For the very first time a Young Pacific Leaders Conference is being held in Fiji.

Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Alipate Nagata says Young Pacific Leaders is a youth leadership development program organized by the US Department of State.

Nagata says 2019 YPL conference is the sixth regional conference since the program started in 2013

Throughout the four-day conference, experts from across the Pacific will lead trainings, roundtable discussions, and site visits to help conference participants deepen their knowledge.

“Young leaders, you have the energy to make change and help your peers be aware of their self-worth. Instill in them a sense of pride which will help them make good decisions about themselves and enhance their self-value.”

Nagata says last year the conference was held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The YPL Small Grants Program was also launched last year—providing funding to implement 12 innovative projects run by 36 YPL members throughout the Pacific region.