Fiji’s young people are being urged to stand together, respect differences and use their voices to build a more united and peaceful country.
Permanent Secretary for Justice and Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, Selina Kuruleca, stated this at the Walk With Me Interfaith Youth Concert at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva last night.
More than 500 youths came to the concert, which brought together young people from different faiths and communities through music, friendship and fellowship.
Kuruleca, who was the Chief Guest, says young people have an important role to play in Fiji through education, faith, community service, leadership, sports and entrepreneurship.
She says while young people face challenges such as drugs, violence and pressure from social media, these challenges should not define their generation.
Kuruleca says the theme “Walk With Me” is a call for people from different faiths, cultures and traditions to walk alongside each other with compassion and respect.
She is encouraging young people to learn about each other’s cultures, listen to one another and focus on the values they share.
Kuruleca is also urging young people to become peacebuilders online by thinking carefully before posting, sharing or commenting on social media.
She says their words should be used to build understanding rather than division.
Kuruleca says relationships create understanding, understanding builds trust, and trust is the bedrock of lasting peace.
The free concert was hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was open to young people aged 12 to 35, regardless of their faith or community.
Before the event, organisers had expected more than 1,000 young Fijians to attend.
The programme featured local youth and young adults performing gospel and worship music, along with inspirational messages focusing on faith, friendship, service and making positive choices.
Kuruleca acknowlegdes the Church for creating a space where young people can meet, learn, serve and lead together, saying such initiatives help strengthen social cohesion in Fiji.
She ended her message by encouraging young people to walk with faith, walk with purpose, walk with compassion, walk with those who are different from them and, above all, walk together.
