Boosting the Potential of Young People
19 August 2004
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| "We need to invest in young people " Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon |
Mr McKinnon stated that practical ways must be found to help the next generation do better than the previous one. He stressed the importance of education and helping young Commonwealth citizens to develop leadership skills in the governance, corporate and social sectors, and highlighted the work of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP).
"We need to invest in young people through formal and non-formal education, and assist those in transition from the school to the workplace. CYP promotes youth leadership through the Diploma in Youth in Development Work, run in partnership with 24 universities in more than 45 Commonwealth countries."
The Secretary-General noted the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative has created more than 3,500 businesses to date, providing micro-credit to young people to start or expand their own businesses. Designed to promote youth employment and poverty alleviation, it has been introduced in more than 15 member countries.
Mr McKinnon commented that HIV/AIDS "continues to have a huge negative impact on the economies of developing countries by affecting young people in the 16-40 age bracket, who form the most productive sector of the economy. The Commonwealth's Ambassadors for Positive Living Programme empowers young people with HIV/AIDS through training and resource support, enabling them to act as peer educators and counsellors."
He concluded: "On International Youth Day, it is crucial to remember that investing in young people and finding solutions to the problems they face, are vital if we want them to make a difference and contribute to a better world."
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