MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS
Hon.Parveen Kumar Bala
Friday 27th November, 2020, 2:00PM,
• Master of Ceremonies
• Trainers
• My Ministry Staff
• Youth Participants
• Members of the Media
• Ladies and Gentlemen
Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all,
It’s always a pleasure to do the honours of marking yet another milestone achievement of our youths as they have completed the five-day Empowerment training today.
At the outset, I must thank the trainers and our staff serving the Central Division for this training which will benefit many of our youths.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is pleasing to note the equal participation and contribution made by all the 55 youth participants here with us.For most young people, their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are a crucial part of their lives. This training and the knowledge it brings, in turn, enables young people to make more informed decisions regarding their own sexual health and rights.
The programme is in line with the Youth Capacity Building Program which the Ministry utilises to empower, capacitate and enhance youth’s knowledge on socio – economic developments. It also provides various technical skills and training offered as part of the youth development program.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Government is committed in providing workshops and short courses to individual’s .Youth Health and Wellbeing is one of the four Strategic Priorities for the Ministry of Youth and Sports. To support the on-going development of young people, this empowerment training focused on empowering the youth participants with information to help them make healthy lifestyle choices and skills to be able to actively contribute to their communities and society.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to note that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has conducted a total of five trainings on SRHR in this financial year .From these five trainings, a total of 232 youths have benefitted and have been empowered as a result.
The Ministry, through our non-formal education program, has provided many youths an opportunity to be employed and sustain their livelihoods over many years. This non-formal education programme includes carpentry training, empowerment skills training, agricultural training and others.
Through these programs providing accredited training, we seek to maximize the potential of our youths and provide them with an avenue to achieve their goals in life.
This Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is determined to strengthen the youth sector in Fiji. This is not limited to providing non–formal education but includes the areas of sports and development of sporting facilities too. Our vision is to build values that lead to success.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope that these short courses will enable you to achieve your goals and aspirations because they are our national goals and aspirations. Please encourage other youths to take up courses to have a purpose driven life.
Your Government is committed to an inclusive policy for all Fijians regardless of your ethnicity, your social background, your status in the community, your culture or your religious beliefs.
I encourage you all to remain focus and use what you have learnt this week to your advantage. Set your priorities and always strive for the best.
I also urge our youths to learn new skills and continue to upgrade yourselves because that is what is required in these changing times.
With those words, I congratulate you all and hope that the skills learnt during the training assist you in your future endeavours.
-ENDS-