Page 33 - IB January 2023

Youth

EMERGING LEADERS TAKE

CONCERNS TO CANBERRA

By Leila Parina In their meetings with Parliamentarians during the summit,
the Pacific youth passionately shared stories on how climate
Ongoing issues of overpopulation, economic inequality, change affected their island homes and communities and
domestic violence, climate change, geopolitics, illiteracy, and called for support from the government.
many health challenges are worrying to many Pacific Island- Survey results also showed that youth unemployment and
ers. For young emerging leaders from the Pacific who formed access to quality education were key concerns. Recent data
a delegation to the Australian-Pacific Emerging Leaders’ Sum- from the International Labor Organization shows youth unem-
mit, they are especially worrying. ployment in the Pacific is at an estimated 23%, compared to a
A joint initiative by the Pacific Conference of Churches and global average of 13%. There was also a call for education to
Micah Australia brought 34 delegates representing 13 island be decolonised. “In Maohi Nui, we have access to education,
nations to Canberra to participate in the Summit. The meet- but what kind of education?” said Tamatoa Tepuhiarii from
ing also included delegates from the Pacific diaspora commu- Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), “Everyone is going to school but
nities in Australia, First Nations people of Australia, and other the education we receive is more for French people with more
Australian representatives. French references than our indigenous Maohi Nui education.”
Prior to the summit, the delegates participated in a study Many delegates shared concerns that many of their educa-
conducted by Micah Australia and the Pacific Conference of tion systems followed Western traditions and the curriculum
Churches. From this research the three priority areas identi- lacked indigenous knowledge.
fied were climate change and natural hazards, education and The third key priority as decided by 96% of the youth
youth unemployment, and improving access to water and regarded water access, with delegates observing that clean
sanitation. Two key principles of self-determination and inclu- water, toilets, and good hygiene would allow people to live
sion were also included. healthy and dignified lives. Remwatia Notike from Kiribati
The findings saw that 94.4% of Pacific delegates rated self- noted, “In Kiribati we are most vulnerable to the effects of
determination as an issue of high and extreme importance. climate change. We suffer from water contamination as there
85% of the youth surveyed rated “supporting people with dis- is no fresh water for bathing since the water in our commu-
abilities as” as an issue of high importance. nity is salty due to climate change. This has given people skin
“Persons with disabilities are often forgotten when it comes rashes and about 10-15 households line up in a queue every-
to decision making and their rights are continuously violated day just to get fresh water for food and drinking water”.
and swept under the carpet endless As a group, the emerging leaders
times,” said Nafi Bai, a wheelchair had a joint vision of seeing “healthy
user and advocate for Persons with environment, empowered young
Disabilities. “Accessibility, qualifica- people, and flourishing communities
tion mismatch, and stigma are prob- across the Pacific region. This is a
ably the three main challenges that vision that can only be realised in full
are faced by Persons with Disabilities when communities enjoy self-determi-
in the Pacific,” he continued. nation and with no one left behind”.
Almost all, 94% of the delegates The Australian government recently
ranked climate change as an issue of announced a $900m aid increase to
extreme importance to their com- the Pacific region over the next four
munities. About 92.6% also ranked years. By meeting with Australian MPs,
‘preparing for natural disasters and the delegation hopes that the stories
their impact’ as an issue of high im- and issues shared can be discussed in
portance. Another delegate, Winton the Australian Parliament and more
Herman from the Cook Islands stated: efficient deployment of the aid and
“As Pacific Islanders the ocean is part grant resources towards climate
of our lifestyle, heritage, culture, and resilience, supporting the economies
tradition…and the general health and of countries post-COVID, and creat-
overall care of the ocean is important ing more empowerment programs for
for the future of our youth.” Taaitulagi women, girls and people with disabili-
Tuioti from Samoa shared the same ties.
sentiments, “[Climate change] affects
culture, community and the ability to editor@islandsbusiness.com
self-determine our own future”. Nafi Bai speaks to an Australian MP

Islands Business, January 2023 33