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YOUTH
VISIONING FOR ISLAND LIVING
Representing
a significant part of the population of small islands, young
people with their enthusiasm, passion and drive, are being fully
involved in the review of the programme of action for Small
Island Developing States (SIDS) and its future follow-up.
In January
2004 A Youth Visioning for Island Living initiative was launched
as one of the Small Islands Voice activities.
Young islanders,
13-23 years, were invited to take part in a visioning process
whereby they could articulate how they want their islands to develop
in the future and how they plan to help make this happen. The
visioning centred around three broad themes:
- Life and
love in islands - island lifestyles and cultures
- My island
home - safeguarding island environments
- Money
in my pocket - economic and employment opportunities
These themes
emerged from the Small Islands Voice internet discussions in 2002-3.
Phase 1
Preparatory Activities
During 2004,
young people started with preparatory activities such as meetings,
internet discussion forums, an art
competition, poetry
and essay competitions,
to begin to prepare their positions on these three themes. During
the interregional preparatory meeting for the review of the SIDS
Programme of Action, held in The Bahamas from the 26th to 30th
January 2004, Bahamian
youth conducted their own visioning for island living consultation.
This provided valuable insight for the larger activity in Mauritius
in January 2005. A Caribbean regional preparatory meeting for
Youth Visioning was held in St. Lucia from 25th to 27th October,
2004 in collaboration with OECS, see press
release. A full report
has been prepared of this meeting.
Also during
2004, countries selected delegates to go to a Youth Visioning
event in Mauritius, 7-12th January 2005.
The discussions
on the Small Islands Voice youth internet forum were particularly
useful in preparing some background ideas. A document was prepared
summarizing the major
discussion lines and this was distributed to the youth delegates
in Mauritius.
Phase 2
Youth Visioning Event in Mauritius
In January
2005, 96 youth from 37 island nations in the Caribbean, Pacific
and AIMS (Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China
Sea) regions met at Pointe aux Sables in Mauritius to decide on
the major issues of concern for youth.
The youth
had a very packed six-day programme,
with preparatory workshops, panel and small group discussions
sessions, regional cultural evenings and field trips.
Small
group discussion
Performance
by Comoros delegates at one cultural evening
On 12th January
2005, the youth presented their Youth
Declaration to the Main United Nations meeting.
Presenting
the declaration at the Main United Nations meeting
The closing
ceremony of Youth Visioning was attended by the Secretary
General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, his wife, Nane,
and the Director General of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura. They
listened closely as the youth committed themselves to follow-up
projects and activities.
Mr. Kofi Annan and Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura at the closing ceremony.
Phase 3
Project Implementation
The youth
delegates have now returned home and are sharing the events of
Mauritius with their counterparts at home. They are also working
on preparing project proposals. Small Islands Voice, together
with other national, regional and inter-regional partners are
working with the youth to support them in their project implementation.
Already some
exciting and very diverse projects have been implemented. In Singapore,
student volunteers worked to bridge the generation gap and successfully
organized a steamboat
feast to celebrate the Chinese New Year for 105 elderly inhabitants
of Redhill Close. In Dominica, two projects have been implemented,
one focusing on reviving
the Creole culture and the second involved the community
of Gutter Village in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
In neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda, youth created a website
to give young entrepreneurs information on how to start their
own business. While in the Cap Verde Islands, youth worked to
educate their peers about HIV/AIDS
through sporting activities. In Fiji a youth
parliament alumni was established and among the first activities
of the alumni were HIV/AIDS education activities and environmental
clean-ups.
For more information
on Youth Visioning, go the website www.islandyouth.org
A feature
story on the Youth Visioning process, on the 'Whatkidscando'
website (http://www.whatkidscando.org/index.asp)
provides another view of Youth Visioning and presents interviews
with some of the youth involved.
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