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Samoa Group Wins Youth Develpment Award

12 August 2004

Members of the Award Winning Group
Members of the award winning group proudly display their medals.
A Samoan youth group which constructed water tanks that were subsequently distributed to schools and churches in Savai'i Island, Samoa, has won the Commonwealth Youth Development Gold Award. The prize is administered annually by the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP).

 The Iva Catholic Youth Group of Savai'i is made up of nearly 50 young people between the ages of 14 and 30. Their project has benefited a large number of schoolchildren and their families who no longer need to travel long distances to access safe drinking water.

 At a presentation ceremony on 22 July 2004, Samoan Minister for Women, Community Affairs and Social Development, Tuala Ainiu Iusitino, commended the winners for being the first youth group in the Pacific region to win the gold award. It comes with £3,000 in prize money, a Commonwealth Certificate of Achievement and gold medallions for individual members.

 Mr Iusitino encouraged other youth in Samoa to follow the example set by the Iva Group in gaining international and Commonwealth recognition for their efforts. He said: "Having one of the youth groups in rural Samoa win this award is a great achievement for rural and community development."

 Irene Paulsen, Senior Programme Officer at the CYP South Pacific Center, remarked: "The Iva Group should be congratulated for their efforts to bring about a positive change within the community.

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