cyf9cyf9Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013

12/11/2013

www.chogm2013youthforum.org | www.srilankayouth.lk

Dance floor Diplomacy

Results are Out!

Dance floor Diplomacy

Results are Out!

cyf Musings

2 ms.nilanthiSugathadasa (additional Secretary, ministry of youth and Skills Development)

I think CYF is a great opportunity for youth in the Com-monwealth to get together and share their experi-

ences, values and talents and for Sri Lankan Youth to showcase their achievements. So far CYF 2013 has been great and I’m really looking forward for the next few days.

lalith piyumperera the Director General chairman of national youth Services council

of Sri lanka

C YF so far has been a great experience. The discus-sions have been very insightful. I was particularly

impressed by the discussions that took place on gender. I believe that CYF would be a create a great platform

that would enable the youth of the Commonwealth to participate in constructive dialogue and engage with

their governments.

ravi Karkara-Global expert advisor on chil-

dren & youth

CYF is a leading example of bringing youth voices, valuing

youth leadership and promoting youth partnerships in

development agenda. The outcomes of the Commonwealth

Youth Forum must make their way into global policy forums

and processs such as the post 2015 agenda and in particular

the forthcoming the World Conference on Youth hosted by

the Government of Sri Lanka.

Katherine ellis - Director of youth affairs,

commonwealth Secretariat

I ’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity and warmth

of our Sri Lankan hosts, especially the young people,

and the international delegates are amazing too. The

Forum has been packed full, and everyone is engaged

and interested - it’s brilliant to see the delegates taking

the responsibility of representing the young people of

their country so seriously, while still managing to have

a good time!

Senel

3Being in Sri Lanka in the past four days gas been a

mind blowing experience for me. This is my first time

in Asian continent. The people are warm, hospitable

and organized. The scenes are amazingly beautiful; the

cultural heritage is rich and entertaining. I have no re-

grets. Sri Lanka- the wonder of Asia. All thanks to the

president who is a youth leader and also a great man.

Thanks for hosting us.

okonkuro chidinma (nigeria)

This is my first time visiting the sub-

continent, and i have not been dis-

appointed. Obviously very different

to my home town of Sydney, with

new sights, sounds,smells all around.

I represent scouts Australia, and it

has been great to see just where our

organizarion’s good work fits into

the commonwealth picture.

robert Slater (australia)

The mist enriching experience provided by esteemed nation of Sri

Lanka, Pakistani delegation appreciates their effort for bringing com-

monwealth youth leaders together. Cheers.

ali ehtshani (pakistan)

Sri Lanka, is a country I love so much, I like their

reception and nice human relations. Sri Lanka is a

country people need to learn from in terms of hu-

man relations but it just have one single problem

and that is the way they allow animals especially

dogs to be on the streets that can easily cause on

accident. So I believe it has incumbent on the gov-

ernment to do something about that. Thanks.

Julius neeguaye Kotey (Ghana)

Passing many miles we reached Hambantota in order to

see the fruitful future of youth where we realised that

youth is not for the future but to empower the present,

work for the present.madusha erandi

pulasthi Harasgama

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Another bright day in the rapidly developing city of Hambantota and the doors to the majestic hall of the ICC open. Foreign and Sri Lankan dignitaries walk in together with the delegates of the Commonwealth. It’s brilliant being here. There is such a feeling of energy in the air like an exposed electric wire.

Walking through the lobby, you don’t see people loung-ing about with no work to do. These days, it’s as if the ICC is a hive and everyone is a busy bee. And those that seem idle, they’re talking to new people and making friends. People here interact, they socialise. Sitting in the main conference hall, you can smell the potential, along with the fancy perfumes.

Every single person here has seen something that you haven’t. Everyone has something new to say. You speak to someone and hey, a few megabytes worth of valu-able information is in your head unlike conversations where after a couple of minutes you feel drained.But you find bumps on the road; sometimes people seem lost. Some seem to be here on a vacation instead of doing something productive. Some seem to be here only for the elections, focusing strictly on distributing leaflets and giving oh so motivational and inspiring speeches. The Commonwealth stands for something that is worth working towards. The elections are a part of that; granting people with the necessary power to

make changes that are relevant and are towards a posi-tive cause. But you get the gist of what I’m saying, con-tribute towards the Forum with positive ideas.

Taking part in this, whether you’re delivering an im-passioned speech on a podium to a diverse audience or whether you’re one of the volunteers just helping out wherever you can, it’s simply an insane experience. And for Sri Lanka to be hosting this, it’s a positive sign for the country. It’s done great things for the city of Hambantota.

I just want to give a message to everyone here at the Youth Forum; this is a chance that many yearn for and so, do not waste it. Use up every moment to learn something new and then pass it along. Every individual here is incredibly gifted. Learn from them.

Like Ellie Seckold said at the opening ceremony, ‘Look to your left. Now look to your right. You might be star-ing at the next Prime Minister or President of a coun-try.’

#RESPECT

cyf Musings

pansilu Sannasgala

5Chairperson: ahmed adamu from nigeriaVice Chairperson (Policy, Advocacy & Projects): Sudharshana lakshmi from indiaVice Chairperson (Partnerships & Resources): Sadham Zarjahan from Sri lankaVice Chairperson (Inclusion & Engagement): mohamed Husni from Sri lankaRegional Representative – Africa & Europe: Kiziah philbert from KenyaRegional Representative – Asia: Tharika Dileepani from Sri lankaRegional Representative – Caribbean & Americas: royden Beharry from GrenadaRegional Representative – Pacific: Harry James from Solomon islandsRepresentative – Special Interest Groups: Wathsala Samarakoon from Sri lanka

Results are Out!

Dance floor DiploMacy

Join THe conVerSaTion 6

#CYF2013

SEE WHY EFF“Rumour has it that delegates turned up at the side event on Sex-ual and Reproductive Health Rights because they thought they’ll get free condoms!”

“Some delegates have vis-

ited theYala National Park

before arriving at CYF but,

the news on the grapevine

is that they’ve only seen

wild boar.”

“Apparently some delegates are more than tweeting on

twitter and getting to know each other (a little too much)!”

“This one delegate has lost his laptop on day one, only to find it back the next morning and lose it again that evening.” (and yes, he found it again ! )”

“Things got heated up in the election front and some can-

didates are reported to be offering rather peculiar elec-

tion promises in exchange for votes. (*cough, cough)”“Some delegates are also reported to have picked up English accents in the past couple of days ;) “

That’s it for now. Cheers!

Senel Wanniarachchi

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cyf9 paparaZZi

Edited By Senel Wanniarachchi Photographed byRasika SanjeewaOfficial Photographer at Sri Lanka Youth-National Youth Services Council

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