Accessibility to information comes with its advantages and disadvantages and youth must take responsibility with what information they share and preserve

The opening of a new resource centre in Labasa by the Government has been applauded by youth groups in the Northern Division.

The centre is equipped with furniture, and desktop computers for internet access.

There are also training manuals, hand­books, reference books, directories, leaflets, posters and brochures which youths can ac­cess for much needed information.

The centre will help youths in their project proposals and get educational opportunities through flexible learning.

The centre was opened by the Minister of Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou, yes­terday.

Youth 4 Champ representative Jay Nasi­lasila said the resource centre would allow youths to have quicker and easier access to information.

“Our youth spend $2 to $3 a day doing their proposal project papers. Now they can do so free of charge,” Mr Nasilasila said.

“It is a pleasant environment for learning and free access to information is something huge for youths in the Northern Division,” Mr Nasilasila said.

“Young people will enhance their comput­er knowledge, improve writing skills and share ideas on drafting proposals for busi­ness, grants or job application.”

Naseakula Youth Club member Asenaca Boigo said the centre supported a wide range of learning activities.

“Materials are varied, including train­ing manuals, handbooks, reference books, directories, leaflets, posters, games, videos and samples of equipment,” Ms Boigo said.

Mr Tuitubou said the ministry was com­mitted to uphold youth’s rights to informa­tion under the 2013 Constitution.

“Information plays an important part in the wider learning process. Learning takes place through discussions with colleagues, practical experience, and consulting news­letters, books and audio-visual materials,” Mr Tuitubou said.

“Government is working to ensure that all of Fiji has access to wired and wireless net­work coverage.

“We have witnessed the power of the mo­bile phone and how it allows us access to information we could only dream of in the past. Nonetheless accessibility to informa­tion comes with its advantages and disad­vantages and we must take responsibility with what information we share and pre­serve,” he said.

Mr Tuitubou said the empowerment of youths has a lot of benefits to offer society.

“Empowerment also helps to reduce crime rate; when someone has a skill to trade, he misses the chances of engaging in anti-so­cial behaviours as empowerment leads to self-employment and rapid industrialisa­tion,” he said.

“This Government through the use of in­formation is addressing one of the key is­sues in the country today and that is the al­leviation of poverty by empowering youths.

“Through engagements with stakehold­ers, Government has in place programmes that are designed to alleviate poverty in our communities and the country as a whole.

“These programmes are primarily de­signed to ensure the financial securities of each recipient.”

“These comprise the transfer of skills and work ethics and it also gives or adds mean­ing to life, especially as one is given a posi­tion of authority or as one commands re­spect,” he added.

Edited by Percy Kean

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