Youth caucus prepare to select new Chairperson

The new Chairperson will serve as the Pan Commonwealth Chairperson; the official heads of youth representative for the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

These elections are an important testament to the value and contribution of the youth to the CYP structure and mandate over the years. Young people from across the Commonwealth will participate in all aspects of the decision processes at 7CYMM through the CYP's unique Regional Youth Caucus mechanism. The Regional Youth Caucus (RYC) is a dynamic mechanism designed to facilitate the engagement of youth on all areas of youth development policy and planning within the CYP. Drawn from national youth bodies and meeting in four Regional Youth Caucuses (Africa Asia, Caribbean and Pacific) youth express their views, opinions and feelings concerning the strategic direction and focus of the youth development agenda in the CYP.

At the time of the 7CYMM in Colombo, the Commonwealth Youth Caucus representatives will hold strategic deliberations along side senior officials from each Commonwealth country, and will share their own perspective on the way forward for youth planning and policy over the next four years. At this meeting the Pan Commonwealth Youth Caucus, Mr. Mobafa Baker, the incumbent Chairperson from the Caribbean Region, will officially hand over the chairmanship to a new chairperson from the Pacific region. In a process designed to rotate the Chairmanship to each region, the youth representatives will elect their new Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among nominees presented from the Pacific Region. In an election process that promises to be as dynamic as the youth themselves, we expect all the diversity and flair that the Commonwealth represents.

The 7CYMM also presents an invaluable opportunity for senior officials from across the Commonwealth to interface with youth on important youth development issues affecting their respective regions. Government officials (including Regional Advisory Board members) and RYC representatives will be engaged in a Pan Commonwealth Advisory Board meeting to discuss strategies to be incorporated into the CYP strategic planning for the next planning cycle (2008-2012) on 24 April in Colombo.

With a hope that consensus will be achieved, we look forward to policy discussions that are participatory and inclusive, but importantly, visionary, as we grapple with the challenges of our day in youth development.

Secretariat Links:

• Youth Caucus
• Regional Advisory Board Meeting Documents