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National Youth Forum Delegates

National Youth Forum Delegates

Cook Islands national youth forum

10 October 2007

Cook Islands youth participated in their National Youth Forum in Rarotonga from 10-12 September 2007.

The last time a National Youth Forum had been held in the Cook Islands was about 10 years ago.

Kia Orana! As the warm welcoming people of the Cook Islands say.

The CYP Pacific Centre Programme Manager Mr. Paul Peteru arrived in Rarotonga (main island of the Cook Islands) at the request of Mr. Tamarii Tutangata (Secretary of Internal Affairs) to provide assistance to the organisers of the National Youth Forum. Mr. Peteru was met at the International Airport by Ms. Nukutau Pokura (Cook Islands RYC member) and Ms. Sandra Tomokino (Youth Development Officer, Ministry of Internal Affairs).

At the organising committee meeting prior to the Youth Forum, Mr. Peteru was impressed and enthused by the passion and commitment shown by the youth volunteers. The Programme Manager provided technical assistance to the organisers of the National Youth Forum by:

  • Providing direction on discussions in regards to management, good governance & action plans
  • The re-establishment of the Cook Islands National Youth Council
  • Workable strategy & action plan
  • Presenting information about the role of the CYP Pacific Centre
  • Facilitating an exercise for youth to present their issues to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and
  • Facilitating discussion on the merits of a Youth Charter vs. Constitution

Cook Islands youth participated in their National Youth Forum in Rarotonga from 10-12 September 2007. The last time a National Youth Forum had been held in the Cook Islands was about 10 years ago. The youth represented the islands of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, Mangaia, Manihiki, Rakahanga, and Pukapuka-Rarotonga. In addition, Rarotonga based youth included college representatives from Tereora, Nukutere and Papaaroa. Religious groups such as the Avarua Catholic Youth, SDA Youth, YWAM, CICC Youth were represented as were significant agency and community groups including the Red Cross Youth, Rotaract Youth Club, Family Welfare, Girls Brigade as well as youth representatives from the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Marine Resources and National Environment Services.

The theme of the Forum was: “Be Seen, Be Heard, Youth Participation for Development”.

The objectives of the Forum were to:

  1. To increase the capacity of the youth of the Cook Islands
  2. To formulate the re-establishment of the Cook Islands National Youth Council (CINYC)
  3. To provide an opportunity for youths of the Cook Islands to ‘Be Seen’ and ‘Be Heard’ and to encourage ‘youth participation for development’
  4. To produce a Cook Islands National Youth charter that will guide the work of young people and those who work together with youth.

The Forum provided an opportunity for young volunteers giving their time to organising the Youth Forum to build their capacity, in the areas of facilitation, secretariat, rapporteur, team building, public speaking, presentations and group interactions.

A very good outcome of the Youth Forum was the nomination and acceptance of youth participants to form the Interim National Youth Council Working Group (INYC).

They are as follows: Ngaire Utanga, Daniel Fisher, Odile Pauka, Teamita Akama, Patience Vainerere, Jayson Axalon, Helina Glassie, Haua Nga, Miriama Eliu, and Tamara File. They are to be assisted by Sandra Tomokino (YSD Youth Development Officer) and Nukutau Pokura (Cook Islands Member Regional Youth Caucus-CYP).

The INYC will provide the initial thrust to re-establishing the Cook Islands National Youth Council (CINYC) and will work on the Youth Charter discussed at the Youth Forum.

Aside from providing technical assistance to the Forum organisers, Mr. Peteru was able to facilitate further youth opportunities for training and development by:

  • Successfully lobbying the Secretary of Internal Affairs to allow youth to attend the three regional meetings beginning 17 September 2007
  • Providing oversight to youth assisting in the capacity of a secretariat for the three regional meetings
  • Facilitating youth to attend ‘at the table’ discussions concerning two of the three regional meetings
  • Providing advice to Cook Island youth attending the regional meetings as to what was going on; what they needed to consider in their efforts to re-establish and to sustain their National Youth Council.
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