Education

Guernsey's youth debate world issues

The Commonwealth Youth Summit brought more than 70 Guernsey students together to debate local, national and global issues in the Royal Court on Friday.

The pupils took on the roles of prime ministers, presidents, foreign ministers and journalists to debate global health and education issues.

Then the students put their own opinions on local issues to members of the island's government.

A communiqué bringing together their views was presented to the Bailiff.

The event was organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) and the Education Department.

Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland, a vice-president of the RCS, said: "I am delighted that Guernsey is hosting this Commonwealth Youth Summit. It is the first time in our island's history that young people in our community have been allowed to engage in political debate in the Royal Court.

"I believe it fitting that this privilege should be granted to our young people, the leaders of tomorrow."

Three students took on the role of BBC journalists for the day, mentored by BBC Guernsey's Penny Elderfield and Ben Chapple, produced a report on the education debate.

Daniel Gosselin, Laura Paisley and Emma Saunders also asked the island's politicians what they thought of the day and about plans for more youth involvement in the States.

They also found out more about the youth summit and spoke to the acting Secretary General for the day.

Claire Anholt, the RCS youth programmes manager, explained that the society was an international education charity and the Guernsey summit was the first of 15 planned across the British Isles.

She said the idea was it to spur young people into greater involvement with government: "There are a lot of different outlets they could pursue really, one is engagement with leaders... but there are also leadership programmes and things they can get involved with through the Commonwealth."

The modern Commonwealth was established with eight members in 1949. At the start of 2010 it had 54 members with a total population of nearly two billion.

It is an association of governments and peoples, built around shared languages, institutions, challenges, aspirations and values. The Commonwealth promotes democracy, development, and diversity within its member countries and across the world.

(Source Website)