Despite the challenges, I am confident in the resilience, creativity, and potential of our youth, says Youth and Sports Minister Jese Saukuru.

“By working together, sharing experiences and insights, and harnessing the power of our diversity, we can overcome the obstacles that lie ahead,” he said at the opening of the Pacific Youth Council this week.

The Pacific Community’s (SPC) director of Human Rights and Social Development Miles Young said the week long program was about “harnessing your capabilities to address the issues that you face as Pacific Youth and recognising that the issues facing Pacific Youth can only be effectively addressed if – and only if – you are at the forefront of working through the solutions.” 

Pacific Youth Council chairperson Tahere Siisiialafia-Mau said youths were “not merely casting away the old; we are embracing new and unconventional ways of inclusion, collaboration, and support.”

SPC is the custodian of the Pacific Youth Development Framework (PYDF) 2014- 2023, launched by Pacific Ministers for Youth in Noumea in 2013.

The Australian Government through Pacific Women Lead at SPC and USAID through Project Governance at SPC are supporting the convening being held from 29 April – 3 May.