Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	COPENHAGEN, DENMARK 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	10/03/95 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE WORLD YOUTH FOUNDATION 
			AWARD CEREMONY 


 
    It  is an honour for me to be given this opportunity to
address you today.    I  wish  to  congratulate  the  Danish
Government  for  its  major  role in promoting international
youth development.
2.   The hosting of this ceremony in Copenhagen today  could
not have been more appropriate or more timely in view of the
convening  of the Social Development Summit organised by the
United Nations.
3.    It is my hope that this  Award  will  go  a  long  way
towards   encouraging   National   Youth   Organisations  to
intensify their efforts in carrying out development projects
in  their  respective  countries.    The  support  for  such
activities   must   be   continued  and  enhanced  as  youth
constitutes an important human resource.    I  am  convinced
that  if  each  country can make a small contribution to the
development of youth  worldwide  we  will  be  making  major
strides  in  overcoming the global problem of social tension
and social disintegration.
4.     The  need  for  independent  youth  organisations  to
coordinate  and support youth development must be recognised
and acted upon.  This could be achieved through  cooperation
among  regional  and  international youth councils and youth
organisations the world over.
5.              In this regard, WAY can play a crucial  role
by  accepting  more  Eastern  European youth councils in the
framework of WAY.  However, we must make sure that WAY  must
never  be  a political tool.  To be strong and effective WAY
must remain independent and apolitical.
6.     However Youth Councils  can  collaborate  with  other
authorities and be reliable partners of governments in order
to   protect   the   interests  of  young  people  in  their
organisations.
7.   A major problem facing the development of young  people
is  unemployment.    Unemployment  and under-employment is a
world  wide  problem.    While  there  have  been    gradual
improvements  in the levels of education in most rural areas
around the world, the availability of work has  not  matched
the levels of education and expectations of rural youth.  As
a  result  there  is  a  steady  migration  of young people,
particularly  the better educated, to move to urban areas.
8.      This  has  drained  the  rural  areas  of  the  more
enterprising  members  of  society  while  at  the same time
creating problems of urban congestion and unemployment.   In
this context it is important that youth programmes emphasise
the  policy of rural industrialisation.  Youth organisations
like WAY, must develop innovative approaches to  disseminate
practical  skills  through  combining institutional training
with apprenticeship in order to  enhance  the  opportunities
for rural youth.
9.      A  system  of  cooperation  between urban industrial
enterprises and newly established rural industries  must  be
developed. I am confident that WAY can provide assistance to
its  members  in  terms  of providing productive employment.
Towards that end, a  rural  industrialisation  approach  can
achieve  not  only  balanced  development of rural areas but
also reduce problems of unemployment.
10.             I take this opportunity to congratulate  the
winner  of  this  WAY  World  Youth Award.   I hope that WAY
members  will  give  their  dedication  and  commitment   in
carrying  out youth programmes and also be an inspiration to
others.  I hope that this Award  will  be  a  motivation  to
youth  to  develop  values  which ultimately will contribute
towards the betterment of the world.