PRIME MINISTER          
NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA
 

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE CHOGM INITIATIVE
"YOUTH FOR THE FUTURE"
by
H.R.H. PRINCE 'ULUKALALA LAVAKA ATA

Tonga is a nation where about 65% of the population is below the age of 25 years. As such, the ongoing enrichment of our youth as integral members of our society, as essential development partners, and as the future leaders of our nation, is of paramount importance to Tonga.

The Pan-Commonwealth "Youth for the Future" Programme, with its four components, namely "Commonwealth Youth Enterprise Development" (CYED), Commonwealth Youth Volunteering (CYV), Commonwealth Youth Mentoring (CYM), and Commonwealth Youth Leadership (CYL), clearly address and enhance these key objectives.

The proposed strategies for implementing these programmes, which include the "Youth for the Future" Website which Australia has offered to fund for its first two years, the North-South and South - South collaboration from among the Commonwealth, as well as the corporate sponsorship of programmes, promise to achieve the desired results of "Youth for the Future" programme.

Accordingly, Tonga is most grateful to the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Government of Australia, for their inspired Initiatives, whose outcome will significantly advance national development, and pay further tribute to the leading role of the Commonwealth in promoting global "People Advancement".

Furthermore, as the four components of the "Youth for the Future" programme directly reflect the key Concerns of our major Youth Programmes, Tonga therefore hopes to have access to all of these Components, in order to strengthen the foundations which we have established, and to achieve their results.

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H.R.H. Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata