A Swansea woman has been chosen to represent the National Assembly for Wales at the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Parliament to take place in Canada next month.
28-year-old Laura Elliott, from Lethryd, will join up to 65 young people from around the Commonwealth at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria.
They will learn about how parliaments work, take part in caucuses to choose party leaders, debate key issues affecting young people and hold a mock press conference.
Laura, who currently works for Swansea University and has been involved with Young Farmers Wales since 1999, was chosen from 30 applicants by the National Assembly’s branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
"I am truly honoured to be representing Wales at the Commonwealth Youth Parliament.”
“It is a fantastic opportunity and I am looking forward to meeting the other representatives to learn as much as I can from them while sharing ideas, teaching them about the National Assembly and promoting our work across the Commonwealth.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth AM, Chair of the CPA at the National Assembly for Wales, said:
“I’m delighted that Laura has been selected for this wonderful opportunity.
“It’s fitting that the Assembly will be proudly represented at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Parliament, taking place shortly after the Assembly’s Llywydd and Commission committed to establishing a Youth Parliament for Wales”.
“I, along with the Llywydd, Elin Jones AM, look forward to meeting with Laura following her visit to learn of her experience, of how she represented and positioned the Assembly, as well as to hear of best practice internationally and how this might inform and influence our own Youth Parliament here in Wales”
The 8th Commonwealth Youth Parliament will take place between 6-10 November and is organised by the CPA, which is made up of 17,000 members from 185 parliaments and legislatures around the world.
The Commonwealth Youth Parliament is now an annual CPA event, held in a different Commonwealth Region each year. It provides an opportunity for young people from across the Commonwealth to experience aspects of parliamentary democracy and to meet other young people interested in politics and social issues.
First photo: © Legislative Assembly of British Columbia