'Quality education, vital to empower youth'

by Naalir Jamaldeen

Providing quality education, healthcare services and reducing the unemployment rate among youth is a major concern across the globe. The World Conference on Youth 2014 (WCY) focused on the role of youth in the post 2015 development agenda or in the formulation of development mechanism.

Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma addressing.

NYSC Chairman Lalith Piyum Perera welcomes a foreign delegate.

Some youth delegates.

Youth at the WCY

Differently-abled youth

The Colombo Declaration which adopts recommendations and suggestions for a better future for youth was launched at the conclusion of WCY on May 10.

The document sent a strong message on empowering youth across the world.

The three-day conference focused on the theme "Inclusive Youth Participation at All Levels".

Chief of United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Allen Jennings, Representative of UN-HABITAT, Mir Murtaza Noonari and the Chair of the Council of Europe's Advisory Council on Youth, Paulo Pinheiro spoke on this theme.

Youth should be empowered to work efficiently with political institutions, Allen Jennings said.

Stakeholders, including Governments should increase efforts to develop the capacity of youth and youth-led organisations through education, vocational and leadership training.

He said that access to funding and information and the adoption of sustainable mechanisms to support young people from vulnerable groups is crucial.

Youth with disabilities, young migrants and refugees, youth of rural areas and streets should be supported, he noted.

Paula Pinheiro elaborated the co-management system of the Council of Europe, which can be used as a mechanism for inclusive participation of youth at all levels. The goals of this mechanism are to protect and develop human rights, to encourage inter-cultural dialogue and to protect and strengthen pluralist democracy.

The closing ceremony of the World Conference on Youth (WCY) 2014 was held at the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) auditorium in Maharagama.

Addressing the event Ahmad Alhendawi, the UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth, said that he was glad and grateful to be a part of WCY 2014 and extended his appreciation to the Government for organising such a event.

Alhendawi said that this was not the beginning or the end but an opportunity to cater to the issues brought forward for the benefit of the youth.

Ravi Karkara, Global Expert Advisor on Children and Youth at the United Nations, said that it was the first time that a President of the UN, General Assembly attended the WCY. It was significant since it occurred at a very important moment when the world is deciding the post-2015 development agenda.

He said that the International Youth Task Force is the group which led us to the third round-table session on "Realising Equal Access to Quality Education" held at the BMICH with the participation of Gene Osagie of the World at School Initiative, Ms. Morgan Strecker, an Education Specialist at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Ms. Sumaya Saluja from the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI).

Osagie stressed the need for quality education and its role in changing lives.

"We cannot speak of access to education without speaking of quality in education," Osagie said. "We need to ensure quality methodology is preserved via teacher training sessions and setting standards",he said. Ms. Strecker urged the youth to choose an outcome that is suitable for all. She also pointed out to youth the importance of joining youth welfare organisations than starting something new.

"Marginalised people miss opportunities for local and national discussions. We need to reach out and work with them", Strecker stressed the necessity of working together, and how a collective voice will be heard by Governments.

She also urged youth to go on-line and influence the outcome document by voicing their views on the drafts.

Ms. Sumaya Saluja emphasized the importance of reflecting marginalised people, such as those who are in conflict-affected zones, in the Post-2015 Agenda.

She said that quality education contributes to the betterment of a country and urged youth to demand for quality education.

She also stated that how education cannot be accessed by certain people such as those with disabilities due to the infrastructure of educational facilities.

"We don't have a deep appreciation of the importance of infrastructure," Saluja said.

"We are in the correct juncture in the life of youth because the World Conference on Youth for the first time was held led by young people." she said.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Cambodia Dr. Marc Derveeuw stressed the necessity of educating young people on health and the need for school curriculum to include physical, mental and comprehensive health. He said that the definition of health includes mental and social health.

He pointed out that social media and marketing campaigns do not necessarily educate youth on health and went on to explain how new media, by promoting unattainable beauty and substance abuse, encourage risky behaviour.

He also spoke of how young people are sometimes denied family planning and contraceptives and some women still need to seek permission to use contraceptives.

The large number of youth across the world live in poverty-hit areas, he said.

Meanwhile, Milinda Rajapaksa, Working Director of Sri Lanka National Youth Service Council (NYSC) said that a program called "World Conference to the village" will be launched by the National Youth Service Council with the participation of a large number of youth across the country. Most probably the proposed program will be held in August.

"We are still discussing with the Sri Lanka Youth Federations across the country and Sri Lanka Youth Parliament in this regard" he said.

"We are seeking their advice in relation to the implementation of this program successfully. All the districts in Sri Lanka will be covered by this program", the Director said.

Nearly 5,000 youth are expected to participate from all districts. The aim of this program is to make the Colombo Declaration a document which is discussed in the village level. Sinhala and Tamil translations will be given through Youth Clubs and Sri Lanka Youth Parliament, he said.

He said that youth in the villages may not be aware of certain clauses which are in the document. So National Youth Services Council plans to hold awareness campaigns in nine provinces with the Foundation Institute of Sri Lanka.