As Samoa prepares to host one of the largest gatherings of international leaders, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), getting the Samoa National Youth Council involved is key to ensuring youth inclusion and participation. 

The President of SNYC Vaagi Kevin Lucky is already on the ball in ensuring preparations are on track for the host nation and its various partners.

He said their preparations are already at the planning stage and this is being done in partnership with the Pacific Youth Council (PYC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat Office. 

"Remote planning is taking time as we understand the Commonwealth Secretariat office has also been very busy as well but they are key in our planning,” he said. “On that note, we are just working together with Pacific Youth Council and other National Youth Councils to finalise what activities we will be doing.

"Before we finalise things with the Commonwealth Secretariat and especially also with our respective Ministry we work with, which is the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Development.

“We are onboarding a person to lead the planning, development and implementation of the works and activities on behalf of SNYC. We are in contact with PYC to see to it that our best plan will be laid out for implementation.” 

According to Mr. Lucky, they will be convening a meeting at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London in the next two weeks to discuss the event.

 “We will be meeting in person in a couple of weeks with Commonwealth Secretariat in London where we hope we will then have a more solid plan in place to work towards,” he said. “I understand youth is a significant component of CHOGM therefore we are preparing for that. 

"There will certainly be a side event focusing or led by youth and because that will be the case, SNYC and all other National Youth Councils and PYC are all standing ready to take the lead in whatever will be finalised as the youth activity/component of CHOGM.” 

The CHOGM takes place in Apia on 21 October 2024 with Samoa becoming the first Pacific Islands nation to host the international summit for the Commonwealth's 56 member states. 

The Government has allocated SAT$20 million in its 2023/24 National Budget to cater for expenses connected with the country's hosting of the CHOGM next October.