When I was first told of the trip to Tahiti for the Pacific Youth Festival, my immediate reaction was of nervousness and excitement. However, the idea of being part of a team that would be in Tahiti to advocate safer sex, represent Fiji and be part of a group of more than 1, active minded young people was also worrying. On arrival, the sound of French Polynesian people singing away to the strumming of ukuleles quickly put me in a mood so warm that I quickly realized I was in a country much like my own.
The Tahitians welcomed us with sweet smelling tiares and leis setting the pace for what quickly became a busy week of cultural exchange, information sharing and most importantly, of forming friendships which hopefully will benefit the young people of the Pacific.
Amongst other things, one of the main outcomes for the Pacific Youth Festival was the formation of the Pacific Youth Charter. The issues on the agenda ranged from education for sustainable development to cultural diversity, peace, good governance and education and training for all. Anyone who thought they were in Tahiti for a holiday would have been surprised. Logistics did not turn out to be the strength of the Pacific Youth Festival but what they lacked in administration, the Tahitians more than made up for in enabling the cultures of up to 30 Pacific Island countries to come alive in song, dance, art and craft.
Controversial president Oscar Temaru set the pace for cultural awakening when at the opening speech he openly criticized the domination of French culture in Tahiti. Temaru refused to welcome the plus delegates in the French language and said he was not welcoming us to French Polynesia but to Tahiti Nui. The cultural items from then on left us pretty much in awe.
It was exciting too, to be able to meet other young people, each with hopes and ambitions for a better South Pacific.
