Two sessions were conducted during the discussion
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
A Provincial Youth Stakeholders Meeting was held in Gizo, Western Province on Tuesday.
It brought together provincial stakeholders, partners and organisations to discuss youth development issues in Western Province.
The meeting held at the Provincial Headquarters featured two main sessions.
The first session focused on the Provincial Youth Stakeholders Coordinating and Monitoring Committee, while the second session focused on reviewing and validating recommendations from the review of the National Youth Policy 2017–2030.
Youth Development Officer from the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), May Palataru, told Solomon Star in an interview that the purpose of the meeting was to bring stakeholders together to share updates and
strengthen coordination on youth development programs in the province.
“The purpose of the meeting is to bring all stakeholders together for briefings and updates on the work each partner and non-government organisation is doing in Western Province in relation to youth development,” Ms Palataru said.
She said the meeting also allowed stakeholders to share information about their programs and how they are supporting young people across the province.
“The meeting was a multi-sectoral functional meeting aimed at discussing ways different organisations and sectors can support young people, especially in areas such as skills training, employment opportunities and youth development programs,” she said.
“The stakeholders discussed how organisations can work within their areas of expertise to support young people and improve opportunities for youths in Western Province,” Ms Palataru added.
Western Province Youth Desk Officer, Trina Paroi, also acknowledged the importance of the meeting, stating that coordination among stakeholders is important for effective youth development in the province.
“This meeting is very important because it brings all stakeholders together to share information and discuss how we can work together to support youth development in Western Province,” Ms Paroi said.
She said youth development cannot be done by one organisation alone and requires partnership and cooperation from all sectors.
“We need to continue working together and supporting each other so that our young people can benefit from the programs and opportunities available,” Ms Paroi said.
The meeting concluded with stakeholders agreeing to continue working together to support youth development initiatives in the province.
Following the meeting, a small handover of ICT equipment was made to the Western Provincial
Deputy Secretary (DPS).
Stakeholders including Social Welfare, Tourism Division, Health Division, Commerce Division, Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI), Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Western Provincial Young Entrepreneurship Council (WPYEC), Western Provincial Youth Council (WPYC) and other organisations attended the one-day stakeholders meeting.
