Photo – Finbar O’Mallon
The 2014 YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament Program is officially open.
Youth Governor, William Stojkovski. officially declared parliament in session, with a poetic speech that drew a wide round of applause.
“Will’s speech was incredible”, Youth Premier, Oussama Abou-Zeid said.
Abou-Zeid said he was “very nervous, excited” about the weeks sessions.
Stojkvski said he found inspiration for his poem from the movie Coach Carter.
He wanted to make a speech that “would empower the participants”, and “inspire them to take risks”.
When talking about the introduction of the Press Gallery, Stojkovski said “it was about time that a program ran concurrently with the Youth Parliament”.
Stojkovski was joined by the Hon. Ryan Smith, Minister for Youth Affairs, who said the program was “a great opportunity for the Victorian Government to hear what you want to say”.
Photo – Finbar O’Mallon
Stojkovski said that Youth Parliament was a program “both sides of politics support”.
The program will continue on for three days.
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