Young Kiwi to Represent New Zealand at Premier Youth Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Commonwealth Youth New Zealand Executive Director, Aaron Hape, has been selected to represent New Zealand at 33Fifty, the Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme, in Scotland. Mr Hape, a 22-year-old Wellingtonian, was confirmed as a participant in early April and an official announcement was made at the New Zealand Parliament this week.

Developed by Common Purpose and the Royal Commonwealth Society, and hosted by the Scottish Government, 33Fifty aims to develop young leaders to bring people together, reconcile differences, lead change, and use the Commonwealth’s networks effectively. The programme will run from 17 to 20 July in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games as part of the Legacy 2014 initiative.

“33Fifty is the Commonwealth’s most prestigious youth leadership programme and I am very proud to have been selected out of such an enormous pool of talent,” said Mr Hape.

Commonwealth Youth New Zealand board chair, Darryl Stevens, said that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “For Aaron to be going to Scotland during the Commonwealth Games also gives an added sense of importance. I am thrilled that he will be able meet and network with other like-minded youth leaders during the packed programme”.

Around 100 young leaders from around the Commonwealth will converge in Scotland for the programme. The participants will tackle a challenge related to an issue of fundamental importance and relevance right across the Commonwealth – in this case, how the Commonwealth can work together to achieve low-carbon economies. Delegates will visit The Wheatley Group and the Scottish Parliament and on the final day they will present their findings to assembled Heads of State, Heads of Government, Sport Ministers, and senior Commonwealth officials ahead of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.

ENDS

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