Commonwealth youth celebrate their new leaders

Noelyn Wagapu from Solomon Islands and Rebecca Solomon from Vanuatu have been elected chair and vice-chair respectively of the Commonwealth Youth Caucus.

After several hours of deliberations and two rounds of voting, 41 delegates attending the Commonwealth Youth Leaders’ Conference in Chandigarh, India, voted for the first time to elect their leaders.

Four candidates from the Pacific region were standing for both leadership roles which had been vacant. The positions, which rotate on a regional basis, will be held for two years. Ms Wagapu is currently chair of the South Pacific Regional Youth Caucus and Ms Solomon works for the Vanuatu National Youth Council.

Ms Solomon, an experienced youth leader with considerable international exposure through organisations such as UNICEF, Oxfam and World Vision, pledged to continue her advocacy work with young people: “I am passionate about working with youth. Youth development work … motivates me to make my peers aware of and address issues affecting us young people,” she said.

Ms Wagapu, who was not able to travel to India for the conference, said in her manifesto: “There is a lot happening in today’s world of rapid developments: increasing populations, unemployment, racism, global climate crises, unsustainable environmental practices (and) drug and substance abuse.

“We, the youth must come to realise that we are the ones who will be affected by today’s decisions. It is our creative ideas and voices that can shape the future. We are young, active (and) full of energy. We like challenges and are always open to new and different experiences.”

A broadcaster by profession, Ms Wagapu has received certificates for her community radio work and in 2009 was awarded the Young Female Solomon Islander of the Year Award for outstanding leadership and achievements in community development.

It is fitting that two women will be at the helm of the Commonwealth youth leadership during 2011 – a year in which the Commonwealth will mark women’s contribution to development under the theme ‘Women as Agents of Change’.

This is the first time that elections have been so hotly contested, with candidates using new media to campaign. Tonight, three regions - Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific - will also hold their regional elections for chair and vice-chair.

Today’s elections took place as part of the five-day conference, which is being hosted by the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Regional Office in Chandigarh. The theme for the meeting is: ‘Our Year, Our Voice’.

During the course of this week, delegates from the 38 Commonwealth countries represented in Chandigarh will also discuss future reform of the 54-nation Commonwealth from a youth perspective as well as restructuring the Regional Youth Caucus.

Caucus members from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific are actively engaged in youth work in their countries and facilitate the participation of young people in planning and decision-making within the CYP.