Young islanders discuss contributions to Sids’ future |12 July 2013
For six days, starting yesterday at Maison de Football, the group of young people from Mauritius, Cape Verde, Maldives, Guinea Bissau, Comoros and Seychelles – all part of the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (Aims) grouping – will discuss and share their problems, their vision for the future, exchange development perspectives, build and strengthen networking between them and more importantly come up with recommendations which they would submit to their countries’ leaders also meeting here next week.
The Aims preparatory meeting will be held from July 17 to 19 at the Kempinski Resort & Spa.
Organised within the framework of ‘My World , My Sids’ – a collaborative effort from the Unesco, Unicef, UNFPA and other United Nations and regional partners, these preparatory meetings aim to identify priority areas and specific actions necessary to address the challenges Sids face and in a concerted manner call for the international community’s involvement in tackling them.
As youths are their country’s future, it is therefore crucial that their views are reflected in the sub-regional preparatory meeting next week.
Youth leader Anael Bodwell is leading a group of eight Seychellois youths at the meeting.
“It is important that the young people make their views heard on the sustainable future of their island states because as small islands we are very vulnerable and many of the decisions being taken today will be carried out by us the youths tomorrow,” said Miss Bodwell.
She thanked the government through the different ministries and all partners who have made the meeting possible to give the young people a chance to make their voices heard, proving that the contributions of the youths are valued.
The meeting was declared open by the Minister for Environment and Energy, Professor Rolph Payet, and it was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam and other key government officials and guests.
Among those who will be leading the meetings over the six days is Unesco’s head for Sids Youth Visioning for Island Living, Khalissa Ikhlef.