Former Youth and Sports Minister Jese Saukuru has warned that while Fiji has invested heavily in youth and sports programs since 2022, major challenges remain and continued support is essential for long-term social and economic change. Speaking on recent program outcomes, Saukuru acknowledged progress — including the reintegration of more than 140 vulnerable youths into families, training and positive social settings — but cautioned that the full benefits of reforms will take time to materialise.
Saukuru outlined a transformation drive that began in December 2022 and is now anchored by the Fiji National Youth Policy 2023–2027. The policy, he said, has refocused government youth investment around five priorities: employability, inclusion, leadership, well‑being and entrepreneurship. As a practical step to modernise service delivery and broaden access, the ministry has rolled out an Online Youth Club Registration Dashboard aimed at improving transparency and nationwide participation in youth activities.
Skills and empowerment initiatives have been expanded and diversified, Saukuru said, with programmes now covering small engine repairs, screen printing, hospitality, food security and land use planning. The ministry’s outreach has increased measurably — from 871 young people reached in 2022 to 1,268 in 2024 — a rise the former minister described as strengthening employability, enterprise participation and community engagement among youths across Fiji.
Sporting development has also featured prominently in the reforms. Fiji became the first Pacific country to establish a fully independent anti‑doping system after the passage of the Anti‑Doping Act in 2024 and the establishment of Drug‑Free Sports Fiji, a move Saukuru called a “historic” step for sports integrity in the region. Efforts to nurture elite athletes are being bolstered by plans for the Fiji Institute of Sports and a series of infrastructure upgrades, including refurbishments at the Damodo City Aquatic Centre, the National Hockey Centre and the National Stadium track, alongside new multi‑purpose courts and improvements to rural sports facilities.
Saukuru highlighted international sporting achievements as signs of progress — citing Rugby World Cup quarter‑finals appearances, notable Olympic and Pacific Games performances and victories by the women’s national cricket team — and argued that grassroots investment and facility upgrades will help sustain that success. At the same time he acknowledged persistent problems: skills gaps, youth unemployment and the ongoing presence of street‑involved youths who require targeted reintegration and support services.
Regionally, Fiji has stepped up as a convenor on youth issues, hosting the Pacific Youth Council General Assembly and other high‑level meetings to coordinate policy across the Pacific, Saukuru said. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to working with communities, development partners and stakeholders to scale up opportunities for young Fijians and to ensure that current programmes are strengthened and aligned with national priorities.
“We recognize that the full outcomes of many reforms may not be immediately visible as meaningful social and economic transformation takes time to take root and mature,” Saukuru said. “However, as programs continue to be implemented, strengthened, and gradually scaled in line with the national direction set by the government, we remain hopeful that the benefits will become increasingly evident in the lives of young people, communities, and as a nation as a whole.”
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