Youth volunteer represents Australia on the world stage

Skye Riggs, a 20-year-old volunteer from Adelaide, was the only Australian participant invited to speak at the two-day World Youth Conference which preceded the 19th IAVE World Volunteer Conference in New Delhi in November.  The Youth Conference was aimed at giving young people from around the world an opportunity to talk about young people's role in volunteering and the contribution they can and do make within their home countries.  New Delhi was a fitting venue, given that India has the world's youngest population, with an estimated 52% of people under 25. 

Skye describes the event as 'amazing', not least because she got to speak onstage during the conference's opening plenary alongside Mahatama Gandhi's grand-daughter!  Skye was particularly impressed by the stories of how other young people around the world have found a way to have a voice and engage with non-government organisations, politicians and the media. 

For Skye the conference highlighted the significance of the Millennium Development Goals and the role that young people and volunteering can play in achieving these.  Other topics from the conference that energised Skye are the role of youth activist networks and how to access these, and the place of corporate social responsibility and how young people can learn to engage with companies on this topic.

At home in Australia, Skye's own volunteering is extensive.  She is a youth member on the Board of Volunteering SA, something she describes as 'a massive learning experience' and is also involved in World Vision as Chair of the program VGEN in South Australia, and the initiative through Radio Adelaide called Stir and the Make Poverty History Campaign.  Moira Deslandes, CEO of Volunteering SA, describes Skye as 'an outstanding young woman ... whose efforts in building a more just and peaceful world are an inspiration to every generation.'

Skye feels she gained valuable insights and built new networks as a result of her attendance, and she is keen to encourage other young people to become involved and explore ways that they can participate at events such as the World Youth Conference.

Skye's attendance at the IAVE World Youth Conference and 19th World Volunteer Conference was made possible by Volunteering SA, Unley Council and Unley Lions Club.

November 2006