The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : SAARC youth camp vows to improve access to education

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Thursday, Jan 17, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

SAARC youth camp vows to improve access to education

Special Correspondent

Delegates identify priorities for the future

Delegates resolve to organise cultural festival
Governments urged to support projects identified

CHENNAI: Young people from across South Asia for the region’s second youth meet here set out their commitment to cooperate with each other for the development of the region and identified priorities for the future.

The youth camp, mandated by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) April last, adopted a declaration undertaking to improve access to education and employment opportunities in the region, promote sustainable development, reduce high-risk behaviour among the youth and encourage cross cultural learning.

Representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India (those of Pakistan and Bhutan were not present) urged their governments to support the projects identified and consider the youth-friendly policies recommended.

These included involving youth in local development committees and decision-making bodies in villages, a job databank, promoting equity in education across gender and caste, reducing commercialisation of education, including sustainable development classes in schools, promoting peer education and rolling out awareness campaigns.

The delegates, invigorated by their multicultural experience over the past five days, also resolved to organise a SAARC Youth Cultural and Film Festival and requested their governments to provide technical support.

They also asked them to establish a SAARC youth forum on the lines of the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

“It’s the youth that is responsible today. We found that many issues are common to us all, and we will be united to change the face of SAARC nations to lead the world,” said Puja of Kanaria College, Jaipur, one of 10 delegates representing India, the host country this year. “The young people here have come not just to be friendly but with conviction. They have found common issues, though they may be regionally disparate. And they have realised that the forum is a platform for their concerns about employment and how to integrate community work into lifestyles,” Mukul Chatterjee, Director, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, told The Hindu.

Each delegation provided new insights, said S.M. Sarfaraz Ali of North South University Shangskritik Shangathan, and head of the Bangladesh team. “We ask that governments of all countries consider our declaration and take action to implement it quickly…”

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