CYF 9-Official News Letter From The CYF 2013

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cyf www.chogm2013youthforum.org | www.srilankayouth.lk

Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013

14/11/2013

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sO IT ENDS Dance Mob!

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From the Jungles of Dambana to CYF Sri Lankan Delegate Uruwarige Sumanasena

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s a kid, I looked at the stars at night every evening. We learnt to survive in the jungle.

We had daily lessons on survival. My family was my all. Even though no one in my family had gone to school I made it a point to go to school everyday. I studied till grade nine. But I didn’t know the value of education. I didn’t have anyone to tell me the value of education. . Things began to change and I started questioning who I’m to that world. The friends I associated at school belonged to a different world. School friends didn’t know my name, I felt like a castoff. Drumming was always my passion. Several villagers invited me for drumming lessons and I learnt to drum at the Ministry of

Cultural Affairs. Later I entered a drumming competition organized by the National Youth Services Council with 6 drummers and became the first in the province. In the past it was our tribe which was everything to me. I had no exposure or anyone to advise me. But things have changed now. The Iwant to share the immense knowledge that our culture possesses.

I’m not a man who questions my identity any more. Today I’m at an International forum presenting my story. I am UruwaligeSumanasena and I am honoured about what I am and who I have become.

NaushalyaRajapaksha.

Special thanks to Adhil, Kemiya and his team.

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From Single Mom to Youth Delegate alibala-

M Koziba Catherine from Botte a g le e D h t u Yo swana

rom Single Mom to Youth Delegate Koziba Catherine Malibala- Youth Delegate from Botswana I lost both my parents at the age of 13. I was left with 4 brothers at home.

As the only girl in the family, I was not only a sister for 4 brothers, but also a mother for them. From childhood I really like challenges and I love to analyse why things happen the way they do. I’m always ready to learn.

Despite the fact that I had no one to give me parental love I was compelled by nature to be a mother to my brothers. At the age of 22 I thought that the missing parental love in my life can be accomplished by the love and care of a ‘boyfriend’. I ended up getting pregnant. But I didn’t believe in an abortion amid financial and social discrepancies around me at that moment. I believed that a child had a right to live. If my mother decided to keep me, nurture me until the best of her time, so can, and so should I. But the best part of the story was the fact that, I learnt from my mistakes. And all of these episodes of my life made me an unpretentious, tough and a smart youth activist.

I started by peer counselling, as a role

model to the women in need of support and assistance, a sister to those in need of care and advice. Due to my passion, hard and honesty, I was recognized by the government who appointed me to attend the International AIDS conference in 2006 where I met people with high profiles and brilliant experiences. From 2007 to 2010 I was sent to Oxfam International youth partnership in Sydney .In 2009 I was appointed by the Government for the Commonwealth Regional Youth Caucus for Bostwana. In 2011 I became the official youth commonwealth regional officer until 2013.

‘I did not only hold those positions, I changed my life route to be an entrepreneur and beauty culture’. In fact my country recognized me as the youngest best achiever. Moreover I’m one of the youngest consultants in the Commonwealth. And today I’m to witness the first ever CYC which I have been lobbying for many years for the younger brothers and sisters. I saw that our Sri Lankan boys and girls are super talented, we are not the future, we are today’s leaders and each of us really have what it takes.

Hot Seat Local delegate – T. Srirajeevan Age – 24 ent Senator of Sri Lanka Youth Parliam sity ver Uni ta ara Raj of e Undergraduat s Association (EYLA) Finalist of Emerging Young Leader

1. How did you make your way to CYF9?

I have been a very active youth personality in many youth programmes including Sri Lanka Youth Parliament, EYLA programme, local and international youth exchange programmes done by NYSC. I am an undergraduate in Health promotion which is a major area in CYF this time. I was selected to represent Sri Lanka as a youth delegate since I am capable of raising voice on behalf of Sri Lankan youth.

2. What are you contributing to the ongoing CYF? Well, this is a golden opportunity in my life to represent my country. Therefore I make sure that I put my entire effort to give my maximum to the forum. I have involved in many sessions so farwhere I made a speech as well. I involve in discussions and contribute to find solutions, make comments and suggestions regarding common challenges of youth.

3. Being a youth parliamentarian what are your suggestions to enhance youths’ productive involvement in politics?

cussions regarding youths’ productive involvement in politics. I suggest that there should be a modern productive political culture and novel changes in youths’ participation in productive politics. Youth Parliament concept is the perfect tool to achieve it.

4. What have you gained from CYF so far?

The best thing I gained is new friendships with other nations. I learn many things from them in every way including culture. We are in the process of making a huge network which will spread around the world. Knowledge wise, I have learnt so many new things within the panel discussions and other sessions.

5. What are you willing to contribute to youth empowerment after your participation in CYF? I will basically give the message to the youth that the best way to develop a nation is mutual understanding and unity among all the youths. We are in the ideal era to rise as united youths. I will do my best to make youths aware of what I learnt here in CYF. Nipuni Wimalapala

Yes, as a youth parliamentarian, I have been involved in many policy implementing processes at the Youth Parliament. I have involved in many dis-

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Confessions of a CYF Volunteer !

VOLUNTEERING IS BADASS !

Volunteering drives development. An Individual or a team of people come forward to work free to achieve common good. Volunteering dates back to human evolution ancestors found that groups become intrinsically affluent when someone takes over doing a difficult task together.

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To this date, I feel the team leaders Kawshi, Kemiya, Keshini, Praveen, Prarthana, Pansilu, Sethwya, Sahani, Shirantha, Eshan and I are still the same bunch of people who stand up for each other and who would not stop talking about the well-being of the youth.

Lahiru Dissanayaka

I walked in to the MRICC while it was still under construction weeks back.

The Youth are not only the future but also the present. The 9th CYF has merely come to an end and the volunteer experience has been awesome!

I’m proud to have been hosting all the Internationals who’ve stepped into our little paradise. I’ve met some amazing individuals who will definitely make a change in tomorrow’s world.

This is the story of a bunch of youngsters who have dedicated their time and en-

ergy to make this forum a success. If one was to ask me the best I have got out of this forum, my reply would be the friendship I’ve built with so many that has grown so fast in just a few days. We are a passionate bunch who’s fully committed in all we do. I salute you! Bravo!

I ask the youth of tomorrow to come together in joining hands, to strive and forge ahead to make the world a better place.

Kawshi Amarasinghe

Exhilarating, exasperating, enlightening, exhausting and life enhancing. Volunteering for CYF changed the way I think, changed the way I look at things around me and changed the way I react and respond to things around me. This entire experience has been a typical roller coaster ride full of slopes and climbs.

Let me talk about the climbing of the hills and how it made the slopes a thrilling rush of adrenaline.

Let’s talk about the part of the ride when you’ve reached the bottom and you’re struggling to come up. This is supposed to be a Youth Forum designed to be beneficial towards the youth but the simplest things make it seem hypSTUFF I WAS MOST ANNOYED ABOUT VOLUNTEERING! :@ - waking up at 5 am in the morning and going back to the hotel past midnight - craving for good food from the buffet which we were not supposed to lay our hands on - How none of my tweets got featured in the newsletter although I tweeted like every second! (Thanks alot @senel_w ! :@)

ocritical: like how us volunteers help adorn the halls and rooms for events but are shunned away from the lunches and dinners at the ICC and made to eat lunch packets wherever we can, in security rooms and staircases at the back of the building. But that’s fine, we didn’t come here to relax and enjoy ourselves in blissful serenity. We volunteered, we signed up for this. And in a few days, a few weeks, a few years when we look back on this, we won’t regret all of this.

We’ll reminisce everything we did with a crooked smile on our lips. So yeah cheers to the good times.

Pansilu Sannasgala

STUFF I LOVED ABOUT VOLUNTEERING! - Sleeping in the main hall while we were on duty -Taking loads and loads of pictures!!!

- Making friends with the most amazing group of volunteers that I met only 4 weeks ago Sahani Dikkumbura

The Commonwealth Geek Forum Global citizenship: A term that is very often used in a meaningless & vapid way. Some have come to believe that global citizenship simply entails having a transcendental understanding of our place in the human family. As romantic as this sounds, the idea of citizenship implies something far deeper and more complex. Very often with national citizenship comes a range of civic responsibilities. We often connect being a citizen with voting, paying taxes, and keeping up with current affairs and politics. A citizen, especially in a system that is in some way representative, is expected to be an active and informed member of his or her society. Citizenship is not a passive endeavor nor is it a spectator sport. Citizenship demands action and maybe even a bit of activism. Thus, why would global citizenship be any different from regular, old-fashioned citizenship?

If one is going to claim he or she is a global citizen, then certainly something more needs to be done than simply alleging a spiritual connection with other humans in remote corners of the planet. The delegates at the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Sri Lanka are certainly perfect examples of global citizens. They have come together from all over the world to influence policy and establish mechanisms through which they can make sure that the voices of young people are heard. Congratulations to the young global citizens of the Commonwealth for their accomplishments and excellent work. You are an inspiration to young people everywhere!

Christopher George Dekki

My World: Youth speak the loudest in the My World survey. It is becoming increasingly clear that the post 2015 agenda has no option but to respond to this 1.8 billion people. Out of the 1.2 million people that voted, 800,000 which is 70 percent are less than 18 years of age and have voted in both online and offline platforms. The Minister of youth from Sri Lanka also pledged over 1 million votes. I’m really looking forward to and would also like to congratulate Sri Lanka on this.

As a result: youth has been recognised as a crosscutting priority area in the High Level Panel report. Youth led-organisation and youth partnerships have been recommended as key strategies for the implementation of the post-2015 agenda and some suggested goals also make reference in their indicators to the youth cohort. Whilst this has been a significant achievement we still need to continue to build the mo-

Dear Heads of Government, Youth are rebellious, youth are passionate, youth are the change makers, The youth don’t plan but they dream, youth don’t submit but they challenge, When such youth come together in one platform called the Commonwealth Youth Forum anything can happen because the youth are unique. However the things which youth talk about in this forum need to be taken seriously by the adults (the heads of government).

However, due to certain structural errors in society certain youth go turn out to be mass murders and rapists. But this energy of the youth can be channelled to

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menkeep to tum the agenda. on youth high greater ensure to We need 5 post-201 inclusive focus on with agenda ent developm focusing on young women’s priorities, issues affecting youth with disabilities, youth from indigenous groups, from minority groups and key affected groups, youth living in slums and rural and youth affected by conflict and disasters areas must be in the centre of the post2015 agenda discussion. The significance of the World Conference on Youth has become greater because the recommendations that come from the discussion will play a critical role that come from the summit.

Ravi Karkara

enable social transformation and wellbeing; a proper mechanism should be in place in consultation with all parties involved. In that context among many other countries Sri Lanka has made a significant contribution in creating a social discourse to enable and empower youth.

Without any hesitation it can be said that there is an on-going process to make the Sri Lankan youth connect and compete with the global youth through the commonwealth youth Forum.

And we sincerely hope how views are taken seriously by your good selves.

Ishan Jalil and Madusha Erandi

And so it ends…

Five days of energetic and interactive sessions of the 9th Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF9) come to an end today giving rise to a set of important proposals for the betterment of youth in the entire Commonwealth.

The sessions paved way for the participants to make new friendships leaving behind unforgettable memories to cherish a lifetime.

The young participants of the Commonwealth Youth Forum will join in a tree planting campaign at the newly opened Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens in Hambantota today with the Commonwealth Heads of States. The tree planting campaign has been organized on the side-lines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013. Fifty three saplings will be planted on this occasion to represent all the commonwealth countries. Rare plants endemic to the dry zone of Sri Lanka have been selected for this purpose.

Mirijjawila Botanical Gardens, extending to about 300 acres, is Sri Lanka’s first ever botanical garden in the dry zone. The botanical garden located close to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Air-

port and Hambantota Port, is expected to become a key tourist attraction.

The event is scheduled to start at 4.30pm with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The tree planting campaign is a legacy project coming in the agenda of the CYF9. The CYF9 in Hambantota will wind up with this event followed by dinner and final party.

The wish of the Sri Lankan government, Youth Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council in organizing the CYF9 is to see these new friendships result in strengthened ties and intimate relations among the member states of the Commonwealth.

The CYF9 would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your presence at CYF. It’s been a blast!

Enjoy the rest of your stay in Sri Lanka!

Disna Mudalige

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Edited By Senel Wanniarachchi

Photographed by Rasika Sanjeewa Official Photographer at Sri Lanka Youth-National Youth Services Council