VP Faisal: Role of youth crucial to achieving sustainable development goals

The role of the youth population is crucial to overcoming global challenges and achieving sustainable development goals, states Maldivian Vice President Faisal Naseem.

He made the comment in his speech during the function in Kulhudhuffushi City on Friday evening, organized by the Youth Ministry, Kulhudhuffushi Council, and the UN office in Maldives, to celebrate International Youth Day and kick-off events planned to celebrate the occasion.

In his speech, Faisal highlighted on the global challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic and social challenges.

Faisal said that as Maldives continued to work to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important that the youth had a voice in making decisions in accordance with the sentiments of the community.

 The country must also identify and address the challenges in this, he said.

Faisal noted that the youth made up for half of the Maldivian population, and said that the involvement of youth in every stage of development was of crucial importance.

He said the youth played a key role in development of the country.

Faisal said over 11,000 youths worked in civil service, and thousands more in the private sector.

Faisal said he saw exemplary work from the youth in the national effort to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, showing the promise for a better future.

He said that youth empowerment of crucial importance to Maldives’ future, and spoke of the need to provide education and training opportunities and make the youth productive members of the society.

Faisal said the task required collective effort, and the country needed everyone to set aside differences and come together as one.

At the function, Faisal launched a special video to celebrate International Youth Day.

The function was attended by the UN Resident Coordinator for Maldives Catherine Haswell, top officials from the Youth Ministry, parliamentary representatives of Kulhudhuffushi, the city’s mayor, and top officials from state institutions.

International Youth Day is celebrated annually on August 12. This year’s theme for International Youth Day is “Intergenerational solidarity: creating a world for all ages.”