There needs to be more done at the village council level to hear the voice of the youth says a youth representative to the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

The CYF takes place on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this month.

Samoa’s youth will address the subject of "Matimatiga for a Stronger Samoa tomorrow."

Ta’elega Toma Naumati, 35, from Sanapu and Vaie'e is one of the 50 young people representing Samoa.

He said since most youths in Samoa are unable to voice opinions in various communities, such as the village council or women's committee, this was an opportunity for representatives to voice opinions to people everywhere so they will be forced to take action and find a solution.

“I think it will benefit our nation much, especially the youth. We appreciate the opportunity to represent our country at the CHOGM, and we thank the administration for that,” he said.

“Our young people get a great chance to speak up at the conference.

“It is very admirable of our nation to see and hear the voices of our young people, as it will enable them to build a brighter future for our people.

“To address the issues that are becoming more prevalent in today's generations, it is also a very good idea for our country to consider its young and the generations between the ages of 17 to 35.”  

He said young people from Samoa would be attending the meeting, which was fantastic since it allowed discussions on problems faced daily.

Ta’elega will be given a chance to address the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

“I'm happy to have the chance to speak on behalf of our nation at this gathering. As we all know the youth are the future of our country” he stated.

 “I hope that following this meeting, we will be able to share the ideas discussed with our communities and with the people of our nation.”

He said it was a privilege to be chosen to represent the voices of the young at the conference.

The Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) reinforces young people’s involvement across the Commonwealth in devising solutions to complex global challenges. It provides an opportunity for young people of the Commonwealth to build cross-cultural connections and networks, as well as a platform to deliberate on youth-led initiatives addressing issues impacting the 1.5 billion young people in Commonwealth countries.

Participants will strategise on perspectives and present meaningful recommendations to leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Forum will feature plenary discussions and action planning breakout sessions, centered around CHOGM's themes.  

The 2024 Commonwealth Youth Forum is particularly significant as it marks the culmination of the Commonwealth Year of Youth and the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme in 2023. The theme, ‘Navigating Our Course: Building Resilience for a Common Future’, reflects the ambitions of our new generation of leaders advocating for an inclusive Commonwealth.

The tagline, ‘Matimatiga for a Stronger Tomorrow’, integrates the Samoan word “Matimatiga” which emphasises the importance of striving for a resilient and prosperous future, honouring Samoa’s cultural heritage.

The planning and agenda creation for the CYF will be managed by a youth-led International Task Force in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC), and the Government of Samoa.

The task force is co-chaired by the CYC Vice Chairperson for Policy and Advocacy, Nahjae Nunes, and the Chairperson of the Samoa National Youth Council, Leiataualesā Kevin Lucky.