Group photo of Guadalcanal Youth participants, organizers and Hon. Jimmy Saea, Minister for Youth, Women, and Sports.
Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands โ The Honorable Jimmy Saea, Minister of Youth, Women and Sports for Guadalcanal Province, officially opened the 2025 Youth Leadership and Governance Workshop today in a powerful address that underscored the vital role of young people in shaping the nationโs future.
Hosted at the Guadalcanal Council of Women, the two-day workshop, organized by the Solomon Islands National Youth Congress with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the ASIPS program, brings together young leaders from across the province for intensive training in leadership, traditional governance, youth advocacy, gender and climate inclusion, and youth rights.
โThis workshop is more than a training. It is a powerful investment in the future leadership of our province and our nation,โ said Hon. Saea. โWhen I look around this room, I see potential. I see strength. I see change-makers.โ
In his keynote speech, Hon. Saea emphasized that with more than half of the Solomon Islandsโ population under the age of 35, youth are not just the future but are already shaping leadership in their communities today. He called for greater inclusion of young people in governance, development, and decision-making processes.
โYouth inclusion is not a luxury. It is a necessity,โ he stated. โIt is how we build a more representative, innovative, and resilient Solomon Islands.โ
The workshop aims to promote youth leadership at all levels of society and empower participants to engage meaningfully in peacebuilding, civic responsibility, and climate resilience. Hon. Saea also reaffirmed the Guadalcanal Provincial Governmentโs commitment to supporting youth initiatives and working alongside youth networks and civil society partners.
โYou have been selected because your communities believe in you, and I believe in you too,โ he told the youth participants.
โLeadership is about service, responsibility, and making space for others, especially those whose voices are often left out.โ
The event reflects a growing movement to equip young Solomon Islanders with the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to drive positive change in their communities and beyond.
Honorable Saea also acknowledged the Solomon Islands National Youth Congress representatives Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the ASIPS program for supporting the two-days workshop.
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[GP Media]
