YOUTH

From Alotau to Kigali

I AM humbled and profoundly grateful to stand before you this morning, given the privilege to speak.
I arrived here on Friday and was impressed to see the efforts and resources invested in this event.
On behalf of the youth delegates, I thank the Government of Rwanda under the President’s leadership, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Heads of Governments and Youth Departments, and ministries across the Commonwealth, all hard-working individuals and teams, and youth stakeholders for your support towards young people and for bringing everyone together.
This Youth Forum shows the tremendous efforts, commitment, and dedication of all involved, including you, the delegates.
I spoke with many of you and am inspired by the great work you do in your communities and respective countries and regions.
Ladies and gentlemen, this week, this room will be filled with insightful discussions on issues affecting us, brilliant ideas, solutions, motivation, and inspiration to change the course of situations for a better future.
Over 1.4 billion people across the Commonwealth are below the age of 30. What does this mean for us as young people and youth partners?
As leaders of today and the future, this can be a challenge, but what’s more, it is the opportunity to invest in the potential of youths. Keeping in mind the theme of this Forum, “Taking Charge of Our Future,” Here are three points I want to leave with you.
First, challenges and opportunities
The problems we have encountered in our lives and our societies have brought us together. Today’s challenges and issues are more complex than decades ago. The world is slowly coming out of the pandemic, a crisis that affected our lives in many ways.
Climate change, loss of biodiversity, hate and discrimination, economic turmoil resulting in high unemployment rates, digital divide, mental health, inequalities in education and health, conflicts, and political instability, to name a few, all happen due to human actions and certain situations beyond our control.
Amid these challenges arises the opportunities to create a positive change.
Fellow youth delegates and partners, your creativity, skill sets, and ability are needed to drive the change we want.
The reflections, discussions, thoughtful and innovative thinking, and a unified engagement to act are necessary to help resolve these issues.

Milne Bay man Kim Allen addresses the Commonwealth Youth Forum in the capital of Rwanda

Now is the time to act! We have to progress the efforts taken in the past through strategic and transformational approaches.
Correct the mistakes. Make right the wrong decisions. Let us fight for the positive future we want. If we don’t take concrete and appropriate actions today, we won’t have a sustainable future tomorrow.
At the center of our discussions and actions, you have to focus on people; the vulnerable, the old, the women and children, and persons with disabilities and other minorities with a wide lens of representation and inclusiveness. Let us not forget our connection with the environment.
We live in an interconnected world with humans and biodiversity, so in our actions, let us be responsible actors and responsible custodians of the environment.
My second point is the unity in diversity. This room has the energy of potential, various skill sets, and innovative and creative thinking. I noticed upon my arrival that most of the people engaged in this event were young people, and I have hope it will continue. I can say with humility and confidence to the older generation and decision-makers that, yes, young people are responsible for taking action; discussions through intergenerational dialogues, taking action through shared knowledge and experiences, and sound guidance will address the myriad of issues that affect us.
Of course, we can’t deny that there are issues that young people get entangled in, such as violence, social issues through drugs and alcohol, teenage pregnancies, and others.
As you go through the discussions, break-out sessions, and dialogues, let us build alliances and connect with others not only during this event but now and into the future to work together to resolve these issues.
Let us capitalise on our strengths and opportunities, link the issues and solutions, and address them through what you are good at.
There is no doubt that everyone has a skill in doing something good. Let us share our skills and experiences, learn from each and go back home inspired and motivated to tackle the challenges.
Keep those alliances strong because you will need people of various skills and backgrounds when the issues get tough.
This leads me to conclude with my final point: to focus on people.
You are here because you are a positive change agent in your community.
Your family, society, and country need you. As you participate over the next three days, remember to share those experiences with our fellow youths back home, help them where you can, and empower and elevate them when you see fit in your leadership capacity.
Don’t take time to help when you can. Reflect on your ideas in your mind, open your mouth to speak on behalf of the vulnerable, and take the necessary actions to realize those ideas. Sometimes it takes time, but if you keep at it with focus and commitment and the people’s interest at heart, you will get there in resolving the problem.
The lessons you have learned in your life experiences and wisdom passed from the older generation are necessary to guide you and keep you accountable.
In conclusion, be reminded of the theme of the Commonwealth Youth Forum:
Taking charge of our future demands responsibility and dedication, strong character and values, a clear vision, efforts and skills, and unity in diversity to achieve the desired positive future, a peaceful, sustainable, fair, and inclusive society.
I pray that may God, in His grace and wisdom, guides us in the discussions this week to represent our people for a better future.
God bless the Commonwealth. Thank you for your hearing!

Security firm gaveBira hope

By JONATHAN KOH
EXECUTIVE Security Systems (ESS), owned by Lae MP and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, has opened a door for Jonah Bira to begin a new life.
At the age of 22, in 2016, Bira left his home in Wosera, in East Sepik and travelled to Port Moresby.
“I was not at home when the airline ticket was bought for me. I was hanging with my brothers and when I got home, my sister showed me the ticket and told me to get ready.
Bira said he was lucky that his father thought of him and considered the priorities when he got his back-dated money from the army because otherwise he would be stuck in the village with no regular employment.
“I know that there would be a lot of opportunities to prosper and so I was very happy to hear the news of my travelling.” Bira said when he got to Port Moresby, he had two places to stay as his other uncle works at the State Solicitor Office and lives at 8-Mile. He decided to stay with him rather than in the Games Village. He said he lived at 8-Mile for a while then went to the Games Village.
“I struggled and put up with the hardship in living with them for three years.”
Bira said in 2019 God answered his prayer.
“I was hanging with the boys and I heard from them that ESS was looking for security guards.”
Bira said he went and dropped off his papers and was later accepted by the security firm. I was called the next day after dropping the papers with the boss Chris Kobi”.
Bira said he went to their base at 5-Mile, did the interview and was presented with working uniforms, boots, ID and the work roster the same day.
At the same time, he said he took his things and left his uncle to stay at the guards’ barracks at June Valley, as the opportunity had come. He said the job was his way out from struggles.
Bira said the others went for two weeks training before joining the firm but he got the job in only three days. However, he said he received a special training on how to look after big offices.
“When I was at 5-Mile, I received special training to look after maritime section.” He said the company was very serious in discipline and committed to its vision.
Bira said there was a situation where he almost lost his job during his term at the maritime office.
“I was stationed there when and incident happened. Three men who work there had me chewed betel nut and entered the building without our notice.”
There were four of us manning the section at that time and we were blamed and banned from that section after the inspectors saw betel nut stains on the ship and walls of the office.
“Now I am based in Alpha 25. I work in two sections. The other one is Alpha 21. I’ll be managing these two sections. Later when things are settled we will go back to maritime, but there is no difference in my pay rate. I still maintain the same rate and I’m thankful for that.
Bira said there was also one time where he faced a critical situation and was almost terminated.
“I was caught for smoking marijuana. They brought me to the office but I was released again with a stern warning and I was thankful for that. From then on I quit smoking marijuana.
He said one very significant thing was if you are not serious about your work and you go on standby, you will face a hard times. Your pay will decrease until you learn your lesson. They always try to avoid being on standby.
However, life at the barracks and with ESS seemed comforting for the young man.
He said the water, power and accommodation was quite reasonable.
The company seemed to be so lenient on its workers (the guards).
“I receive K420 a fortnight. The normal pay is K500, but K50 goes to water, power and accommodation, while K30 goes to laundry, boot and ID cards. We used to pay K40 for laundry and all that but the overall boss cut down by K10.”
He said they were also provided with rice cookers, deep fryers and jugs but the guards at the barracks were not careful with their use.
“Some were sold or damaged and the company management were very cross with us. Now we buy our own appliances and cater for our own food.”
The barracks was like a true home and we were like brothers.
“We lived in peace and harmony. We call the place our ‘hausman’ and things are in the true spirit of brotherhood.”
Bira is a talkative person and speaks with enthusiasm.
“I think I will not be going back to the village,” he said.
He said there were four of them in the family and he was the second born.
“I have had enough of my family. The first, my sister, is not in good terms with me and the boy after me, my small brother, got married. I am ashamed to go back to the village.”
He said the other people would say that their father was once a high ranking officer but his children did not follow in his footsteps.
“All of these things made me feel ashamed of going back to the village”.
Bira said whenever he found peace in his heart, he would visit his family in the village. He also said he was ashamed of his work as a security guard.
“People would see and make fun of me as a security guard, but the fact is that I also make really good money as someone who sits in the office and beats some of them as well.”
Lastly, one very important thing he wanted made known to his family was that “they might not have the trust in me but I know that I can do it!”

• Jonathan Koh is a freelance writer.