International Youth Day to be marked at Secretariat

International Youth Day next Thursday 12 August will be marked with a ‘Your Year, Your Voice’ celebration at the Commonwealth Secretariat, including a panel debate, music and prize-giving ceremony.

The day, which coincides with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first United Nations International Year of Youth, will also mark the launch of “Yparticipate” a global youth-led initiative providing relevant tools for meaningful youth participation in decisions that affect them (http://yparticipate.org/).

As part of the celebrations, the winners of the Commonwealth Video Contest will be in attendance to receive their prizes. One of the winners, a young band from the Pacific kingdom of Tonga, will perform their winning entry live.

Dr Fatiha Serour, Director and Head of the Secretariat's Youth Affairs Division, said: "The commemoration of International Youth Day this year is very significant for us. Not only will it signal the start of a range of youth focussed initiatives in all of our regional centres led by our youth leaders, but it begins a process of youth consultation aimed at improving meaningful youth participation and inclusion in the Commonwealth.

"This year, as the world commemorates youth, the Commonwealth Youth Programme will focus on strengthening the youth advocacy and youth leadership programmes that will shape the future of the Commonwealth."

This theme of this year's International Year of Youth is ‘Dialogue and Mutual Understanding’. Organisations attending Marlborough House between 11am-3pm include International Award, Changemakers, the London 2012 Youth Panel, and the UK Youth Climate Coalition.

In addition to music, poetry and dance acts, speakers include:

• Andre Campbell, award winning entrepreneur, consultant and TV presenter
• Scott Forbes, a British Council Global Changemaker and Founder of Global Forum 40
• Steven Cheung, London 2012 Olympic Ambassador and Young Advisor to the Ministry of Justice.
• Maherunesa Khandaker, DFID Young Reporter and founder of charity Arohon helping to combat poverty in Bangladesh.

The event will be followed by a youth consultation on 19 August at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

For RSVP, all enquiries and interview requests, please contact Will Henley, Communications & Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat w.henley@commonwealth.int or on +44 (0) 207 747 6560

More information:

UN proclaims International Year of Youth: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33303

Commonwealth Video Contest: http://tiny.cc/qlv7p

International Year of Youth: http://social.un.org/youthyear/index.shtml

Yparticate: http://yparticipate.org/