Last month on the 25-30th September, 2006, the first ever National Youth Summit was staged in Port Moresby. The event involved over 125 youth participants from all over the nation. The summit served as a platform by which the MDGs were promoted and were youths discussed various issues that affected them relating to the MDGs.
The Summit was a success for all who attended, among the Youths various stakeholders attended such as reps from the UN theme Group, WHO,World Bank, National Youth Council and Community Development Department.
Out of the summit, the youths came up with the PNG Youth Declaration, this document highlighted the commitment to promote the MDGs throughout the different provinces once each youth participant went back home to their various provinces.
Their commitment was to achieve the recommendations articulated in the declaration which called for continuous collaboration among individual youths and youth groups in the country to dialogue amongst themselves.
As youth advocates they pledged to strive to contribute in encouraging concrete action by youths to achieving the MDGs by the Year 2015, they also pledged to spread the message that youths can make a difference in achieveing reccommendations by mobilizing National and local resources, raising awareness and ultimatly act as agents and advocates of positive change withing the country.

What I found most rewarding from attending the summit as a youth participant was the collaboration,enthusiasim, cooperation and spirit drawn from each and everyone that participated throughout the summit. The will and determination to make a difference and be involved in the process was awesome, truely I am certain there will be a difference through youth participation.

The picture shows various stakeholders from the UN and the Department of Community Development recieving the flages from the different provinces as well as the PNG Youth Declaration.