World youth assembly in Ambon to have strategic impact

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Sat, April 9 2011

Related News

• Int`l youth confab ends with 32-point recommendation
• UN youth champion holds discussion with RI peers
• IYC to inspire youths about climate change
• Maluku Set to Hold World Youth Assembly 2011
• KNPI, ANTARA preparing int`l youth forum on climate change

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A World Assembly of Youth (WAY) scheduled to be held in Ambon, Maluku, in July this year is expected to have a strategic impact on the promotion of Maluku province abroad.

Maluku`s Regional Executive Council of the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI) chairman Zaharuddin Latuconsina said in Ambon on Friday that preparations were being made for the success of the World Assembly of Youth in the provincial scenic city of Ambon.

Zaharuddin said technical matters relating to the preparation were being made for a big success of the event.

"Around 120 youths from around the world are scheduled to attend the meeting and therefore we are determined to be a successful host to yield a world peace recommendation in Ambon," Zaharuddin said.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said the provincial government would fully support the event and to this end had issued a decree on the formation of the meeting`s organizing committee, chaired by the head of the local national education office, Salim Kairoty.

"From Maluku`s 2011 regional budget we have allocated a certain amount of funds to support the holding of the international conference in Ambon," Ralahalu said.

Two other international events, namely World Peace Day was held in Ambon on November 25, 2009 then in less than a year Ambon again organized the international marine event of Sail Banda from July 24 to August 17, 2010.

"It means Maluku has been trusted to hold other events like the World Assembly of Youth and therefore it should be supported optimally by all people in the province," the governor said.

Ralahalu also called on his people to make every effort to support the success of the international meeting because it has a strategic impact on the promotion of the province abroad.

"It will have a strategic significance because the participants will promote the real condition of Maluku to their relatives, including the government, investors, and even non-government organization upon returning to their respective countries," Ralahalu said.

Menwhile Zaharuddin pointed out that the Central Executive Council`s Chairman of the Indonesian Youth National Committee, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the World Youth has said Maluku has been designated as the site of the 34th World Peace.

The decision was made related to the holding of World Peace Day in Ambon on November 25, 2009 which was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Zaharuddin noted, the World Youth Organization agreed to choose Maluku as host because the region was torn by a three-year sectarian conflict from 1999 to 2002 but it was overcome by social institutions through the promotion of local culture namely "Pela and Gandong."

The "Pela and Gandong" culture is the glue of brotherly life as a heritage which should be preserved and promoted to the international world, then became a model of social life with a plurality of society and religion.

Zaharuddin said, the brotherly ties between the Batumerah village people (Muslim majority) and Passo (Christians) will also be shown to the participants in the World Youth meeting to discuss the world youth program of handling the global warming.

Youths and young leaders from 120 countries who were grouped in World Assembly of Youth at an International Youth Forum On Climate Change 2011 (IYFCC 2011) from February 21-27, 2011 in Jakarta, South Sulawesi, Central Kalimantan and East Nusatenggara also spoke out on climate change and global warming.

With the selected theme "Listen to us, Sense Our Worries", the event gave an opportunity to the youth and young leaders to speak out

out on climate change by improving, understanding and inspiring the necessary actions to fight global warming and other related factors.

The event at the time was organized by Indonesia National Youth Council-Central Board in collaboration with the World Assembly of Youth (WAY), Asian Youth Council (AYC), Indonesia National Youth Council-South Sulawesi Board, Indonesia National Youth Council-Central Borneo Board, Indonesia National Youth Council-East Nusa Tenggara Board and the support of the Indonesian Government.

The World Assembly of Youth promotes the work of youth organizations in areas such as: democracy, environment, human rights, population, health, drugs, community development, leadership training, and cultural and religious tolerance.

It provides opportunities for youth representatives from different countries to exchange ideas and experiences, to coordinate program plans, and to reach a better understanding of each others` problems due to differences in racial, religious and national backgrounds.

Since its formation, WAY has increased its membership of national youth councils to the present 93 full members, from as many countries from all continents. Furthermore WAY has 7 associated members and 22 organizations of observer status.

According to Zaharuddin, the the upcoming international youth forum in Ambon in July this year would an honor to Maluku province.

He expressed hope that such an international event could motivate motivate both Indonesian as well as international community to be more concerned about climate change issues.

He explained that efforts to build awareness of youth as the pioneer in addressing climate change would be discussed in that international forum.

Editor: Jafar M Sidik