Youth meeting in Samoa. Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins
The Commonwealth Youth Programme is urging governments in the Pacific to put young people at the forefront of their development policies.
Commonwealth youth ministers are meeting in Samoa next week to discuss the issues and challenges facing the region's youth.
The programme manager Sushil Ram says at 60 percent, the Pacific has the highest youth population of any commonwealth region and engaging young people in development is simply common sense.
"Young people are always at the forefront of challenges, at the forefront of innovation and I think that energy, that innovation needs to be tapped by member governments for their own development and young people need to be seen as partners rather than merely recipients of development."
Samoa youth delegates talk about common issues. Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins
