Taking place at Yaroi Village on Matuku Island, the Yasayasa Moala Youth Festival and Government Roadshow marked the fourth installment of the series, which will begin in Vunisea, Kadavu, in December 2023. It was created as a part of the Ministry of Youth and Sports FIJI’s youth and sports development program.

A roadshow by the government and an awareness campaign with a Fiji Police Force team aimed at young people from the four islands—Tikina, Moala, Matuku, and Totoya—are also included in the three-day program. Northeast of Matuku is Vanuavatu Island, which is also included in this.

With a focus on healthy lives, the festivals seek to advance the SDGs that support growth, employment, and decent labor while also opposing drugs.

Minister Saukuru said that drug usage, cultivation, production, and sale are some of the main issues facing the country in his speech to the youth and elders of Yasayasa Moala.

“The rise in teenage pregnancies and issues affecting youth, such as those who roam the streets, are concerns for the government.”
In response to this another pressing national issue, the minister underlined the significance of community unity in the fight against abuse of women and young girls.

The minister emphasized that everyone has the right to live in a world free from violence and terror while also pointing out that drug abuse is to blame for the rising crime rate.

More than 70% of the people in our country are young people, making up a sizable portion of our demographic. It’s critical to acknowledge that young people remain an important population.

“It is imperative that my ministry realign our strategies, on behalf of the Government, to adapt to the changing times we are currently facing,” the Minister continues.

“A digital route for sustainable development is what we need to concentrate on. Since today’s youth are considered to be the digital generation, I beg you to use your online knowledge for good.

It is depressing that the same teenagers are thought of as “murking the waters,” but Minister Saukuru adds that youths have the ability to create a new Fiji.

Minister Saukuru goes on to explain that these kinds of festivals also want to instill positive values in our young people.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue to advocate for the welfare and advancement of our youth and is unwavering in our belief that we as a nation can overcome the challenges we currently face.”

“The Ministry is also committed to encouraging youth to engage in sustainable agriculture and to showcase their skills in sports and cultural events.”

Minister Saukuru went on to state that he has heard of a 59 percent drop in the number of drug users and cultivators on the island as a result of the Kadavu Youth Festival.

Youths’ perspectives on sports, which the youth festival promoted during the Vunisea festival, have shifted as a result of the sports program.

He declared, “Our ongoing efforts will be vital in emphasizing the good and long-lasting effect it has on our youth.”

“It is imperative that the young of Lau Province always remember the importance of Lau and place the province’s welfare above all else. Through the efforts of its gifted citizens, Lau, one of the earliest provinces in Fiji to accept Christianity, has made major contributions to development,” the Minister underlined.

“As accountable citizens of your province and the country, you must aim for outstanding citizenship. It’s crucial to make the most of your time, give civic responsibilities first priority, and promote our country in these trying times.

Minister Saukuru stated that only two of the more than 100 Lau adolescents incarcerated in our prisons were from the islands, citing data from the Fiji Corrections Services.

“Hence, I reaffirm the statement made by the chair of the Lau Provincial Council: ‘If you find yourself with idle time in Viti Levu, kindly consider returning to your village and actively participating in its development,'” the Minister emphasized. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has recently implemented several initiatives, such as reviewing youth development policies and laws, establishing the National Youth Council of Fiji, and launching the Youth Education Sex App to provide sexual reproductive health education and information to the youth.

Our strategy includes providing formal education, finding ways to reduce unemployment, and fostering interests in technology, the arts, sports, business, and climate change. Our goal is to provide our young people with opportunities that are interesting and meaningful.

Minister Saukuru also thanked the three tikinas in Yasayasa Moala on behalf of the Coalition Government for their assistance.

On Friday, August 23, the Yasayasa Moala Youth Sports Festival and Government Roadshow will come to an end.