World Conference on Youth 2014 highlights post 2015 youth:

Platform to exchange ideas and discuss common agenda

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The youth group from Slovenia were the first to arrive for the 2014 youth conference to be held next week. Here chairman NYSC Lalith Piyum Prerera welcomes the Slovenian couple at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Arrangements have been finalised to host the 15th World Conference on Youth from May 6 to 9. The inaugural ceremony will be held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa International Convention Centre. This event will elevate us in the international arena, National Youth Services Council Chairman and Media Coordinator of the World Conference on Youth, Lalith Piyum Perera said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Q: The World Youth Forum is a global event to be held in Sri Lanka can you elaborate?

A: The World Conference on Youth 2014 is all about the future of youth, post 2015. The conference is a forum where the recommendations forwarded by various states to achieve Millennium Development Goals after 2015 will be discussed. The conference consists of seven foundations and seven sub themes. The main theme is 'Millennium Development Goals beyond 2015'.

Around 1,000 youth are expected to participate in the conference representing various countries.

The Conference is centred around youth and youth concepts. Youth across the globe have been given priority at this event. It will be a platform to exchange ideas and dis cuss common agendas that will be mutually beneficial. One hundred and seventeen countries have confirmed participation by last week. Twenty three youth Ministers are also expected to participate thus giving the opportunity for the higher echelons to be aware of the issues which youth are confronted with.

Several high profile organisations and officials such as the Chairman of the UN General Assembly Dr. John William Ashe, Special envoy on Youth of Secretary General of UN Ban Ki moon, several top ranking officials and JCI, Global Chairman are expected to participate.

The inaugural ceremony will be held in Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa International Convention Centre (MMRICC), Hambantota. The conference will be held from May 7 to 9 at the BMICH. This event will be an eye opener for all the youth participants. A lot of planning has gone into this event to enable youth to express their views at a common forum.

In line with the inaugural ceremony a separate Ministerial event presided over by Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma will be held in the evening at the MMRICC.

Minister Dullas Alahapperuma will co-chair the National Steering Committee (NSC) together with Namal Rajapaksa (MP). Apart from the NSC, an International Youth Task Force (IYTF) consisting of 20 delegates will operate during the Conference. Ten youth delegates will represent Sri Lanka and 10 of them will represent other countries participating in the conference.

The Sri Lankan delegates will represent various ethnic groups, cultures and different youth organisations, as well as international youth delegates will also represent different regions in the world.

Q:What is the role of the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry and National Youth Service Council in holding the Forum?

A: The World Conference on Youth 2014 is organised by the Government of Sri Lanka and has been arranged by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry supported by the National Youth Service Council (NYSC). Since its inception the NYSC which is the single most organisation which caters to the needs of youth and focuses on youth welfare has been youth oriented in all its endeavours.

Apart from the Ministry and the NYSC, other Institutions which function under the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry will extend their assistance .

In addition the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Mass Media and Information, Defence, Transport, Airport and Aviation and Finance also extend their support to make this event a success. Several private sector institutions will assist this global event.

We have also got the support from the UN. The United Nations Country Office and the UN New York based organisation.

Q: What are the benefits Sri Lanka will gain from the Forum?

A: This is a great opportunity for the youth of this country to associate with foreign youth and to exchange views and express ideas. Sri Lanka has gained enough recognition across the world.

The World Conference on Youth 2014 will further increase the glory of Sri Lanka across the world because this event will to be aired over various channels across the world and in the countries which are participating in the event.

This is a rare opportunity for Sri Lankan youth. Youth should be exposed to the international arena. We should open new avenues to achieve this target. Organising global events of this nature will enhance the opportunities of youth in this country to be exposed to the international arena and the thinking patterns of foreign youth and youth organisations across the world.

Youth will get an opportunity to improve their language skills by communicating with young people from different parts of the world. Holding such an event in Sri Lanka will be a turning point in the life of youth in the country.

A policy discussion will also be held. It is time for Sri Lankan youth to be involved in policy discussions. This is why we commenced the Sri Lankan Youth Parliament. The Youth Parliament is not a forum to make politicians. It is a good platform to showcase youth talent.

We have separate forums in different districts in line with the Conference. The youth across the country will benefit in various ways. Their comments will be included in the main outcome document. We had a successful Youth Forum in Hambantota with the CHOGM.

Q: Compared to the Commonwealth Youth Forum what are the differences in the World Youth Forum 2014?

A: The Commonwealth Youth Forum was an event in which a limited number of countries participated. It is a traditional event. The World Youth Conference is different when compared to the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

This World Conference on youth is a global event. Here, two separate events will be held such as a youth delegates program and also a youth Ministers program. Both programs will feed the final document.

Q: Who is the Chief Guest and other state Chiefs who will attend this event?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony. UN General Assembly Chairman Dr. John William Ashe and Ahmad Al Hamdan special envoy on youth will also participate.

Q: How many youth participants representing each country will participate in the event?

A: We have invited one male and one female representing each country. 117 countries have confirmed participation in the conference. We are hoping that nearly 125 countries will participate. Numbers wise, by last week 650 youth delegates had confirmed participation.

Q: Will The Conference on Youth 2014 be a milestone for youth in this country?

A: Definitely the event will be a milestone for youth. In the prevailing peaceful atmosphere such an event will be of immense benefit to young people as it will enable them to make career preferences depending on their communicating ability.

The participants could even be volunteers, as one girl and one boy from each youth club in Sri Lanka will be invited. They will represent all districts including the North and the East such as Hambantota, Mullaitivu Mannar, Jaffna. This will be an opportunity to represent their motherland.

Q: Can you explain the cultural and social benefits Sri Lanka will gain after the World Conference on Youth?

A: Basically Sri Lanka will get many benefits from the World Conference on Youth 2014, specially with past experience from CHOGM. Most of the youth around the world have hardly heard of Sri Lanka. Some of them might even entertain doubts and misconceptions about the country and the people. This is an ideal opportunity and forum for young people to come together, exchange ideas and get to know about one another and the different aspects of different countries. They may have misconceptions that Sri Lanka was notorious for terrorism or may have heard about Sri Lanka because of its cricketing prowess. Now these misconceptions will be cleared.

It is envisaged that most of the youth will come to Sri Lanka for the first time. They will see the development projects and social development going on in the country in addition to the natural beauty of sun, sea and sand.

From the tourism aspect, the youth forum is an ideal platform to showcase the country and promote tourism.

This is a global event and is recognised worldwide. Hopefully one day these young men and women may become world leaders and lead their countries. They may be political leaders, social leaders, corporate leaders, or even operate NGOs national arenas or youth forums.

The First Youth Conference was held in 1936 in Switzerland and thereafter a number of youth conferences have been held.

The following is a list of important youth conferences.

1st in Switzerland in 1936
2nd in Portugal in 1998
3rd in Mexico in 2010
4th high level meeting on youth in New York 1n 2011
5th 2017 Youth Conference is held in Colombo.