Climate Change Resilience
14 March 2015, Sendai, Japan - The Pacific islands have a voice at the Children and Youth Forum featured at the Third UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai this week.
Of the 200 young delegates that have come together from around the world, two of these are from our island region. Congregating to discuss how young people can be more engaged in disaster risk reduction, the conference has highlighted some of the work they are currently doing on the ground and are finding opportunities to learn from each other.
"It's basically bringing young leaders together to be more coordinated in our approach and show that young people are ready to take action," said Ms. Inangaro Vakaafi from Niue who is currently the Vice Chair of the Pacific Youth Council.
She is joined by Mr. Sevuloni Ratu of the Fiji Red Cross Society.
Ms. Inangaro Vaakafi from Niue, currently the vice chair of the Pacific Youth Council
"Despite being few in numbers we always make do with what we have and for us, we want to make sure the Pacific voice is heard and our region is represented," said Ms. Vakaafi.
"With what is happening in our region now - the reason why we are here really hits home and reminds us why it is important for us to speak up and be part of the process. If we aren't, then no one will ever know what our issues are."
The Children & Youth Forum at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (3WCDRR) and Pre-WCDRR Workshops represents all activities related to children and youth engagement in the lead-up to the conference in Sendai, Japan this week.
As such, it was intended that the Children & Youth Forum would be led by children and youth and be developed for children and youth to mobilise and showcase their strengths, skills, and abilities to lead change in reducing risk and building resilience to disasters.
"I am excited to see so many young people here, especially because most of them are here at their own cost - they have had to find money from somewhere, many of whom are using their own personal funds just to be here, that is how passionate they are a lot of them haven't relied on governments to fund them," said Ms. Vakaafi.
"That is what we are trying to encourage young people to have, to take on that empowering spirit and not wait for people to empower you but to have the initiative to take action themselves."
A two day preparatory meeting before the 3WCDRR has helped the youth participants prepare for the World Conference. From 14 - 18 March running parallel to the 3WCDRR as part of the Children and Youth Forum are a range of activities to showcase the strengths, priorities and actions of children and youth in disaster risk reduction.
The Children and Youth Forum is coordinated by the Youth Beyond Disasters Network with support from partners. For more information please visit: http://youthbeyonddisasters.org/sendaiforum/
The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction is hosted in Sendai, Japan from 14 - 18 March. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is attending the 3WCDRR partnering with the UNISDR, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the University of the South Pacific together with Pacific Island Countries and Territories to raise awareness of the Integrated Strategy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development in the Pacific (SRDP). New Caledonia is also attending this 3WCDRR. The Pacific island region is the first to bring together climate change and disaster risk reduction in an overarching framework.
Of the 200 young delegates that have come together from around the world, two of these are from our island region. Congregating to discuss how young people can be more engaged in disaster risk reduction, the conference has highlighted some of the work they are currently doing on the ground and are finding opportunities to learn from each other.
"It's basically bringing young leaders together to be more coordinated in our approach and show that young people are ready to take action," said Ms. Inangaro Vakaafi from Niue who is currently the Vice Chair of the Pacific Youth Council.
She is joined by Mr. Sevuloni Ratu of the Fiji Red Cross Society.
Ms. Inangaro Vaakafi from Niue, currently the vice chair of the Pacific Youth Council"Despite being few in numbers we always make do with what we have and for us, we want to make sure the Pacific voice is heard and our region is represented," said Ms. Vakaafi.
"With what is happening in our region now - the reason why we are here really hits home and reminds us why it is important for us to speak up and be part of the process. If we aren't, then no one will ever know what our issues are."
The Children & Youth Forum at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (3WCDRR) and Pre-WCDRR Workshops represents all activities related to children and youth engagement in the lead-up to the conference in Sendai, Japan this week.
As such, it was intended that the Children & Youth Forum would be led by children and youth and be developed for children and youth to mobilise and showcase their strengths, skills, and abilities to lead change in reducing risk and building resilience to disasters.
"I am excited to see so many young people here, especially because most of them are here at their own cost - they have had to find money from somewhere, many of whom are using their own personal funds just to be here, that is how passionate they are a lot of them haven't relied on governments to fund them," said Ms. Vakaafi.
"That is what we are trying to encourage young people to have, to take on that empowering spirit and not wait for people to empower you but to have the initiative to take action themselves."
A two day preparatory meeting before the 3WCDRR has helped the youth participants prepare for the World Conference. From 14 - 18 March running parallel to the 3WCDRR as part of the Children and Youth Forum are a range of activities to showcase the strengths, priorities and actions of children and youth in disaster risk reduction.
The Children and Youth Forum is coordinated by the Youth Beyond Disasters Network with support from partners. For more information please visit: http://youthbeyonddisasters.org/sendaiforum/
The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction is hosted in Sendai, Japan from 14 - 18 March. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is attending the 3WCDRR partnering with the UNISDR, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the University of the South Pacific together with Pacific Island Countries and Territories to raise awareness of the Integrated Strategy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development in the Pacific (SRDP). New Caledonia is also attending this 3WCDRR. The Pacific island region is the first to bring together climate change and disaster risk reduction in an overarching framework.