The voice of youth to be heard at Commonwealth

By Manjula Fernando

Over 200 young leaders will get together under the theme ‘Inclusive Development: Stronger Together’ for the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) to be held for five days from November 10 to 14 in Hambantota. Twenty three countries have already submitted their nominations for the event, Head of the CYF Secretariat Rashitha Delapola said.

The Commonwealth Youth Forum 2011 official photo

Director of Youth Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat Katherine Ellis said, “The 2013 forum will be a turning point for young people in the Commonwealth.”

“It will mark the formal beginning of the Commonwealth Youth Council as the official voice for young people in the Commonwealth. We hope that all National Youth Councils and bodies will be represented in Sri Lanka. This is an exciting time to be a youth advocate in the Commonwealth,” she said.

The CYF brings together a select group of youth leaders from 54 Commonwealth countries and is being held for the ninth year. The Forum this year is unique because the new Commonwealth Youth Council will hold its first General Assembly. The youth leaders will ratify a convention and select office bearers to the Council in an election.

Twenty Youth Council members and co-chairs of the CYF will have the opportunity to sit with the world leaders attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 15 to have a dialogue and share the outcome of the Forum and their vision for the Commonwealth. This will cover youth concerns, which are by far common across continents.

The Forum will officially begin on the afternoon of November 10 after a luncheon together. And the election of the members to the CYC will take place on November 12 and the ratification of the constitution during the morning session on November 13.

“There are a number of community service programs lined up for the youth representatives to engage in with the local youth in Hambantota,” the CYF Secretariat Head said, adding that this will be one of the highlights of the Youth Forum.

The Commonwealth Youth Forum biennially brings together a select group of youth leaders from across the Commonwealth to exchange ideas and cultures, build skills and networks, and identify the most vital challenges and opportunities facing young people today. It is one of the three parallel events taking place during CHOGM, side by side with the People's Forum and the Business Forum.

The CYF provides a ‘platform to set and manage an agenda for youth in the Commonwealth’, and make a substantial contribution in the ‘democracy and development work’ in their respective. It also strives to build ‘youth leaders’ skills, knowledge and awareness'.

Task Force

An architect's sketch of the International Convention Centre in Hambantota. The building is under construction

He said, “The agenda for the Forum was drafted by an international youth-led task force appointed by the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma to ensure it is relevant and reflects the concerns of young people.”

The discussion topics include reconciliation, education, youth employment, sexual health and rights. The Forum entails an exhibition, a youth cultural show and celebration of Commonwealth youth award winners.

The CYF 2013 international youth-led Task Force is co-chaired by Kusala Fernando (Sri Lanka) and Ellie Seckold (Australia).

Other members are Jean Paul Brice Affana (Cameroon), Shireene McMillan (Grenada), Esther Eshiet (Nigeria), John Loughton (UK) and Tharika Dileepani, Sihan Dhammika Jayasinghe, Nooranie Muthaliph and Aruthra Rajasingham (Sri Lanka).

The International Convention Centre at Siribopura, Hambantota which is still under construction is to be completed by the end of this month.

Built by the Urban Development Authority, the Convention Centre is located in a site spanning over 112,000 sq.m. The building with three storeys can seat 1,504 people. The site has parking facilities for 670 cars, 12 buses, 245 motor cycles as well as three-wheelers and comes with parking for handicapped people.

The Forum is supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development and the National Youth Services Council of Sri Lanka, the Youth Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council.