Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran has challenged young people to become champions of peace and social cohesion, encouraging them to protect one of Fiji's greatest strengths, its people and their unity in diversity.
Kiran highlighted this while opening a Youth Talanoa Session on Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion in Lautoka.
The session, organised by the National Youth Council of Fiji in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together young leaders, students and youth representatives to discuss the important role they can play in promoting peaceful dialogue, preventing division and building a more united Fiji.
Kiran reminded participants that Fiji's history is also one of compassion, resilience and people standing together during difficult times.
She says Fiji's diversity should be recognised as one of its greatest strengths rather than something that divides people.
The Minister says ordinary Fijians have consistently demonstrated kindness and compassion towards one another, regardless of ethnicity or background.
She says these stories of unity deserve to be told more often.
Kiran is encouraging young people to look beyond negative narratives and recognise the strong social fabric that exists across Fiji.
She reminded participants that while political differences may arise from time to time, Fijians have repeatedly shown that they can live, work and support one another peacefully.
The Lautoka workshop saw the participation of representatives from the Ba Youth Assemblies, Navutulevu Youth Group, Koroipita Youth, students from the University of the South Pacific's Lautoka campus, and the President of the USP Lautoka Students Association.
