At the end of March, the UN Major Group of Children and Youth announced a list of young people who were selected to serve as Focal Points for Small Island Developing States for the period of 2014 – 2016.
The UN Major Group for Children and Youth is the space within international negotiations on Sustainable Development for Children and Youth. We represent diverse voices and are established by various UN resolutions.
The Caribbean is represented through three youth leaders:
Warren Chanansingh (Trinidad and Tobago): Deputy Global Focal Points (one of two)
Gina Lisselle Rosario Díaz (Dominican Republic): Caribbean Focal Point
Alian Ollivierre (Barbados): Caribbean Focal Point
Among their upcoming activities, the UNMGCY will also be holding a ‘Youth Blast’ in preparation for the International Year of SIDS on either the 29th or 30th August in Samoa. Youth / children can register here: bit.ly/SIDSYouthBlast Please note that attendance is free but there is no funding available for participants so young people need to cover their own costs.
The following list details all of the Focal Points and information about them, as shared by UNMGCY.
DEPUTY OP for SIDS:
Karuna Rana (Mauritius) 26 years old. Speaks: English, French, Hindi and Mauritian Creole.<karuna.rana88@gmail.com> Organisations / affiliations: 1. SIDS Youth AIMS Hub (Role: Co-Founder and President), and 2. One Young World (Role: Ambassador)
GLOBAL FOCAL POINT:
Kelvin Anthony (Fiji) 25 Years old. Speaks: English, Fijian & Fiji-Hindi. <kelvin@350.org>.Organisations / Affiliations: 1.350.org Pacific Network – Fiji Country Coordinator, 2. SIDS Youth Pacific – Fiji Network (Core working group member) 3. Commonwealth Climate Change Youth Network (CYCN) – Pacific Coordinator
Deputy Global Focal Point:
Warren Chanansingh (Trinidad and Tobago). 22 Years old. Speaks English. <warren.chanansingh@hotmail.com>. Organisations / Affiliations: 1.The Silver Lining Foundation 2. Gender and Youth Advocacy Network. 3. One Young World 4. UNFPA Trinidad and Tobago Youth Advisory Group (YAG)
Tahere Siisiialafia (Jamaica & Samoa). 24 years old. Speaks English & Samoan. <tahere_aaitui@yahoo.com> Organisations / Affilitations: 1. Really Make A Difference Ltd 2. Baha’i Community Development (Junior Youth Animator) in Samoa, Fiji, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Jamaica.
CARIBBEAN REGION:
Gina Lisselle Rosario Díaz (Dominican Republic) speaks French, Spanish, and English. 23 years old. <ginarosario02@gmail.com> Organisations / Affiliations: Green Hope DR and Caribbean Youth Environment Network.
Alian Ollivierre (Barbados) speaks English. 27 years old. <a.ollivierre@caribsurf.com> Organisation: Barbados Youth Development Council (iVolunteer Barbados)
AIMS REGION:
Janice Soraia Fortes da Graça (Cape Verde) speaks Portuguese and basic English. 27 years old:<janicesoraia@gmail.com> Organisations / Affiliations: 1. Corpo de Voluntários Corações Abertos (for youth students in all universities in São Vicente/ Cape Verde) – coordinator 2. AIMS SIDS youth network. 3. Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) 4. Liga das Associações Juvenis de São Vicente 5. The World We Want Consultation and Post-2015 Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals discussion promoter
Krishnee Appadoo (Mauritius) 27 years old. speaks English and French. <krishneeappadoo@gmail.com> Organisations / affiliations: 1. Global Shapers Community (initiative of World Economic Forum). 2. UNESCO SIDS Youth Network. 3. Rotaract club of Port Louis 4. Alumi network of ICC Interns.
PACIFIC REGION:
Gibson Sil Gala (Papua New Guinea) speaks Pidgen. 23 years old.<gibsongala@gmail.com> Organisations / Affiliations: Pacific Small Island Developing States Youth Network (PSIDS)
Eric Poe (Samoa) <samoanationalyouthcouncil@ipasifika.net>– Coordinator, Samoa National Youth Council and representative of the Pacific Youth Council.
Emily Erasito (Fiji) <eerasito@nationalyouthcouncil.org.fj> – General Secretary, National Youth Council of Fiji and representative of the Pacific Youth Council.
