaim youth and partners including NCDC and Youth Organizations will celebrate the event at Stop & Shop Waigani Central from 9am to 2pm.

There will be; painting, photo exhibitions, performances by young singers and dancers, quiz games and lots of other entertainment

IYD is an awareness day designated by the United Nations.

The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000.

The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. 

It is meant as an opportunity for governments and others to draw attention to youth issues worldwide.

The event in Moresby commenced as early as 5am at the ‘Walk for Life’ event with National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop.

Young people in Papua New Guinea have been given the opportunity to express their unique desires and ambitions. This is to allow them to make connections to services and sources of inspiration to jump start their plans for the future.

A group of organisations have come together to plan the IYD celebrations and they include the NCD Governor’s Office, Transparency International, Population Service International, World Health Organization, Marie Stopes PNG as well as the Olympic Committee.

The Pacific Youth Development Framework targets some familiar areas - health, employment, governance and the environment - with the aim of raising standards and increasing involvement by young people themselves.

Mereia Carling, Human Development Advisor with SPC, says youth took part in drafting the framework, and they hope their new approach will be more effective than previous efforts.