Hey, Members how are you all doing? I'm sure all of you are getting ready to enjoy the event of the year "24x7 For youth By youth" on November 11 at Trans Asia Hotel.

I'm sure that all of you must be curious as to know the improvements of the event planning. Well, I think it's much better for me to keep the most exciting stuff stored for the last minute to be revealed.

But when you see this weeks "Observer Youth Club" pages you will feel how, why and what our prestigious members are going to get. Remember, all that you gain is all that you take, so the mission of "Observer Youth Club" is to produce young productive personalities.

And it's in your hands to get the best out of the best for a better tomorrow. We have already finalised our first team of members who sent their membership coupons to be part of the event of the year "24x7 For youth By youth".

As soon as you receive your invitation be sure to confirm the presence. As you all know this marvellous evening comes to all of you free of charge, which will be included with educational eruditions, competitions and discussions under different topics, musical bonanza featuring young artists, amazing prizes and loads and loads of happenings is due to take place.

Only Seven days to go and count ing...... So be prepared to feel the power of a nation, youth itself.

Without stopping from their we will print stylish limited T. shirts solely for the "Observer Youth Club" members which will cost only Rupees Four Hundred and remember you will look live and kicking, so pick your T. shirt on the day of the event. All these happenings are powered by Three main sponsors

Hameedias: Smart or casual gives you the confidence to win the world in fashion and style.

THAI Airways: Your homely air career lets you to roam around the world, under their safe wings.

Dialog KIT: Connects you to any part of the world, with just one ring.

Co Sponsor Yamaha: Rides your life the way you want it.

Insomnia: Live and Kicking.

Official Radio partner

TNL Rocks 101.7: Rocks the youth to their beat.

Official TV partner

Derana: Premium Youth Channel.

Lionel Yodhasinghe, Senior Associate Editor, Sunday Observer.

The youth of this country have been in the forefront since independence, and even before, the youth in their contemporary periods were pivotal contributors towards the edifice of the nation. Volunteering to protect the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity has been foremost among them, fighting many wars since the reign of ancient kings especially against foreign invaders.

However, after independence, it is questionable whether the youth sacrifice has been rewarded adequately. Talks about the power of youth could be heard from various strata of the society when politicians need them to ride to power.

Opportunity in art, cinema, development and the business sectors are limited and I strongly believe that the majority of our youth have been silently enduring an inexplicable pathos as the place they deserve has been denied to them for a variety of reasons.

Having passed the hassle-free childhood days, youth is the prime time of one's life -full of joy, vigour, enthusiasm and romance but responsibility should be given priority if the youth need to become pioneers to lead a nation.

Today, it is questionable whether the youth of this country really enjoy pride of place as they have been caught in a vicious grips of social elements.

Many became victims of such evils in 1971 and 1989 where an estimated 20,000 and 60,000 youth were killed during two insurrections. Similarly, another group of youth in the North has also been misled by political forces thereby dragging them to a three-decade arms struggle.

Since 1948, governments have failed to address the root causes of youth unrest and it is still to study indepth and take remedial action if the youth power is to be used properly in progressive movements.

A segment of the youth who can afford to prosper enjoy life to its fullness while their counterparts in numbers are fighting against various economic and social callousness, and continuation of such disparities, which one would say, not lead to another social struggle.

Today, the unrest in universities, workplaces and even in schools is due to the elements operating to mislead them, injustices and poverty and remedial actions is imperative to prevent imminent calamity.

The Sunday Observer with all these in mind, opens a stage for all stakeholders to rally round under one flag and discuss the problems whether they are of the youth from the periphery or the city, irrespective of communities or denominations.

The Sunday Observer, the English weekly newspaper which gives top priority for national interest has created an opportunity for them to share their contribution and interact to reduce the gap among various youth groups and support one another in every possible manner.

It will also be an eye opener to the authorities, and for the youth in general. The youth club will be their social forum to have their say and explore new vistas in life peace and plenty.

Journalist and Compiler of Passionate Pen

Sajitha Prematunge:

Oh boy what a day! with tight deadlines, missing photographers, a poya holiday with everybody I need, missing while I'm at Lake House typing my self to oblivion, we never ever thought organizing this event would be this difficult and I don't do half the stuff Kish (Anushka) does.

To this very moment it's been a dream and I have no doubt it will remain so until the very last moment when we'll all meet at Trans Asia! The hunting for sponsors, emailing back and forth, checking out ball rooms, meetings with the sponsors, getting the cheques, finalizing, going back and forth to collect stuff we've forgotten, sleepless nights and lunchless days, while also attempting to maintain the quality of all our pages was as hectic as a individuals life could ever get.

But in spite of all the chaos we sure did have fun. Kish is - what can I say - different from anyone I've ever met. She's energetic, enthusiastic and can smile through any adversity.

In fact although our duty was meant to help her keep herself intact we would have fallen apart without her continuous encouragement, to which my editor, as well, would no doubt agree. In the past few weeks I've learned so much from Kish, met so many people through her, learnt to juggle from her.

If there is one ultimate thing I learned from this endeavour is that we are in fact capable of far more than we think we are.

Sneak Peak

Know Your Sponsor

• How many editions "The Sunday Observer Newspaper" are printed per week?
   
• What is the name of the mother company of "Dialog" ?
   
• When did THAI Airways Colombo, Bangkok service start?
   
• How many " Hameedias" outlets are available in Sri Lanka?
   
• What is the percentage does "Derana" TV cover?
   
• What is the frequency of "TNL Rocks "?
   
• How many restaurents does "Trans Asia" Hotel Hss?
   
• Is there any paticular colour that "Insomnia" T.shirts follow?

Send in your "answers" to "Observer Youth Club" Sunday Observer Magazine, Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, Lake House, Colombo 10. And win cool prizes.

The General Manager

Sri Lanka & the Republican of Maldives

Khun Weerawat Swasdibutra:

We have identified the Observer Youth Club promotion a novel concept that is continued in the magazine section of the Sunday Observer Newspapers.

We have also learnt that the promotion is targeted amongst youth within the age group 16-28 years, who will be the future of this country.

The decision of THAI Airways International to come forward for participation as a main Sponsor in this campaign is mainly due to the targeted group. Our objective of this promotion is to influence the growing minds of youth, who will eventually be exploring the world.

We are confident that this promotion will provide sufficient information to the youth in relation to, Thai traditions and Thailand as a holiday destination.

We wish the youth who will endeavour their future tasks or leisure activities and expect THAI Airways will be of use to fulfil their foreign travel.

Director Sales and Marketing For Derana Tv:

Thushara Perera

Derana is a contemporary channel, providing entertainment to our viewers, retaining our values. As a young channel to enter the market we had a strong reservation among the youth of Sri Lanka.

They contributed a large share of our audience. And we have wide range of programmes catering to the youth segments (Iraj Show, Anarkali Live etc) as a channel that believes in local talents and encouraging our youth to come forward to become leaders.

This "Sunday Observer Youth Club" is very much in line with our thinking. And this is why we thought of supporting this event "24x7 For youth By Youth " as a media partner of this exclusive event for our youth.

The brain child of the brand Insomnia Ahamed: Hi everyone, first and foremost I would like to thank Sunday Observer Youth Club for coming up with a event like this which is meant for youth.

In a moment where I was thinking of reaching the youth in a more stylish way, this unique event came up "24x7 For youth By youth" organised by Sunday Observer Youth Club". The brand of Insomnia is also designed mostly for casual youth members. So the idea of this event did gave me a chance once again to capture the youth segment.

Insomnia tag line goes as "Live and Kicking" I trust that "SOYC" will be live and kicking too.