Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Alipate Nagata said issues such as inse­curity were affecting most young people in our societies across the Pacific.

He made the remark at the open­ing of the 6th Young Pacific Lead­ers (YPL) Conference.

Leaders from around the 20 Pa­cific countries and territories rep­resented the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference at Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva, yesterday.

The four day conference, would which will help develop skills and professional networking to address regional challenges.

“In the Pacific, young people ac­count for 40 per cent of its entire population and this figure certain­ly has an effect on services, infra­structure, politics, policies and the economy,” Mr Nagata said.

“Unemployment figures are high and, in some cases, young people have refrained from participating and attaining from the economy, this undermines our fledgling de­mocracies and the source of creat­ing and distributing wealth.”

He added that young leaders have the energy to make change and help your peers be aware of their self-worth.

“We should instill in them a sense of pride which will help them make good decisions about themselves and enhance their self-value,” said Mr Alipate.

Mr Nagata urges the youths to return to their countries and or­ganise community service projects where they will “Lead”, “Engage”, “Advocate”, “Drive Change” and “Serve”.

“Youths are urged to advocate for the environment and climate, resource management, education, health and wellbeing and econom­ic development which will have an impact on our social progress as a community,” he said.

“The true demonstration of your effectiveness as youth leaders will be the practical things you get done and the positive tangible things that you achieve through your en­deavors.

“The Fijian Government has a strong belief that youths can bring about positive social changes in communities. We have strong com­mitment to the development of our young leaders.”

Edited by Susana Tuilau

Feedback: swashna.chand@fijisun.com.fj