Platform for debate | World Youth Conference 2014
The first meeting of the International Youth Task Force (IYTF) of the Youth Conference was held recently at the Maharagama Youth Services Council, and saw twenty young leaders presenting their ideas to formulate the structure of the World Youth Conference 2014 to be held in Sri Lanka
The International Youth Task Force consists of 10 local representatives and 10 foreign representatives -all of whom have undertaken much effort to uplift youth empowerment- and their objective is to ensure that the Youth Conference to be held in May 2014, will succeed in creating a platform for much needed debate on issues enveloping the youth.
“The objective of the Task Force was to draw the framework of the conference, decide how the participants should be selected and the general breakdown — funding and thematic areas,” says UN Youth Delegate from Sri Lanka 2012/2013, Jayathma Wickramanayake.
Next year’s conference is to bring a plethora of young representatives and leaders to Sri Lanka, while the added significance is that it will be the final frontier before the exhaustion of the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
“The international community is now in the process of designing the post-2015 development agenda, which refers to the process of defining the future global development framework that will succeed the Millennium Development Goals,” says Senator of the Youth Parliament, Senel Wanniarachchi. “These new targets would be debated for one last time when the UN General Assembly meets in September 2014,” he adds, highlighting the significance of the conference as being the UN’s last youth insight before the completion of those much awaited deadlines.
The Mirror Magazine took a look at some of the projects undertaken by youth leaders of the International Youth Task Force (IYTF).
Thaw Zin Aye, Myanmar
Thaw serves as a regional co-ordinator for the Youth LEAD organization that focuses on saving the millions of children who are wedged in between poverty and prostitution – eventually being victims of HIV AIDS. “We started the organization as a pilot project in 2009, when we reached out to underage sex workers. Today we are active in 17 countries where we work towards providing skill-based education that empowers young people to guard themselves against human rights violations,” says Thaw. Youth LEAD makes sure that every young person at High Risk of HIV exposure has access to proper medical services, and subsequently feels confident to do so and can be unafraid to use them.
Malena Fama, Argentina
Malena serves as the President of the Latin American Youth Forum which acts as a vehicle of representation, coordination and co-operation between the youth organizations of Latin America. Its objectives are to promote and defend the rights of youth, strengthen youth associations, strengthen and promote Latin American integration, identify, promote and disseminate Latin American identity.
“Most Latin Americans still believe that were are part of Europe because the colonization was not only of the land, but also of the mind,” Malena gives her insight. Malena promotes social activism and being a social protagonist and is an ardent believer that social work is happiness that’s channelled both ways.
Waruguru Wanjau, Kenya
As the General Secretary of Medical Students Association of Kenya, Waruguru has aspired to give the students their right to sustainable education. The Association is an independent non-political organization for medical students created for the purpose of enhancing health advocacy and expanding Kenyan medical student’s academic and career opportunities. “This is done by improving collaboration between the students both locally and internationally and by promoting medical education through organizing training workshops and publishing scientific articles,” says Waruguru. “It brings forth huge exposure with interactions from all kinds of social strata and this is the real motivation.”
Christopher Dekki, United States of America
At the age of only 27, Chris is a Professor of Constitutional Law and holds ideals of changing the systems of the United Nations for the greater good. “I believe that the system of uni-polar should be broken and power should be equally divided amongst the countries,” he tells us. Representing the International Movement of Catholic Students which brings together over 80 diverse bodies together, he aims to help in the holistic formation of students around the globe.
Chapa Madhushanki Perera
Chapa was bestowed with the honour of being one of two youth delegates to the UN from Sri Lanka, owing to the leadership skills displayed at the Youth Parliament. “I was involved with the Young Entrepreneurs Association and many youth lead organizations and gradually I felt the need to get involved actively,” she tells us. Chapa, currently a student at the Faculty of Law of the Colombo University would then voice out about university level problems. “The first step to youth empowerment comes from believing in your potential and I believe that Sri Lankan youth has the potential to take on the world.”
Adhil Bakeer Markar
Hailing from a prominent political background, Adhil is passionate in his affiliations with the youth conference. Adhil had previously represented Sri Lanka at the Future World Leaders’ Summit in Washington D.C. in 2009, and was the Founder-Secretary General of the Youth Model United Nations in Sri Lanka. Being the current Delegate to the UN, Adhil believes that much needed groundwork can be laid out in the coming years. “It’s about changing traditional mindsets and working from the grassroots level up”, he tells us. “I believe that a youth lead approach is what is needed in the country and we are fully equipped to achieve it.”
More details can be obtained by logging onto: www.worldyouthconference2014.org