National Youth Day, 2009

Friday, 20 March was the designated day for the celebration of the National Youth Day in Suva and throughout the nation. It was a day that was much looked forward to by Youths, Youth groups and Youth NGOs from all over the country. The theme set by the Department of Youth was: Step Up for Positive Change. With a march planned, formal activities, a workshop on the Pacific Youth Festival to run throughout the day and a music festival to finish it off in the evening, this was a day that we all eagerly awaited and prepared for.



It was a major disappointment to hear of the cancellation of the day’s events by the Minister for Education, Filipe Bole. Everything planned from the march straight through to the Music Festival was recalled and all ministry officials were to pack up and leave. The biggest disappointment came from those groups of Young People who had already met at the Flea market from 7am in the morning to prepare for the march that was shortly after cancelled. Even though the Tsunami warning was withdrawn way before the formal activities, the plans for the day’s events still remained cancelled; this was very disheartening to hear and left a lot of young people in the dark as to what would happen to celebrate their day.



However, this news didn’t stop a group of resourceful young people to come together and put forward a program that ran from 9am till 4pm in Sukuna Park. Members of the Young People’s Concerned Network, Peter Waqavonovono and Tura Lewai along with the PYC President Jackie Koroi did an amazing job planning a full day’s event in short notice. Youth groups who hung around and played a major part in the impromptu celebration were: Pacific Youth Festival Alumni, RFMF Youth, Fiji Youths Against Racism, Youth Peace Facilitators, Youth Inc, Pasifika Voices choir, Youth Champs for Mental Health, Yarawa Youth, Lajei Youth, Rescue Mission, Ark of Hope Youth Group and the YPCN. Displaying banners and running around the Sukuna Park grounds in costume, dancing to the music on offer from the bands playing on stage, the young people brought life to what started out as an ominous day.



The crowd turnout, according to the YPCN press release, was an amazing 900 people by headcount alone, with the majority of them being Youths and school children who were released from schools by the Ministry of Education. Students from Suva Grammar School and Laucala Bay Secondary School took up the challenge to be a part of the celebration and sing on stage to a welcoming crowd. The only formalities of the program being a few words shared from various leaders of youth groups like Gary Rounds for the Youth Champs for Mental Health, Jackie Koroi for the Pacific Youth Council inspiring youths present to be a part of the positive change that is needed in our nation and also recognizing the issues that young people are desperate to get out to the mainstream. In a speech given by YPCN Vice President Peter Waqavonovono to youth activists that attended yesterdays Youth Day Celebrations at Sukuna Park called on Youth activists to ‘build bridges and focus on moving Fiji forward through a collective voice”. He also made a call to action, and encouraged youths to be “ready for the Pacific Youth Festival, and personally push for more youth inclusiveness on every facet of Fiji’s socio-political life”.



The day’s program was a resounding success for Youths and for the young people present; it was a clear demonstration that the Youths of this nation are willing and able to work towards the building of a better Fiji taking the step towards positive change that is desperately needed in these times. We have shown that we can cut through the various barriers present within society and forge a path leading to peace within our generation and for Fiji. Youths present count the Tsunami warning a blessing because without it, we wouldn’t have had the chance to showcase our skills and abilities in organizing a major event like what was experienced on Friday.



Major kudos goes out to all who participated and were a part of a true National Youth Day celebration coined by the same young people as the Youth Tsunami Day Celebrations.

Our first Press Release

Bula Vinaka

We, the Youth Champs for Mental Health (YC4MH), are concerned about the recent tragic death of Shereen Khan of Valebasoga High School in Labasa.

The YC4MH is a group of youth advocates for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. We have recently come together to form a network to combat the stigma and rising tide of Suicide and encourage awareness on mental health issues.

Firstly, our condolences go out to the family and friends of Shereen Khan.

Fiji has the third highest suicide rate per ratio in the world today. Reported cases of suicide have placed figures at 700 deaths since 2000. This is the tip of the iceberg. The instance of suicide deaths amongst young people is a growing problem.

Shereen Khan’s suicide would have been prevented if school authorities paid special attention to the rights and needs of student such as Shereen. School administrations have the duty and responsibility to protect and safeguard their student’s rights. No school body has the right to prevent their students from entering into a relationship and establish friendship.

This is also an instance where the education system has failed to provide proper and professional counselling help to its students. Since Fiji is a multi-cultural society, all communities must encourage friendships to mutual understanding of each other if we are to become a caring, accepting and harmonious community.

We recommend that the Ministry of Education investigate the factors that led to the death of Shereen Khan and determine the appropriate recourse.

All schools should endeavour to have professional counselling services available to its students.
A school should be a sanctuary, a place of learning where students feel safe and their rights are protected. Not a place where students feel intimidated and bullied by teachers.

Vinaka