Australian High Commission
Mauritius
Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion Island (consular)

Australia and Mauritius co-host first International Conference of the Young Persons Plan for the Planet Programme

 

The Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre is hosting some fifty Australian students from 9 high schools who are in Mauritius to participate in the first International Conference of the Young Persons Plan for the Planet Programme, an extracurricular program launched in Australia to encourage students to develop sustainable development plans for their country, from 29 November to 1 December 2018.

 

The 3-day conference will bring together Australian and Mauritian high school students to develop STEM and entrepreneurial skills and competencies in global sustainability and global strategic planning and action to help them deliver the Young Australians’ and Young Mauritians’ Plan for the Planet across the United Nation’s 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).

 

In February 2018, students in 10 schools in Mauritius worked with the private sector and NGOs to develop the Young Mauritians’ Plan for the Planet, which is the students’ reflection on what is happening in their respective districts with respect to the UN SDGs and includes an action plan on how to reach each goal.

 

The Australian High Commission hosted a welcome reception for Conference participants at the Hennessy Park Hotel on 29 November 2018 which was attended by the Acting President of the Republic, HE Mr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory and representatives from the education and research sector, business and NGOs.  The reception also showcased the impact local NGOs were having on sustainable development in their communities.

 

Australia’s High Commissioner to Mauritius Ms Jenny Dee said she was pleased that Mauritius was the first country to partner with Australia’s Young Persons’ Plan for the Planet Program reflecting the commitment of the Mauritian Government to achieve the UN SDGs and the important role the youth and private sector play to support these efforts.

 

“This is the first time we have had such a significant number of Australian students in Mauritius working directly with their peers on how to address the development challenges we face as a global community.  The fact this conference is being held in Mauritius reflects both our shared interest in environment and sustainability, as well as the strong educational partnerships our two countries have developed and continue to nurture, including among our youth,” she said.

 

The Young Mauritians’ Plan for the Planet forms part of the International Programme which is a joint initiative of the Australian National University, Questacon (Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre), Future Earth Australia and Inspiring Australia and is being spearheaded by the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre.  The “It’s our future Earth” Conference 2.0 is being organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in collaboration with the ANU and Questacon, with the support of the Australian High Commission, the Mauritius Commercial Bank and Curtin Mauritius.

 

The following schools are participating in the conference:

From Australia:  Kent Street (Perth, Western Australia), Shenton College (Perth, Western Australia), Norwood Morialta (Adelaide, South Australia), Pimlico State High School (Townsville, Queensland), Indooroopilly State High School (Brisbane, Queensland), Bryon Bay High School (New South Wales), Brindabelle Christian College (Canberra, Australian National Territory), Kilbe Catholic College (Melbourne,Victoria) and Viewbank College (Melbourne, Victoria). 

From Mauritius: Dr James Burty David State Secondary School, College Saint Esprit, Phoenix State Secondary School, Hamilton College Girls, Swami Sivananda State Secondary School, Loreto College Saint Pierre, Sir Leckraz Teelock State Secondary School, Royal College Curepipe, Simadree Virahsawmy State Secondary School and Soondur Munrakhun College.

29 November 2018