Youth Engagement Summit 2009:Preview

Observe the following situation.Your parents invited a few of their friends over for dinner.After the meal,they enjoy dessert in the living room,talking about whatever it is adults talk about.You,overhearing their conversation as you were passing,give them your insightful views or opinions of the matter.You,pause a while to let them absorb the full impact of your answer,expecting a retort or a pat on the back for your efforts.It didn't go as planned.The adults laugh simultaneously,shake their wrinkly heads,'compliment' you on your cuteness and resume talking.

Feels familiar?If you've ever found yourself in the above situation,you've definitely experienced one of the many pitfalls of being a teenager.Though you might think the adults would understand given they were young before,you cannot be far wrong.Age drains whatever memories they have of also being in your shoes.Grownups assume that kids these days are more concerned with technology and friends rather than the world,therefore are out of touch with current events.But not all of us act like our counterparts in those horrible American teen movies.We are capable of observation,analysis and problem solving,maybe a little better than adults.Our views should be given just as much respect and thought as another adult would have.

Some world leaders are aware of this,organising a variety of youth conferences.They declare that these conferences serve as a platform for youths to express their pent-up ideas,but are nothing more than showpiece events to subdue and appease potential voters.

So it is definitely a breath of fresh air for the Youth Engagement Summit to be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on the 16th and 17th of November.For starters,the organising commitee involve and receive input from prominent youth leaders like Khailee Ng,founder of YouthSays and various youth organisations in Singapore.Secondly,YES are bringing a number of influential people to speak,together with 500 delegates who recieved free air travel and accomodation.Finally,the whole thing is broadcasted live to leading unis across the globe such as Harvard and Cambridge,with a SEACHANGE Report at the end presented to world leaders.

I've been lucky enough to be accepted to represent The Star BRATs to attend YES2009.My tasks will mainly be conducting interviews with my peers,and updating the RAge website regularly on the day's events.

There is no doubt to the impact YES2009 would bring to getting youths worldwide heard.Our opinions and views are finally being compiled in a report for the presidents and PMs out there to read,with the chance that they would be taken seriously and acted upon.Now,there's something for the adults to laught at.