VNYC commits itself for nationwide Strategy Consultations

The Vanuatu National Youth Council is developing a new strategy that will determine the next four years of programs, projects, advocacy and organisational development. This strategic plan will take up work from the current VNYC Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015.

The VNYC is a multi-layered organisation, working on a local, provincial and national level. Each level works both independently and collaboratively with other levels of the organization and external groups and supports.

A key part of the development of the strategy is consultation.

The VNYC is currently holding consultation sessions in local communities around the country. The organisation has a focus on hearing the voices of young people and understanding their needs and opportunities available to them.

Young people from the provinces of TAFEA, SANMA and LUGANVIILE have already been consulted. Consultations are still ongoing for TORBA, PENAMA, MALAMPA and SHEFA Province and the Port Vila Municipal area.

These consultations will be completed by VNYC staff with support from the respective Provincial and Municipal Youth Councils.

So far, 120 young people have participated in consultation sessions. Additional consultation sessions have also been held for, VNYC staff, Internal and External stakeholders, such as other youth services, Provincial Youth Presidents, VNYC Executive members, Youth & Sports Officers and Staff of the Department of Youth & Sports.

The information from all consultations will be collated and analyzed in a document to be shared with VNYC partners.

A review of the VNYC Strategic Plan 2011-2015 is occurring at the same time. The Strategic Plan 2011-2015 includes six thematic areas of: (1) Education, Training and Capacity; (2) Participation and Governance; (3) Economic Empowerment; (4) Health; (5) Social and Professional Integration and (6) VNYC Organizational Development.

The results of the consultations with supporting research will ensure that VNYC has a new 2016-2019 Strategic Plan to work on from this year onwards that includes the voices of young people in Vanuatu.

Janice Nicholson, an Australian Red Cross Volunteer, is assisting with the review of the current strategy and the development of the next strategic plan.

Consultations will end in mid-2016.