PIANGO

The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) is a regional network of NGO focal points or coordinating bodies representing 22 Pacific Island countries and territories. PIANGO was formally established in 1991 to assist NGOs in the Pacific to initiate action, give voice to their concerns and work collaboratively with other development actors for just and sustainable human development. PIANGO's primary role is to be a catalyst for collective action, to facilitate and support coalitions and alliances on issues of common concern, and to strengthen the influence and impact of NGO efforts in the region.

PIANGO represent a number of national bodies involved in youth work and could be a strategic partner in developing and implementing a youth and agriculture strategy.

Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP)

The Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP), composed of the heads of the Pacific Island intergovernmental organisations and permanently chaired by the Forum Secretariat, discusses and coordinates the work-programmes and policies of the different regional agencies to avoid either duplication or gaps in the provision of services to member countries.

A number of these organisations are involved in youth development work.

South Pacific Regional Youth Caucus

The Commonwealth Youth Programme's South Pacific Regional Youth Caucus (RYC) advocate for action on youth issues at a national and regional level. They also work to have youth voices included in decision-making processes at national, regional and international levels. Over the next two years CYP South Pacific's RYC will work together to convince other leaders that they need to address issues such as unemployment, HIV and AIDS, other sexual health issues, education, health, urban drift and youth participation in decision-making in the Pacific region – and give young people a part to play overcoming those issues. CYP South Pacific's Regional Youth Caucus is also next in line to lead the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus for the next four years.

Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society

The Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society (PICISOC) are dedicated to exploring how ICTs can be used to further livelihoods and sustainable development for Pacific Islanders. They host a couple of special interest groups including one supporting ICTs for women including youth. PICISOC is currently assisting the region to explore ways to implement the Pacific Regional Digital Strategy.

They are a useful contact for exploring youth and ICTs. For further information contact Anju Mangal (anjum@spc.int).

Piu Youth Group Masoa project in Samoa

The Piu Youth Group Masoa project in Samoa is designed to increase youth-related ICT activities as a way of supporting livelihoods ad income-generating opportunities as well as encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship. It is intended to extend the project to include other youth groups and products in Samoa and other Pacific Island countries.

To read more about the Piu Youth Group project go to page 33 of the UNESCO Sustainable Island Living publication.

The E-Chutney project in Fiji

The E-Chutney project was a pilot scheme launched in May 2004 by the Fiji government's Information Technology & Communications (ITC) Department as part of a larger e-government programme to open telecentres to promote rural economic development. It is designed to empower women in Navua, a small agricultural centre in Fiji, who have for years made a few extra dollars on the weekends producing and selling tamarind chutney on the local market. By enabling these women to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to reach customers in the country's largest market (the capital, Suva), this initiative aims to increase their income - and their self-esteem.

How is this initiative coming along? Has Fiji's government been able to expand the number of telecentres? How have youth participated and benefited?

The PRIDE Poject

The PRIDE project, based at the University of the South Pacific, seeks to enhance student learning in fifteen Pacific countries by strengthening the capacity of each Ministry of Education (or equivalent) to plan and deliver quality basic education. The PRIDE Project defines basic education as all education provisions for children and youth except higher education. It includes early childhood, elementary, primary and secondary education, together with Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET), and covers both the formal and non-formal sectors.

In 2006 the PRIDE projet was instrumental in the regional workshop “The Role of TVET in Pacific Secondary Schools: New Visions; New Pathways” which took place in Koror. Part of the process required reflecting on global development in vocational education and examining the implications for the Pacific. The notion of integrating the best of the contemporary global with the best of the local was embedded at the heart of the workshop. The workshop was funded by the PRIDE Project in collaboration with UNESCO-UNEVOC (International Centre for Technica Education and Training) and PATVET. It would be interesting to know how far things have come since this meeting. Anyone know?