Involve youths in decisions: Student

EFFECTIVE youth participation is about creating opportunities for young people to be involved in influencing, shaping, designing and contributing to policy and the development of services and programmes, a Grade year 11 student says.
Jamieson Lalaga, a Grade 11 student of Jubilee Catholic Secondary School in Port Moresby made the statement on Tribe FM’s chat room programme last Wednesday.
He was among Grade 11 students from his school, who discussed the topic “Youth participation in decision-making”.
They defined the topic, its importance, factors affecting participation, importance of role models, recommendations and a call for the government to empower young people. Lalaga defined youth as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to the independence of adulthood.
He said adults needed to understand that the transition “allows a young person’s consciousness, active participation, creativity, independence and ability to take responsibility for their actions”.
Ian Waho stressed the importance of youth participation in decision-making and said it was essential for young people to contribute effectively and positively to society.
Solange Dawana spoke of the proper role models in society.
“Youth involvement in decision-making is lacking in Papua New Guinea because many young people today do not have someone positive to look up to,” she said.
“In Papua New Guinea we tend to give the upper hand to the elders in our society because of our respect for them.
“To achieve cooperation, participation and workflow in society, young people have to be acknowledged and given the opportunity to act.”