A coalition of various youth organizations is being formed to help the administration prepare a youth development program.
This is the first gathering of various youth organizations in the CNMI, according to Florence Kirby, the administration’s special assistant for youth affairs.
A first meeting was held Friday on Capitol Hill with representatives from 11 youth groups expressing support for the coalition. These groups included Teen Talk Live, House of Manhoben, Kagman Community Association, Tanapag Youth Club and the CNMI Youth Congress.
Kirby said there are about 26 youth organizations, clubs and councils on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. She expects all of them to join the coalition.
The youth coalition will finalize its membership on June 6, she added.
“We are expecting more youth groups to join this coalition. More has to be encouraged to get to work together to help the government draw up plans to better and further improve existing youth programs,” Kirby said.
She said the Office of the Youth Affairs will push for various youth development activities, including the training of promising youth players for the Pacific Rim basketball tournament and the Micronesia-wide volleyball competition.
Kirby said her office is also planning for the youth symposium and is supporting the CNMI Youth Summit in August. The summit is being spearheaded by the CNMI Youth Congress and the House of Manhoben.
