2nd October, 2018 More than 100 youth attended the official launching of the ‘Youth Parliament Public Awareness Programme’ under the theme of ‘Our Parliament – Bringing Parliament to You’ yesterday at Tonga National Centre.
The event was hosted by the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, aiming to encompass the vision of an inclusive, vibrant and participatory society that leaves no one behind. This year, the parliament’s main focus is on the young people and youth seeking to;
- Promote youth’s interest and participation in political processes
- Increase awareness of youth on functions of Parliament and how they can contribute to decision making at a national level
- Provide an opportunity for youth to learn about the concepts of democracy, good governance, transparency and accountability
- Trigger active civic and youth engagement in political processes
- Inspire our young people to develop leadership skills and experience and
- Motivate our youth to become leaders and to build their confidence to contribute to the well-being of their homes, schools, churches and communities.
Speaker of Parliament, Lord Fakafanua said, “The Tonga Youth Parliament draws on the theme of the Legislative Assembly’s Public Outreach Program, ‘Our Parliament – Bringing Parliament to You’. This theme is premised on our vision of an inclusive, vibrant and participatory society that leaves no one behind. This year, our parliament’s focus is on our young people and our youth. It is testament to the Legislative Assembly’s commitment to youth empowerment, leadership, education and providing a unique platform where the voice of our young people and our youth can be heard.”
“This much anticipated event would be a milestone in itself, as it will be the first youth parliament to be held in more than ten years and the very first in Tonga’s post-reform era since 2010. These reforms have been a pivotal moment in Tonga’s political history and of which has set the compass for tomorrow’s generations. If there was ever an opportune time to host this significant event, now would be that time.”
He stated that he is excited about the event and he hoped that the outcome will have a significant impact for Tonga. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the donors and sponsors for their ongoing support.
“Together with you, we are all essentially the support network for our young people and our youth; a role that we all equally share and one that we are proud of.”
The program was featured with information booths based on Parliament and other activities including dramas, singing, hip hop dances, fun games and other competition with awarding prizes to conclude the event.
The Tonga Youth Parliament will convene in November.
ENDS
Issued by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication
