“All good leaders must be competent. Leaders must be qualified to create relevant solutions to issues,” shared school student Tyonah Sioni, reflecting on qualities of leadership during November’s National Youth Parliament. 

16-year-old Tyronah, from Central and Milne Bay Provinces, lives in Milne Bay with her father and three brothers. Her personality has always been outgoing, with a keen ability to take the lead. She is currently in grade 11 at Cameron Secondary School. She was one of two participants selected from Milne Bay to join 58 other young people for the National Youth Parliament in Port Moresby.  The event taught delegates about the parliamentary process and about human rights frameworks. 

Tyronah was the youngest delegate.

“To be honest, I did not feel like the youngest because I was included in every aspect of the training and sessions,” said Tyronah. “I was given the avenue to speak and express my thoughts and through this I was able to earn the respect of the other participants.”

“It was comforting for me too, learning so much from participants who are older than me and who are faring well in their respective studies, endeavors, and careers. They give me so much hope for the future.”

When talking about the information she has learnt through this experience, Tyronah expressed her utmost respect for the forefathers of the country for building a Papua New Guinea based on a strong constitution. 

“Our founding fathers were exceptional in the way they steered our country to Independence. Personally, I think corruption and a lack of implementation of laws affect the progress of our nation immensely.”

UNFPA Country Representative Marielle Sander impressed upon delegates that those who serve in parliament do not represent themselves but the millions of people in Papua New Guinea, emphasising that they must be able to debate respectfully. Tyronah shared that Members of Parliament are the voice and advocate for their constituents and it is important they understand this responsibility. 

This is not the first time this young leader has participated in a United Nations programme. When Tyronah was 9 years old, she entered a writing competition Voices of Future Generations, writing about discrimination against women in a work titled ‘Visible Girls’.

“I heard stories and watched the news and saw the violence and discrimination women in PNG experienced. Even as a child I could not stay silent and so I decided to write about it.”

“Now I see that violence is not only against women but men also can be victims so I support GBV awareness that is inclusive of both genders.”

In sharing her thoughts about the impact of the week she spent in Port Moresby with other young leaders during the National Youth Parliament, Tyronah expressed how young people in the rural setting should be more engaged in such programmes.

“Young people in the rural areas of PNG are most times left out of the important conversations and they face the full force of the issues that affect young people like social issues, law and order problems, and inaccessibility to health and education.”

“Perhaps the next National Youth Parliament can be done in another province to engage more interest from local youth and to give youth from other centers a more informed perspective of the issues in that particular province.”

For now, Tyronah plans on holding herself accountable, first and foremost, then her family.  “It all starts with me. I must be the change I want to see.”

The National Youth Parliament is an initiative of UNFPA in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, European Union, and National Youth Development Authority with extensive support from the National Parliament.