2nd SAARC YOUTH CAMP - 2008, INDIA

Declaration

We the youth representatives from SAARC Region, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka having met at the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Chennai, India from 12 – 16 January 2008:

Express gratitude to all the Heads of States, Governments of SAARC Countries for creating such a platform facilitating sustained, long-term interaction among the youth with a view to deepening friendship and cooperation.

Acknowledge the efforts made by the Government of India for making the arrangements for the youth camp alongside the National Youth Festival and express gratitude for the successful organization of the second camp.

Discussed possible areas of cooperation and action-oriented projects primarily in the area of education and employment, sustainable development, high risk behaviour and cultural issues with the objective of realizing the goal of accomplishing the South-Asian identity

Agreed on undertaking certain actions, activities on our own and on others, urge all the Governments to extend support and cooperation by all the relevant stakeholders with in the countries.

Education and Employment

Actions that the youth would undertake

Include the youth in the local level developmental committee (for sports, education, employment, rural development, culture etc) and provide them opportunities in the village level decision making process. Reduce the age limits for entering into politics.
Create a database of the dropouts and unemployed youth in the local area through youth organizations; encourage the underprivileged youth to undergo regular vocational training, skill upgradation by facilitating enrolment in local skill training institutes and help pave the way for placement services in local industries.
Influence peer group to encourage the rural youth to find avenues for employment in the local areas thereby curbing migration by identifying the skills of the local youth and undertake placement services in the local industries
Promotion of traditional skill training through NGOs among the youth
Youth leadership programmes will be undertaken on a massive scale

Action that the Governments may consider supporting

Youth specific policies could be devised and implemented in the countries where such policies are unavailable in the SAARC Region
Increase access to education through providing facilities, incentives, privileges to the youth and special incentives to the rural teachers.
Recruitment of teachers should be done from the local areas/communities and special/refresher training be imparted on continual basis.
Promote equity in education through more scholarships in schools, colleges and universities. Specific legislations to promote female education could be devised.
Motivation campaigns for parents to encourage/support female education
Reduce commercialization of education through strict Government regulations
Provide access to information technology for the marginalized youth thereby reduce digital divide in their country by setting up information kiosks by the local youth organizations in rural areas and also popularize these kiosks
Set up institutes for skill training to match the needs of industries
Create employment opportunities through entrepreneurship promotion programmes in the villages
Specialized and thematic SAARC youth meets

Sustainable Development

Action that the youth would undertake

Youth of the region would involve in sustainable development practices ie., adopt eco-friendly lifestyle.
Voluntarism would be promoted by taking up specialized projects for example coastal cleaning, cleaning up of the polluted mountainous regions, organic composting etc.
There is a need to foster eco-tourism for the youth with in the SAARC Region.
Promote the programme of “One Youth One Tree”

Action that the Governments may consider supporting

Sustainable development issues should be part of the school and college curriculum thereby making it inbuilt into the education system as has been adopted in India.
Initiate sustainable practices in all industries right from project initiation to maintenance
Curb all green house gas producing activities by imposing strict legislations
Stricter implementation of the existing legislations to reduce global warming

High Risk Behaviour

Action that the youth would undertake

Campaigns against smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, trafficking, terrorism, victimization, gun violence
Promote responsible sexual behaviour and the need for protected sex through awareness campaigns
Undertake awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS and help develop positive attitude towards People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
Create an understanding for gender equity at the family level
Help the distressed youth who are in need of support/counseling thereby preventing suicides
Promote facilities for leisure activities at the local level such as sports including adventure sports, healthy entertainment etc.

Action that the Governments may consider supporting

Promotion of peer education among the youth to prevent high risk behaviour
Set up counseling centers in educational institutions and at the local level
Ban smoking in public places in the SAARC Countries

Culture

Action that the youth would undertake:

Special SAARC Youth Cultural and Film Festival should be organized by the youth in which films relevant to young people would be screened. In all SAARC Youth meets in future, a special session on film shows reflecting diverse cultures from each of the country should be organized.

Action that the Governments may considers supporting:

Technical assistance to be provided for the SAARC Youth Cultural and Film Festival. Create film archives in each member country.
Organize SAARC Book fairs
SAARC Youth Day should be introduced
Establishment of SAARC Youth Forum (SYF) on the model of Commonwealth Youth Program should be taken up

Hereby adopted by the Second SAARC Youth Camp, Chennai, India on 16^th Day of the month January of the year 2008.