The 2014 international youth day led by young people is set to be celebrated on Tuesday at Multipurpose Hall compound featuring seven days of campaign on the theme “Mental Health Matters” which will be officially launched by Hon.Peter Tom, the Minister of Women, Youth, Children & Family Affairs.
The event is expected to be attended by relevant youth stakeholders, Sschools, registered Youth Groups and any interested young persons.
The official opening is set for Tuesday 12 August with the opening address made by Lord Mayor – Hon. Andrew Mua as well as the keynote address and launching of the seven days awareness campaign from the minister for youths and the message from UN Secretary General.
There is also a celebration which will features live performance, freestyle dance, drama, cultural dance and a special features which includes flash mob dance and Bonfire.
The celebration day is a day set for young people to showcase their talent and have access to information displays on information booth, videos, and posters.
There will also a video shooting interviewing young people on the issue mental health and later to be publish in Face book and YouTube.
The seven days campaign is set for 13-19 August engaging young people to be the forefront of the campaign. Also, two days is set aside to campaign in two churches, Kukum SDA on Saturday 16 and Holy cross on Sunday 17 on the theme “Mental Health Matters”.
More than twenty volunteers and twenty registered youth group under youth division-HCC and Honiara youth council (HYC) will lead out in the International Youth Day celebration and the seven days campaign.
The international youth day celebration is estimated to gathers hundreds of young people within the Honiara boundary with a vision to create partnership with other government ministries and stakeholders to continue looks on the issue mental health as one pressing issue for young people in Solomon Islands and even worldwide.
This event is also envisioned to educate young people understands mental health.
According to Mrs. Mary Tuhaika, youth development officer of Honiara City Council – HCC coordinator of the event said; “This year’s international youth day event will include an approach in awareness campaigning for young people to understand the theme, empowering young people on showcasing their skills and talents, information sharing and facilitating a avenue where young people can give recommendations to have the HCC, Government and stakeholders act upon issue related to mental health.”
She also added that the special part of the event is the two day event that the Honiara youth council is leading that calls Honiara youth dialogue and youth voice event, as first ever event HYC take the lead to get the views of young people and to influence the voices of young people up for recommendations and implementation at another level.
Mr. Harry James, HYC president said, “The international youth day event is design as special because we carry out the design program from the like of young people and their voices as well as the inclusiveness of the community youth group that registered under the youth division of Honiara city council.”
The youth day is an annual event where is set out by UN for young people to commemorate on every year on 12 August and now again we a one day for the international youth day celebration in Honiara, Multipurpose Hall compound.
By Lynton Aaron Filia
Youth division media/promotions team
