The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) is the international coordinating body of national youth councils and organisations. The full members of WAY are national youth councils. WAY has 120 member organisations from all continents. In this bulletin: Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Singapore, Kenya, Brunei Darussalam, Azerbaijan, Fiji, South Africa, Ubekistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Pakistan, Denmark, Australia and Belgium.

GAMBIA

NYC report reflects local government election as true picture of electorate’s choice

Banjul, Feb 4 - A Preliminary report by the National Youth Council (NYC) on the just concluded Local Government elections held on 24th January 2008 has endorsed the elections as free and fair and that the results reflect the true picture of electorate’s choice.

Established by an Act of parliament in 2000 with the mandate to coordinate, monitor youth activities and implement national youth programmes, the Gambia NYC deployed six people to observe the Local Government elections in various parts of the country.

According to the report, the National Youth Council observer mission observed that the voting process was generally peaceful, accessible and voter identification and inking of fingers were properly done. “Security was adequately provided in all polling stations and voting informations were properly displayed and priority voting was witnessed in all the polling stations visited,” the report stated.

On the closing of polls, the NYC report indicated that most polling stations were closed at 4.00pm, followed by the immediate sealing of drums and the recording of seal numbers by Presiding Officers and party agents.

“The ballot tokens were counted and recorded as received, issued, unused and invalid. Closure of poll reports were properly filled, signed by party agents and finally sealed in the tamper evidence bags with other electoral documents,” the report added.

The counting process, the report went on, was properly done and most counting centres were spacious and lighting system for most counting centres was adequate.

In its recommendations the NYC expressed the need to intensify voter education programme by using peer to peer approach, the media, and the involvement of youth serving organizations, NGOs and community-based organizations.

[The Point]

President receives national youth award

Banjul, Feb 12 - THE National Youth Council (NYC), on Saturday awarded President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh with the most outstanding accolade at a well-attended National Youth Award held at the Joint Officers Mess in Kotu.
The first-ever award ceremony also saw the council honour 14 other personalities and 48 institutions, including 11 media houses and the British High Commission in Banjul.

Established by an Act of parliament in 2000, the youth council also awarded certificates to 58 recognised and registered youth organisations, notably the Youth Ambassadors for Peace and the Youth Crime Watch, Gamba chapter. Presiding over the ceremony on behalf of the secretary of state for Youth and Sports, Ebou Joof, permanent secretary at Department of State for Youth and Sports, applauded the youth council for what he described as a brilliant idea to show gratitude to those who have contributed immensely to the development of young people.

PS Joof described the youth as the future leaders and invaluable resource to the development of any country, adding that any meaningful contribution from partners to address their needs and aspirations should be a welcome development which runs to complement the government's efforts.
He used the platform to inform partners about the forthcoming National Youth Conference and Festival (Nayconf), which is scheduled to take place in Farafenni, North Bank Region.

"The year 2008 is dedicated to the youth and I would like to call on all development partners, individuals, private sector and the UN system to scale up their commitments to the development of young people", he urged. He then reaffirmed his department's commitment to the cause of youth empowerment and development, adding that they hope to improve the lots of youths by working in tandem with esteemed partners and all other stakeholders.

Pa Malick Ceesay, executive secretary of NYC, expressed hope that the award ceremony will âà,leave an indelible impact on the operation of youth groups in the country, indicating that this marks the fulfillment of the mandate of the council as stated in the NYC Act 2000. "Youths constitute a significant portion of our population. As future leaders, they need to be empowered", he stressed.

The NYC executive secretary then praised Africell for sponsoring the award and thanked them for their commitment to the welfare of Gambian youths. Ms Amie Mbye, female representative and vice-chairperson of NYC, echoed similar sentiments.

Bakary Badjie, chairperson of Kanifing Municipal Youth Committee, gave the vote of thanks.

[The Daily Observer]

NYC applauds the nomination of youth councilors

Banjul, Feb. 25 - THE National Youth Council (NYC) has welcomed the nomination of youth councilors in all regions of the country to represent the wishes and concerns of young people.

For the first time in history, youth representatives were selected within the structures of the Gambia National Youth Council in the Municipalities of Banjul, Kanifing and all the other Regions to represent young people. A press release from the NYC states, “This is a remarkable gesture. We wish to congratulate them for such a move, Indeed it is a step in the right direction.” It continues saying that it shows the authorities have a great trust in young people. NYC assures the public that young people will never be found wanting when called for national duty.

The National Youth Council uses the opportunity to congratulate the Mayors of Banjul and Kanifing Municipalities as well as the Chairpersons of the area Councils and all elected Councilors and wish them a successful term of office.

[The Point]

NIGERIA

Youth ministry commences programme implementation

Abuja, Feb. 4 - THE Federal ministry of youth development has commenced the implementation of its 2008 programmes with a nationwide youth agricultural empowerment training holding in three of the six geo-political zones starting from late this week.
The youth agricultural cooperative events, part of the emowerment programme for the speedy realisation of the Millienium Development Goals (MDGS), would involve thousands of youth who will, after the programme, be empowered to set up fish farms,snail farms,poultry and other agricultural engagements. In a statement issued by the press secretary to the honourable Minister, Mr Amuda Razak ,all the six zones would be covered between now and early march while the ministry also simultenously train the youth in leadership and citizenship virtues in the three geo political zones of the north.

"The MDGs training is to empower the youth to set up agricultural cooperatives,to become self employed,to become employers of labour and to create wealth.The honourable minister plans to ensure constant repeat of this training for youth so that before the end of the year, youth agricultural cooperatives would have become a nationally adopted approach to resolving youth unemployment", the press secretary said.

The statement further noted that a nationwide zonal consultation is to commence on the draft national youth policy during which the draft will be presented for debate and input ahead of the meeting of the National Council on Youth Development holding in Calabar.

"The youth policy was due for review in the past three years. The Honourable minister directed the review in september,2007 and the exercise was now completed. Once the zonal consultation is concluded this month and the Calabar meeting approve the draft,the document would then be presented to the federal executive council for final ratification", the statement noted.
It added further that as part of efforts to speed up youth development nationwide, the ministry would, later this month issued the maiden edition of the national youth development report for 2007, detailing achievements and challenges in the youth sector as well as plans for the current fiscal year.

[Leadership]

SWA-Regional rep wins election in national youth council

Abuja, Feb 08- AKPONAH Charles Osareimen, hired in 2004 as the Regional Representative of the Student World Assembly's Nigerian section, continues to actively promote youth activism and development, having recently been elected as the National Assistant Secretary General in the Tri-Annual Congress of the National Youth Council of Nigeria. Mr. Osareimen's commitment to social activism has been instrumental in establishing one of the most successful regional branches of the Student World Assembly. The experience and knowledge he has gained as SWA-Regional Representative contributed to the success of his campaign for the position of National Assistant Secretary General.

SWA-Executive Director, Shahram Hashemi, recently stated, "Charles has been the main catalyst of SWA-Nigeria's success. I'm personally very happy to see that he has been successful in other endeavors that promote youth activism in Nigeria. His accomplishment is applauded by everyone on the Student World Assembly Managing Team, and we look forward to the additional exposure of SWA activities to the students of Nigeria through Charles' new position."

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization, established in 1964, that acts as the main voice of various organizations dealing with youth advocacy in Nigeria. Mr. Osareimen will serve and the National Assistant Secretary General for a period of three years.

[PRLog.Org]

Inside the national youth agenda

Abuja, Feb. 22 - IN this piece, Samuel Odaudu examines the content,prospects and the challenges in the unfolding Federal Government national youth policies.

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has started to unfold its new agenda towards turning the fortunes of the ministry around. The new agenda appears very comprehensive and strategic; in other words, it is a dynamic and positive re-evaluation of the ministry's objectives with a view to making it more alive to its statutory responsibilities of properly and efficiently coordinating the affairs of the Nigerian youths.

From all indications, the ministry is presently working out some important reforms by way of reviewing some of the critical areas of its youth policies and programmes which, when fully implemented, can give meaningful lease of life to the Nigerian youths. To this end, a machinery has been set in motion towards realising these tall aspirations.

Since Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi took over as Minister of Youth Development, he has been ambitiously and consciously determined towards ensuring that the ministry embarks on pragmatic programnmes that can practically and meaningfully bear fruits in the lives of the Nigerian youths. It is in line with this noble ideals that the minister, on assumption of office, did not only set out to work out necessary modalities towards repealing some of the out-dated policies of the ministry, but to also come out with qualitatively attractive policies and programmes that when fully implemented, can make significant impact on the lives of the Nigerian youths.

One of the critical areas in which the ministry is looking at with a sence  of urgency is in the area of the review of the National Youth Policy. For a long period of time now, there have been calls by some youth bodies, especially the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the national umbrella body of all the youth organisations in the country, that the National Youth Policy, which has become out-dated for the past two years now, should be reviewed very urgently in order to make it conform with the current socio-economic and political realities in the country.

This issue which was ignored by the immediate past administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is currently receiving important attention in the youth ministry. The ministry is equally assiduously working on a National Youth Development Report 2007 by way of compiling the activities of the ministry since last year so as to measure its achievements, as well as its strength and weaknesses, with a view to making room for improvement and periodic review of its strategies.

As part of the measures towards ensuring that the country has a data bank with accurate references to all relevant information and facts about the activities of the ministry as well as that of the youth bodies in the country, there is an ongoing nationwide research for a comprehensive youth development index. This will serve as a directory on youth-related matters in the country.

It is expected that the Youth Development Index will contain facts such as the number of the unemployed youths in the country, all the policies and programmes of government on the Nigerian youths, detailed reports of the activities of the agencies under the ministry, like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), as well as the performances of all the various skill acquisition centres across the country which are directly under its control. Presently, consultations are going on across states, groups and at governmental levels in the country in line with this project. This huge project which is expected to be concluded in June this year, may probably place Nigeria as the first country in Africa to have accomplished such feat.

In order to increase the chances for more Nigerian youths to participate in the nationwide skill acquisition programmes of the ministry, it has planned to establish a properly equipped regional skill acquisition centres in the six geo-political zones in the country. According to the Minister of Youth Development, Senator Olasunkanmi, the ministry is highly concerned about the increasing army of the unemployed youths in the country, and that one of the ways in which the ministry has set out to address it is in the area of providing a proper avenue for them to sharpen their skills and develop their talents so that they can maximise their God-given potentials, as it is not everybody that can be in the employment in the public sector.

The government, according to the minister, is doing all that is possible so as to provide necessary tools and incentives for the purpose of wealth creation. The centres will be located in the states of Borno, Katsina, Bayelsa, Osun, Abia and Cross River. Beyond this, the ministry is equally working out necessary modalities so that all the local governments in the federation can also have youth centres. According to him, "the youths are not only the engine of the nation's economy but they are also the symbol of the future. So, the present government under the able laedership of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua will not leave any stone unturned in its deliberate effort towards ensuring that, the youths are not just going to be given very important consideration in this government, but we will do all our best to make sure that they are carried along, and this the government has already begun".

Another very important project which the ministry is also planning to embark upon is a youth magazine and website. This effort is geared towards informing, enlightening and educating the Nigerian youths as well as the public on the activities of the ministry, prospects, and opportunities that are available to them. It will also give people opportunities and the media so they can express themselves. This will accommodate sub links such as online youth parliament, online youth business and so on.

The ministry is working very hard in order to review the NYSC Act. It would be recalled that the scheme was set up by the federal government in 1973 and since then, the Act has never been reviewed. There are obvious lapses in the Act which are crying for urgent amendment. For example, in the Act, there is a provision for state governments of the federation to make meaningful contribution for a proper funding of the scheme.

However, this has almost become a mirage due to the fact that some state governments are not showing genuine commitment in this regards. For example, state governments are supposed to contribute a sum of N500, 000, to their respective branch of the NYSC; but when this amount is compared with the present socio-economic realities in the country, it grossly falls short of any meaningful impact.

The ministry, from all indications, appears to have been suffering from poor funding over the years judging from its poor handling or execution of some its programmes. For example, a tour round most of the NYSC orientation camps around the country would show the level of infrastructural decay, that is, where there exist. As a matter of fact, several states of the federation do not have NYSC orientation camp. Most of the places that are being used as venue of the three-week orientation camp are secondary schools and other makeshift structures. Besides, the feeding condition of the corps members, in several cases, is below the average.

Last year, there was a furore over the mobilisation for the one-year compulsory national service where thousands of prospective corps members were almost denied enlistment because, the director-general of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Bomoi Yusuf, had cried out that the agency's policies and programmes for the year were under-funded. It took prompt interventions from several quarters to manage the crisis at that time.

One more issue in which the ministry will equally consider this year is the reformation of the National Youth Coucil of Nigeria. The intention is to reorganise the national youth body so that it can become more development-oriented. This will also include a review of its constitution. The constitution of NYCN has not for once been reviewed since its enactment in 1964.

The Minster of Youth Development, through his special assistant, Mr. Rasheed Olawale, told LEADERSHIP that "the ministry is more than ever  before, poised to package very exciting programmes that will make the Nigerian youths not only self reliant and confident, but that will also make them proud of their government".

The millions of the Nigerian youths, as well as the entire members of the public, are watching and hoping that all these lofty ideals should translate beyond paper works and lip service into visible and valuable implementation.

[Leadership]

GHANA

Youth participation in decision making to receive a boost

Accra, Feb. 17- YOUTH participation in decision-making processes is to receive a boost to enable the youth to voice their concerns on a united front as political parties campaigned for the December general elections and beyond. To this effect, the National Youth Council (NYC) on Friday inducted into office an interim National Executive Committee of the Federation of Youth Associations of Ghana (FEDYAG) to champion that mandate. FEDYAG is made up of youth organizations registered with the NYC who are being equipped with knowledge on how government worked to enable them to conduct themselves as interest groups rather than being identified as part of a youth movement. Speaking at the induction ceremony in Accra, Mr Stephen Mensah-Etsibah, Director of Organizations and Programmes of NYC advised the youth to develop programmes and demonstrate commitment to public service and national development.

He stated that Ghanaian youth were usually not represented at international youth events to champion their interests due to weak structures and poor coordination.

According to him, Ghana was the only country among the Commonwealth countries which had its Youth Council dependent solely on government for funding hence the Council was facilitating the work of FEDYAG to enable it become autonomous to achieve its objectives.

He called on the government to expedite action on the National youth Policy to ensure better representation of the youth in all government structures.

[GNA]

National youth employment programme to be reviewed

Accra, Feb. 19 - ALL aspects of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), including conversion of allowances into salaries and career progression is to be reviewed. Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment told Parliament on Tuesday that currently, the NYEP pays allowances and not salaries because it has been designed along the National Service Scheme to offer jobs to various categories of young people.

The NYEP is a special government intervention to address youth unemployment in Ghana," he said in response to a question on when employees of the NYEP would be made contributors to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust.

The Minister also told the House that the Ministry has held several  meetings culminating in a draft employment policy and draft action plan to operationalise the policy.

Nana Akomea said these in response to another question on what the National Employment and Youth Development Policy of the Ministry was. The Minister told the House that the Ministry would hold the necessary "validation consultations and conferences which would include Parliament to achieve the necessary stakeholders consensus before submission to Cabinet for further directives and decisions.

"The Ministry projects these processes of validation and Cabinet decision to be completed by July 2008, so that, the nation would have a National Employment Policy."

On the Youth Policy, he said, a draft Youth Policy was produced in 1999 and it has been subjected to stakeholders' reviews with a resultant reviewed draft policy and action plan ready in mid 2007.
"The Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment would further subject the  two documents to broader stakeholder evaluation including Parliament before submission to Cabinet for final directive and decision." He said, it was expected that these processes would be completed this year.

[GNA]

ANGOLA

Training on volunteer youths civic work proceeds

Luanda, Feb. 19 - FIFTY youths from organisations linked to organisations affiliated to the National Youth Council (CNJ) are since Monday attending a training, in Luanda, on ways to prevent and fight against Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV/Aids, in the framework of the National Youth Volunteers Programme. Speaking to ANGOP, on the fringes of the training, the deputy chairman of the CNJ, Kikas Machado, said the holding of this programme comes in sequence of the agreements signed with the UNICEF, which comprises the implementation of three subjects, namely "Skills for life", "Divulging the African Youth Charter" and "Youths Volunteering". According to Kikas Machado, the programmes consists of training young people who are available to voluntarily spend some of their time at the service of other youths and the communities. He explained that this year the institution chose the theme "Voluntary youths in the fight against HIV/Aids".

In the end of the programme, the trained youths will work in the communities in the dissemination of information relating to the prevention and combat to HIV/Aids, in the municipalities of Samba and Kilamba Kiaxi.

[Angola Press Agency]

Youth credit programme team works in Kwanza Norte

Kwanza Norte, Feb. 25 - TECHNICIANS with the Ministry of Youth and Sports  and the National Institute of Support to Small and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM) are since last Friday in Ndalatando, northern Kwanza Norte Province, assessing with the Savings and Credit Bank (BPC) requests of financing in the ambit of the "Youth Credit" programme.

Speaking to ANGOP, the department head of the provincial board for youths and sport, Manuel Martins, has informed that his institution received over a hundred applications for financing, of which have been selected 44 projects from the districts of Cazengo, Kambambe, Golungo-Alto, Lucala and Ambaca. He explained that the other applications might not be processed in this first stage, due to defects in the elaboration of the projects.

He further said that the Youth Credit programme technicians will analyse each request with the BPC and the possibility of including some more. Manuel Martins informed that INAPEM will start a course this Monday on management of small businesses and projects elaboration, for the beneficiaries of the Youth Credit programme and other interested citizens.

[Angola Press Agency]

SINGAPORE

Olsen wins one of 10 Asean youth awards

Singapore, Feb. 12 - IT is an award recognising Asean youths' contributions towards regional development and cooperation — and Singaporean recipient Eunice Olsen intends to plough hers right back into more of such worthy work. As one of 10 winners of the Asean Youth Award – given to national youth award recipients from each country – the Nominated Member of Parliament hopes to mentor young people in doing community work. "It's the people-to-people interaction that helps to bring them closer as a region," said the 30-year-old, who sits on various committees and won the Singapore Youth Award 2006 (Community and Youth Services).

In 2005, Ms Olsen started a project to build libraries and provide water-filtration systems to orphanages and schools in Cambodia, Laos and Kalimantan. She was featured in the Asean 40th anniversary commemorative book as one of 40 outstanding youths last year. The award was conferred last Thursday at the Asean Youth Day Award Presentation in Laos. A spokesman for Singapore's National Youth Council said she won because of excellence in her youth work locally and regionally. — Lin Yan Qin

[Singapore News]

KENYA

Planting the seeds of capitalism

Nairobi, Feb. 28 - THE National Youth Enterprise Fund would function better if it is converted into a venture capital fund to provide seed money, management expertise and equity to youth-led businesses rather than just being a lender. This will technically enable youths with better business ideas to access funding without providing collateral, a major headache that has restricted the uptake of the Youth Fund.

The Sh1 billion fund was launched late 2006 to help the youth easily access seed money for starting their businesses. The money is distributed through microfinance and commercial banking institutions. However, complaints have come up because the lenders have been asking for collateral from the youths yet most of those supposed to benefit do not own property and are unemployed. This is said to have left out most of those who could benefit from the fund.

But the Government says, the existing model is the best the fund has for the time being to ensure recovery of the money and turn it into a successful revolving fund. It, however, says it is open to proposals on making the fund achieve its functions better. Venture fund is money essentially provided by an external investor to a new company to enable it grow to desired levels. Such a fund may also include provision of managerial skills. The fund partners with a business for between five to ten years before it exits. Venture funds are only provided when an assessment of the business or its plan shows that it is geared towards growth because of the high risk nature of investing in start-ups and the reality that no collateral will be required. Ideally, venture funds go for businesses that have potential for above-average returns.

Mr Mohammed Hassan, the joint managing director of Dyer & Blair Limited, an investment bank says the Youth Fund kitty should be increased to Sh30 billion after being converted into a venture fund and then given to the private sector to run it. “It helps to ensure that the fund only bank rolls those ideas with potential for growth and job creation,” said Mr Hassan.

Last month, the Ministry of Youth Affairs converted the fund into a parastatal. In an earlier interview, chairman of the Kenya Youth Foundation Odeny Odhiambo said there is a need to change the structure of the fund. The problem with the fund from his perspective is that it came before the youth policy was formulated. “Lack of the youth policy for instance means that the fund puts the rural and urban youth on the same footing, which is not the reality,” said Odhiambo.

While the urban youth, except those in the slum areas are more exposed to business ideas and boast of higher levels of education, the same does not apply to the rural folk who are also more inclined to sticking with time tested business ideas and fear taking risk. But a senior official of the Youth Fund said the fund is in the process of discussing its three-year strategic plan, which could make it possible to adopt a new business model.

Part of the plans under consideration is how the banks can leverage the amount that the Government commits by for instance doubling or tripling the amount provided by the exchequer. Also under consideration, is the possibility of the fund acting as a guarantor to the credit that the banks and other lending institutions will advance to the youth to take care of the challenge of raising collateral.

The fund is also working with banks to provide bid bonds for youth-led companies which win contracts with the Government. Bid bonds are there to ensure that contractors make serious bids and live up to their obligations. If they fail the Government is assured of getting the difference between the lowest bidder (usually the winner) and the highest bidder. Each Constituency received Sh1 million — Sh210 million of the Sh1 billion fund was allocated to parliamentary constituencies to finance youth groups. On the rest, Sh690 million was channelled through financial intermediaries to finance all legally recognised forms of youth-owned enterprises while Sh100 million was allocated to development of the fund’s infrastructure.

[Business Daily Africa]

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

‘Belia Cinta Tanah Air’ to spur in the power of youth Bandar Seri Begawan, Feb. 10 - THE February 10 marks the beginning of the 'Belia Cinta Tanah Air' programme organised by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports in conjunction with the 24th National Day of Brunei Darussalam. This nationwide initiative aims to flare up nationalistic pride for the country by involving the youths, from all districts, to participate in activities concerning the communities, religious activities, leadership and national identity.

The 'Belia Cinta Tanah Air' programme is divided into three phases where, the first phase is 'Iltizam Belia dengan Orang Ramai' which loosely means Empowering the Youths with the People, where the youth will be involved in hoisting the national flag followed by distributing the flag to the residents. During this phase, youth members from last year's 'Belia Cinta Tanah Air' programme will partcipate in the event along with the other 50 youth choosen from each districts as well as an additional of 30 youth participants from each district. This event is open for youths from the age of 15 to 25 years old and with the additional team it will later be refered as the "Local Youth".

The second phase of the programme dubbed "Menyertai Sambutan Hari Kebangsaan" which lasts from February 15 until 23, and phase three "Berkhidmat Untuk Masyarakat" from February 24 until 28, is where the paricipants will be joining in the practice session for the National Day, Thanksgiving Prayers for National Day and will also be participating during the National Day. This phase is open to any youth between 15 and 25 years old from any youth associations that wants to get themselves involved during the period of preparation and the main event itself. About 40 youths will be selected for each district how ever; priority will be made for those who have never joined in any youth activities or events.

Amongs the activities in which youths participate in the districts includes religious activities, cleaning up the areas of the mosque, cooking and traditional handicraft, living with foster parents and traditional sports and recreational activities. This programme has received the support and assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Brunei Royal Police Force, Radio Television Brunei, Information Department, the Islamic Religious Centre, Mosque Affairs Department, the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation, Brunei Muara District Office, the Belait District Office, the Tutong District Office, the Temburong District Office, Brunei Youth Council, Youth District Council, National Youth Volunteering Body and as well as other recognized companies. It is hoped that the programme it would not only benefiting the youth, but as well as the committee involvement in the program. The possitive effect on the community especially in terms of creating awareness and providing youth with activities such as this programme. In the long run, by accomplishing the programme, it would better promote a sense of patriotism and appreciation for the country within hearts of the people and especially the youths of the nation.

[The Brunei Times]

AZERBAIJAN

Gifted youth awarded

Baku, Feb 1 - THE Ministry of Youth & Sports of Azerbaijan in collaboration with creative unions is ongoing annual choice of laureates of youth premiums and diplomas practice of The Ministry’s press service informed that in connection with the Day of Youth (February 2), the Ministry is to conduct ceremony of awarding talented and creative young men on February 1. “The main objective of the event is to appreciate achievement of youth in science, education, culture, arts and public life of the country, create conditions for development of creative potential. The premium holders are selected on their activities in science, engineering, literature, cinema, theatre, music, photography, architecture, journalism, national cookery, arts and crafts and socio-political area,” it was informed. The Ministry jointly with relevant governmental agencies organizes and conducts a range of arrangements, including contests in science, engineering, education, arts and culture as well as festivals, exhibitions, Olympiads and conf erences.

[ABC.az]

FIJI

Silence is never an answer

Suva, Feb. 16 - THIS country faces many challenges on the political, economic and social fronts. But one ongoing challenge has been tackling the issue of HIV-AIDS.  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome has plagued us for years. But today more stressful than the disease itself has been talking openly and addressing it without fear or guilt. A UNAIDS workshop this week discussed these very problems HIV-AIDS and how we can all play our part. Any AIDS advocate will point out their frustration on how Pacific Island countries are bound by community, traditional and cultural values that put a lid on discussing HIV-AIDS.

Frankly speaking, people still don't want to be open about this issue throwing a great challenge in addressing it. It is common knowledge that HIV and AIDS are spread through sexual intercourse with an infected person and many will know basic information on other ways of contracting it. As of December 31, 2007, 259 HIV infections have been confirmed in Fiji since 1989, with 23 new cases recorded last year. Earlier this month, the Health Ministry confirmed it would conduct a series of surveys in the first quarter this year to collect and analyse behaviour, knowledge, attitude and prevalence of contributing factors. They emphasised the need to address them, especially when it affected young people who were in the productive age group and were needed for the economic progress of the country.

History shows HIV-AIDS awareness programs started in early 1990s, becoming more active in the last five years. The acting national advisor on family health, Dr Vijayalakshmi Garimella confirmed HIV-AIDS was part of our school curriculum. She said there were HIV-AIDS program for out-of-school youths organised by the Ministry of Youth, non-government organisations and churches. The Fiji Red Cross Society conducts such programs at workplaces. "There are factors contributing to population growth, with the distribution of condoms playing a minor role. Village and population growth depends on factors like rural to urban migration," said Dr Garimella.

"Condoms are only one of the choices of contraceptives and if used correctly and consistently it can prevent sexually transmitted infections, HIV-AIDS. Abstinence is emphasised to promote safe sex. "However, there is a need for people to change their perspective about HIV-AIDS, and sex-education. People should be more open minded and get the correct messages."

Dr Garimella said HIV-AIDS was a huge social, economical and medical problem. Furthermore, there was a notion that this growing problem was the result of lack of sex education in the school system even sex education was part of the curricula. The decision on the right age for children or students to learn sex education has been questioned. The traditional and cultural bondage that most Pacific Islanders are tied to reveals discussing sex issues are taboo until a certain age. However, there are other ways apart from sex education in schools that can help raise awareness.

One of these, highly recommended by the Ministry of Education, is reading. Within the English curriculum at secondary level in Fiji, a library period is allocated per week where students are required to go to the library, under the supervision of their English teacher and use the facilities for research or reading. If students take the initiative to learn and read more about HIV-AIDS than they indirectly contribute a great deal to awareness advocacy. In the process, students will be able to understand basic information and their part in addressing this sensitive issue. The idea of introducing protective measures in the Pacific to combat HIV-AIDS is slowly taking its toll on people.

Condoms and contraceptives are highlighted as one of the best ways to minimise risk of being infected, apart from abstinence and faithfulness. However, the general behavioural and cultural attitude towards the use of contraceptives has been slow-changing but nonetheless, changing with a more positive approach.  With the introduction of the first Pacific-design male condoms launched at Nadi last year, people will be able to use the dual-purpose condom for family planning and prevention of STDs.

These were developed as part of a joint project by United Nations Population Fund Pacific, United Nations Children's Fund and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Even though condoms have been effective, in some cases, it has hindered population growth as in the case of the dormant population in Lomaiviti in January 2008. The alacrity to prevent HIV-AIDS resulted in the stagnation of population growth. Safe sex was practiced to an extent where couples were not having children. This effect of cautiousness and prevention definitely had multiple effects both positive and negative. In a final working draft of the Pacific Regional Strategy HIV-AIDS (2004-2008 HIV-AIDS and STI Section, PHP, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the first reported HIV case in a Pacific Island Country was in 1984 and since then there have been 8268 confirmed HIV infections and 1672 AIDS cases reported.

The draft said over 95 per cent of reported HIV infections had been from five Pacific Island Countries French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. However, there are many unreported cases throughout the region. Some of the key challenges in addressing HIV and AIDS in the region include: Inadequate surveillance and monitoring capacity at all levels; long distances and communications difficulties; providing sustained leadership at all levels; lack of resources; culture as a barrier to understanding and prevention initiatives, including lack of understanding of gender relations; lack of capacity in all aspects of HIV response and at all levels; difficulty in sustaining comprehensive national responses; the need for coordination at national and regional levels; need to deal with vulnerable groups; the need to address stigma and discrimination; the need to build capacity to provide treatment to those with AIDS.

In 2002, HIV and AIDS was discussed for the first time at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting where it was acknowledged that this was a development issue and could have devastating impact on the economies, societies and security of the region. In August 2003, leaders again discussed this and called for a regional strategy on HIV-AIDS to be developed by the 2004 Forum. A survey report conducted by UNAIDS inter agency task team on education for 2004, documented the outcomes of the first international survey of education sector readiness to manage and mitigate the impact of HIV-AIDS.

Ministries of education in 71 countries and civil society organisations in 18 countries were interviewed, in person and electronically, in separate research processes. The surveys conducted in 2004 were designed to help countries better understand the impact of HIV-AIDS on education as well as to identify key problems and omissions in response to date and guide future planning and programming.

Some of the key issues the report wanted to identify included: Ministry of Education HIV-AIDS structure; enabling environment for an effective response to HIVAIDS; HIV-AIDS and the curriculum; research guiding the response to HIV-AIDS in the education sector and responses aimed at those infected and affected. The report identifies challenges and opportunities that present themselves and issues of operational importance. It provided a number of recommendations designed to influence future responses in the education sector.

Moreover, one scope for improvement was an important need for an education sector HIV-AIDS policy development that would address the impact of HIV-AIDS on supply and demand, quality and outcomes of the sector. The survey called for more holistic and comprehensive responses to management and mitigation. It said available funds were likely to be more effective when applied across a balanced response agenda including prevention, care and support. To date, HIV-AIDS has been seen by the education sector as a public health issue rather than a systemic management issue.

[The Fiji Times]

SOUTH AFRICA

Young Hawks want Mbeki to act on youth plan

Johannesburg, Feb. 5- THE African National Congress Youth League says it expects President Thabo Mbeki's state of the nation address on Friday to address youth development strategies. Resolutions the ANC adopted on youth advancement at its elective conference in December included setting up a national youth development agency.

The agency is likely to be formed this year through a merger of the National Youth Commission and Umsobomvu Youth Fund. While the agency has the backing of the league, which believes it will streamline youth development efforts, there are fears the new organisation will be as ineffective as its predecessors, both statutory bodies. The commission, mandated to draw up policy and monitor implementation, achieved little. The fund, which was meant to fund youth projects and focus on skills development, has only lately begun to have much effect.

Outgoing youth league president Fikile Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg yesterday that it was critical to establish the agency this year and that Mbeki addressed this when he opened Parliament on Friday. "I hope that President Mbeki in his state of the nation will reflect on that particular point. If he doesn't, it will really be a sorry day for this critical matter," he said. Mbalula said there was consensus that the agency was necessary. It was hoped it would help curb unemployment, which was especially prevalent among youngsters and women.

Mbeki is likely to touch on the agency as it is understood the government has identified it as one of seven ANC resolutions that can be accomplished this year. Youth league secretary-general Sihle Zikalala said the agency would have the capacity to assist government departments to drive youth programmes. "It will be more accessible to young people from various levels (than the commission and fund) because it will go down to district level. The previous ones were only at national and provincial levels."

The agency would also be responsible for implementing the integrated youth development strategy adopted by the ANC's national general council, which still needed to be made government policy. Mbalula will address the youth league's national working committee next Tuesday on what he believes the character of the future leadership of the league should be. Although he denied yesterday that he was backing a particular candidate as his successor, some media have reported that he favours the league's Limpopo secretary, Julius Manema.

[Business Day]

UZBEKISTAN

2008 - The year of youth in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Feb. 27 - IT has become a kind tradition in the Republic of Uzbekistan to dedicate each year to a particular direction of social policy. The year 2008, as well, on the proposal of President Islam Karimov has been announced as the Year of Youth. This initiative of the head of state became the logical continuation of the work to provide for the interests of the upcoming generation that was started since the early years of Uzbekistan's independence. After all, the youth accounts for the most significant part of the Uzbek society. At the moment, 10 million 400 thousand young people at the age of up to 18 years old, or about 40% of the country's total population, reside in Uzbekistan, and at the age of up to 30 years old - over 17 million people, which makes up 64% of the population.

Uzbekistan was the first in the CIS area to have adopted the Law 'On foundations of state youth policy in the Republic of Uzbekistan' (November 20, 1991). The country has defined the care about the youth, support of its initiatives and protection of personal rights and freedoms as the priority directions of the law. The law provided for the legal and social protection of the young people, direct participation of the youth in shaping and implementing the policy of development of society. The strategically important tasks have been consistently realized in the Uzbek society for over the past 16 years of the country's independence. They have played a significant role in ensuring so that the youth gains the deep knowledge, forms the professional skills, and fully manifests its talents.

In the framework of ongoing reforms in the educational sphere the Law 'On education' (July 2, 1992) and the National Program for Cadres Training (1997) have been adopted in the country. According to the experts, the Program does not have analogs in terms of its significance and scale. The Program, unique both on its essence and substance, which envisages the transition onto a 12-year education, makes up an integral continuous system of education. It imbibes the nine-year general secondary school and a three-year secondary special professional training at colleges and academic lyceums.

The academic lyceums, which are established at the higher educational institutions, give the young people an opportunity to obtain the deeper knowledge to gain the higher education on the chosen majors, and the colleges, along with continuing the education on special subjects, allow to acquire the medium-qualification profession on two to three subjects so that each and every person joining the mature life could realize his abilities and find his own place in society. In the framework of the National Program for Cadres Training the country implements the State nationwide program for developing the school education, which is also aimed at until 2009.

Since the start of implementation of the national educational programs Uzbekistan has newly built and fully repaired about 1140 academic lyceums and professional colleges, over 4680 general education schools equipped with modern furniture, study and laboratory equipment, computer and language-learning classes. The radical reforms were carried out in the sphere of higher special education. The country undertook the transition onto a European system of training the bachelor's and master's students. At the moment, about 300 thousand students attend the 65 higher educational institutions nationwide on 850 directions and majors.

For over the past years Uzbekistan has channeled the budget and non-budget funds worth over 5 billion dollars for the construction of contemporary and well equipped educational institutions. At the early years of independence the 'Umid' Foundation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to support the study of talented youth abroad, as well as the 'Ustoz' Republican Foundation have been established in Uzbekistan to assist the young talented scientists, pedagogues, and students to step onto the level of advanced scientific research and high technologies. Later, those foundations were brought together into the 'Istedod' Foundation of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to raise the qualification of perspective young pedagogues and scientific cadres.

On March 4, 1993 on the Decree of President Islam Karimov the first order of independent Uzbekistan - 'Soghlom avlod uchun' (‘For healthy generation') was instituted. The institution of the order 'Soghlom avlod uchun' pursued one of the supreme goals - to bring up the healthy generation, shape the healthy way of life. Later, the International charity fund 'Soghlom avlod uchun' has been established. Nowadays, the experience of Uzbekistan in the sphere of education and upbringing the upcoming generation attracts the attention of foreign specialists. The state policy in this direction continues to develop. As President Islam Karimov has said, the rise of quality of education, creation of broad opportunities and assistance to university and institute graduates in applying the acquired knowledge and professions must become principally important issues.

The issues of social protection of the young people receive a special attention in Uzbekistan. The law provides for the minimum level of social care of the youth. It guarantees the free medical services and education, attendance of recreational and cultural facilities on easy terms, the soft loans for the construction or procurement of housing and other privileges. The Decree of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan 'On additional measures to materially and morally stimulate the young families' of May 18, 2007 became the basis to shape the new stage in the youth policy. At the moment, there are more than 995 thousand young families in Uzbekistan, which accounts for about 16% of all families in the country.

In line with this document, the young families are receiving assistance in building the housing, procuring the construction materials, and equipping the household. For such purposes they are receiving the mortgage, consumer and micro credits. In 2007 alone the commercial banks in the country allocated the soft loans worth in total UZS 50 billion. Those funds were channeled to establish the small business and private entrepreneurship, construction, procurement and rent of housing, purchase of furniture and expensive household technique.

The care about the health of young generation is an important priority of the state youth policy. The Ministry of Health and the country's medical workers have accomplished a profound work in this direction. The protection of motherhood and childhood remains at the focus of attention. At the moment, the network of screening centers successfully operates in Uzbekistan. They provide for the health of young mothers and babies. The solid and time-honored system of bringing up the healthy generation has been established in the country. In 2002 on the initiative of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan the Fund for development the children's sports of Uzbekistan was established. It has become the organizer of popular physical culture and sports engagement with children and young men and women in the country. For over the period since the Fund has been established more than 720 children's sports facilities have been built and repaired. For those purposes the state has allocated over UZS 140 billion.

Starting the year 2000 the country annually holds the sports competitions that include the three stages - 'Umid nikhollari' (for the pupils of general secondary education schools), 'Barkamol avlod' (for the students at the academic lyceums and professional colleges) and Student Games (for the students of higher education institutions). The Student Games - 2007, which was held last year in Tashkent, became a true manifestation of the Uzbek sports. The said youth sports forum has brought together nearly 2400 strongest students nationwide to compete on basketball, volleyball, handball, tennis and table tennis, football, track and fields, swimming, judo, chess, and two types of kurash wrestling. The students competed for 224 set of awards. About 800 students secured the Games medals.

Starting April 2001 the Uzbekistan Special Olympics functions in the country, which has become a part of the Special Olympics International. It has been registered as the public charity organization to assist the mentally disabled people. Uzbekistan Special Olympics aims to hold the year-round trainings and sports competitions on various Olympic types of sports for the children and grown-ups with mental disabilities, while rendering permanent support for them to physically develop, experience joy and share with their achievements, talents, abilities and friendship with their families, other athletes of the Special Olympics and society.

The special athletes from Uzbekistan secured 6 gold and silver, as well as 7 bronze medals at the World Summer Games of the Special Olympics for the mentally disable children that took place in September - October 2007 in Shanghai with participation of 7600 athletes from 178 countries. The Public Youth Movement 'Kamolot', which unites more than 5 million young men and women, makes a profound contribution to the development of harmonically matured young generation. The Resolution of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan 'On the support of Public Youth Movement 'Kamolot' and further raising the efficiency of its activity' has rendered a new impetus to the development of the organization's work with young men and women and has allowed 'Kamolot' to become a reliable support and associate of youth, which assists in addressing the youth-facing problems. The assistance in employment of young people is one of the first and foremost objectives of the movement. Above all, the point is about the youth in the rural arearea. The young families, servicemen who have served in the country's Armed Forces, young entrepreneurs and farmers find themselves under the special patronage of the movement. The network of social services centers have been established in Uzbekistan. Those centers help in rendering the legal, medical aid, choosing profession and training to obtain new professions, employment of youth. The movement works given the support of talented youth, as well, by holding the youth festivals, exhibitions, and creative contests.

Yet the youngest talents are also under the care of 'Kamolot'. The Republican children's organization of 'Kamalak' (‘Rainbow') is one of active wings of the movement. It has the vast structure, which unites over 4 million schoolchildren. The upbringing of the harmonically developed young generation in Uzbekistan is of the most significant priorities. At the same time, it is important that upbringing and education of the forthcoming generation are based both on the national traditions and values, and advanced international experience.

In this context, one may refer to the results of the recent sociological research by 'Ijtimoiy fikr' Center 'Youth of independent Uzbekistan: social positions and view towards future'. The research has revealed the vital priorities of contemporary youth. The outcomes of the poll allow to note the main thing: the absolute majority of young men and women of the country consider themselves patriots of Uzbekistan. The most significant are such criteria as the selfless service to Homeland and readiness to defend it, augmenting the people's fame and values of the national traditions, to be worth of heritage of great ancestors, and knowledge of history of Homeland. Those values come first at all age groups in various parts of Uzbekistan.

The research has revealed the high optimism among the youth. It does have concrete plans for the future in terms of the wish to become a good specialist and serve one's Fatherland. They enjoy good social feeling given the political and economic stability in the Uzbek society. Particularly, over 80% of young men and women of Uzbekistan have said they were satisfied with their lives. The state promotes the unveiling of talented youth. Thus, the nationwide prize 'Nikhol' which was instituted in 2000 has become an important step in supporting the youth in the sphere of arts and developing the national variety arts.

Thanks to the State prize after the name of Zulfia instituted in honor of the people's poetess of Uzbekistan thousands of girls successfully start off and realize themselves in the sphere of education, science, literature, culture and arts. At the moment, the bulk of large-scale projects on the support of young people are implemented by non-state non-profit organizations. Speaking at the festive meeting dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has noted the need to support and render assistance to the implementation of projects by non-state organizations that make a significant contribution to the development of young generation.

The 'Forum of culture and arts of Uzbekistan' Fund established in 2004 is among those who actively supports the youth of the country. The large projects are being implemented under aegis of the Fund. They are the nationwide contest of talented youth 'Kelajak ovozi' (‘Voice of future'), the nationwide festivals of traditional and contemporary art 'Navkiron Uzbekiston' (‘Uzbekistan's youth'), and 'Yangi avlod' (‘New generation'). Those projects are peculiar thanks to the fact that they are initiated by the youth itself. In 2006 the active young men and women - the prizewinners of various contests - established the Center for youth initiatives 'Kelajak ovozi' at the Fund. Through the Center the youth can realize its ideas. This, undoubtedly, will help the youth to better their knowledge, develop the talent, and perfect its mastery.

The Charity Fund 'Mekhr nuri' also actively supports the talented children. Each year this organization along with 'Forum of culture and arts of Uzbekistan' Fund initiates the program of educational grants and scholarship contest for the talented students that attend the universities and institutes in Uzbekistan. The Republican Public Children's Fund 'Sen yolghiz emassan' (‘You are not alone') - the non-profit non-state public charity organization founded on November 22, 2002, accomplishes a big role in conducting the purposeful social policy in the country. The subject-groups of the Fund's activity are the orphan children; the children left without parental guidance; as well as the disabled children; the children from families with limited means; the children and families found themselves in tough life situations; and the talented children.
 
The main mission of the Children's Fund 'Sen yolghiz emassan' is to comprehensively assist in creating the conditions for a worthy life and full-fledged development of children, maintain the priority of family and provide for the effective protection of children's interests in need of societal support. Speaking about the main goals and priorities of the State program on the Year of Youth President Islam Karimov has underscored in his address dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Constitution of Uzbekistan that strengthening the legal basis and reconsideration of legislative acts currently in force aimed at providing for the interests of the young generation must become a priority.

To raise the cultural level and enrich the spiritual world of the youth, further promote its strife towards arts and the beauty the elaboration and adoption this year of the State program of improving the activity of children's music schools and schools of arts aimed for 2009-2014 should be enlisted among the most significant tasks. Proceeding from this, the most important priority objectives have been defined for the year 2008. They are the protection of rights and interests of the young generation, obtaining by them the contemporary knowledge and professions, training the new formation cadres able to withstand the harmful influences and currents alien to our mentality, and able to take a worthy place in the life of society.

As President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov put it in his speech on the 15th anniversary of Constitution of Uzbekistan, 'The youth is not only our hope and future, but it is a decisive force of our today and tomorrow'. Such definition will serve as the basis of the country's youth policy. In this respect, 2008 is called upon to establish the foundation based on which the builders of the country's future will have to address the tasks on its further democratization and constructing the modern democratic society.

[PR Inside]

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Commonwealth youth plan launched

Saint John's, Feb. 24 - THE Commonwealth Youth Programme, Caribbean Centre (CYPCC) launched the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE), which is intended to guide all youth development policies and activities in the region until 2015. The launch was held at the Jolly Beach Resort during the opening of the still ongoing CYPCC Capacity Building Training for Regional Directors of Youth.

CYPCC PAYE Project's Manager Dwyneth Eversley said the document is a tool, a blueprint for all their actions with young people.  She said it is a modern strategic plan to assist governments and other organisations working with young people to develop youth development programmes. PAYE 2007 to 2015 contains 13 action points gleaned from young people and governments that would help develop youth empowerment, which is defined as the ability to make choices, the awareness of the implications of those choices, taking action freely and accepting responsibility.

Some points include the professionalisation of the youth work sector, engaging the youth to protect the environment, the strengthening of ministries, departments and legal frameworks for youth affairs and provide quality education for all. Out of the 13 points, Eversley said that the CYPCC identified 10 points that it will support the governments to implement, critical among them being economic enfranchisement, entrepreneurship, health, culture, human rights and employable skills.

“The development of young people is a national issue; it is not the sole issue of a youth ministry or department. "Most importantly, we must develop the mechanism so that young people are at all stages apart of their own development process,” Eversley said. Director of Youth Cleon Athill said she considers the PAYE a good monitoring tool for local youth initiatives. She said, “So I can use it to see if I am going along the right path. Any young person can hold me and the department accountable.”

Additionally, as it represents the commitment the government would have made to Commonwealth with regards to youth development, she said she can also hold the government accountable. Athill added that when the National Youth Policy was being formulated the (CYP) was consulted heavily, so a lot of the directives and guidelines are already integrated in it. The timing and activities of the PAYE coincide with the timeline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The action points also have indicators of success for governments that are in tune with the indicators of the MDGs.

The CYPCC Regional Director Henry Charles presented copies of the youth policy to Minister of Youth Winston Williams, Jamaica’s Minister of Youth and Community Development Warren Newby and local journalists, whom he considered partners who would communicate the ideals of PAYE.

[AntiguaSun]

PAKISTAN

Of depleting moral values among youth

Islamabad, Feb 6 - With issues related to youth never given the importance they deserve, the most ignored area remains the depleting moral values among the most energetic segment of our society constituting 27 percent of our population. Some recent reports of sexual harassment of women by teenage boys point to the fact that there is a need to put in extra efforts to address this aspect and raise awareness about protecting moral values. Recently a teenager molested a woman in a public park while in a similar incident, a few college boys harassed a girl on Rawalpindi’s Tipu Road as she returned from school. On the other hand police say that cell phone snatchers are also mostly young boys.

Psychiatrists often point to considerable increase in the number of youngsters using drugs and those who blindly adopt negative aspects of developed societies for a decline in morality. According to a report, among the 4.01 million chronic drug abusers, more than 60 percent are under the age of 30. In Pakistan youth is defined as population within the age group on 15 to 29 years. Behaviourists believe that due to constant flow of information and changes in social system — a by-product of development, the number of youth using drugs and experimenting with their relationships, is increasing. “It is the responsibility of parents and teacher to inculcate moral values among youth and help them distinguish between adventure and what is wrong,” said Noreen Seher, a behaviourist at Bahria University.

She explained said that there was a need to understand the changed environment the youth was living in. “When elders discard such values considering them useless, they cannot expect much good from the children and the results are there for everyone to see,” she pointed out. Voice was raised at some youth forums but was ignored while more importance continues to be given to issues related to reproductive health and ways the new generation could stay safe from HIV AIDS. Leaders at these forums consider them the bigger issues confronting the youth because of extensive exposure to media and internet.

At one such forum of representatives of international organisations and civil society working on youth, a girl wearing a veil asked the panel on what was being done to address the falling morality graph among youth. Instead of acknowledging the fact, the organisers said that it was the society that made youngsters believe that certain things were morally wrong. “It is a tool to avoid discussion on certain topics,” said an organiser, ignoring the fact that he too was avoiding discussion on an important subject.

The National Youth Policy that has not yet to get the cabinet’s nod, however considers the decline of moral values a major challenge confronting the youth. It suggests propagation of Islamic values, ideology of Pakistan, norms of good citizenship and human values as a solution to the problem. The policy also recommends producing films, dramas, advertisements and documentaries leading to good moral lessons.

[The News]

Youth council pushes for democracy in Belarus

Copenhagen, Feb. 1 - The Nordic Youth Council calls on the Nordic Council to exert pressure for democratic reforms in Belarus. The youth politicians are also calling for discrimination against the disabled and ethnic minorities to be put on the Nordic agenda. "Belarus is a forgotten dictatorship," says the Danish President of the Nordic Youth Council, Lisbeth Sejer Gøtzsche. Following the meeting of the Presidium on Tuesday, the NYC requested that the Nordic Council focus on Belarusian human rights and freedom of speech. This refers, amongst other things, to an incident three weeks ago when the Nordic Youth Council attended a meeting in Minsk and witnessed ten Belarusian young people being arrested and three of them remanded in custody because they took part in a demonstration. At their meeting on Tuesday the Presidium called for the Nordic Council to place equality and discrimination on the Nordic agenda, with particular focus on ethnic and sexual minorities as well as the disabled. "We must treat people as  resources and not as a burden," says Gøtzsche. The Nordic attitude is against discrimination, says the President of the NYC. She believes that the difficultly lies in implementing it and that the State should lead by example in regard to employing disabled people and ethnic minorities.

[Nordic Council]

AUSTRALIA

Ceremony honours young volunteers

Perth, Feb 15 - YOUNG volunteers from across Perth and Kinross celebrated their volunteering achievements at a special awards ceremony which took place in the Salutation Hotel. The Millennium Volunteering Awards evening, organised by the Volunteer Centre (part of local charity PKAVS), saw volunteers aged 16 to 25 being applauded for contributions to their communities.

Over 70 young people received certificates as part of a Scottish Government initiative which marks 50, 100 and 200 hours of volunteering. Months of hard work and dedication were praised as local volunteers amassed a staggering 7000 hours of voluntary activity among them. Organisations represented on the night included Churches Action for the Homeless, CityBase, Princes Trust, Scottish Youth Parliament, Strathmore Centre for Youth Development, Web Project, Youth Council, Young Fairfield Crew, Youth Forum and the Young People’s Panel.

This year, the Volunteer Centre introduced two special awards to recognise outstanding achievements by an individual or team of volunteers. The Special Team Award, sponsored by the Volunteer Centre, went to Strathmore Centre for Youth Development (SCYD), a Blairgowrie-based charity which provides a range of services to residents aged 12 to 25 living in Strathmore and the Glens.

Volunteers at SCYD have developed a variety of community-based activities, from picking up litter and organising activity-based residential trips for young people, to running projects which encourage improved intergenerational contact and understanding. The final award of the evening, the MV Star Award, was presented to 16-year old Kyle Beatson for his outstanding commitment to volunteering. As well as being part of the management committee of SCYD, Kyle is a member of Perth and Kinross Youth Council and takes part in the Young People’s Lottery Panel. His achievements at SYCD include organising a Battle of the Bands for over 300 young people and giving presentations to community groups to help change perceptions about younger people.

The MV Star award was sponsored by local businessman Kenny Simpson, who has himself enjoyed a life-long commitment to volunteering. Kenny commented: “It gives me great pleasure to sponsor the MV Star Award. Having been a volunteer for 40 years, the last 14 of which involved working with youths, I can fully appreciate the time and effort the volunteer puts in. “In this day and age, it is excellent to hear of so many young people doing so much good for their own peers and older groups. With the right resources, funding, time and most importantly the right calibre of people, let us hope that we can encourage more young volunteers to take Kyle’s path.”

[Perthshire Advertiser]

BELGIUM

The European youth pact needs greater impact: YFJ launches new report on its implementation

Brussels, Feb. 14 - The European Youth Forum (YFJ) welcomes the “Key messages on further implementation of the European Pact for Youth”, adopted today by the Education, Youth and Culture Council of the European Union. The implementation of the European Youth Pact should be genuine and better coordinated on the national level in line with the structured dialogue which aims at involving young people in policy shaping debates. The YFJ strongly supports the Council’s consideration on the need for further progress towards a cross-sector youth policy. While the Council’s key messages point out that “Member States should work with young people and all the relevant partners to improve the implementation and evaluation process regarding the European Youth Pact”, it falls short of mentioning the role youth organisations can play, both in adding a valuable youth perspective to the debate and contributing to the realisation of the Pact’s objectives.

Moreover, the YFJ considers that the European Youth Pact should be discussed regularly, e.g. on the occasion of the publication of the Commission’s three-yearly Youth Report, and in the Council of Ministers for General Affairs, and that it should not be limited to the Education, Youth and Culture Council: in such a way, policies at both the national and European level can then be developed and effectively coordinated together. The Council of Ministers for General Affairs is a Council formation that will only be created if the Lisbon Treaty is adopted. On the occasion of the adoption of these ‘Key messages’, and ahead of the European Council Spring Summit (to be held on 6-7 March), the European Youth Forum is launching the “YFJ Shadow Report on the Implementation of the European Youth Pact”. This political instrument, adopted by the European Council in 2005 as part of the revised Lisbon Strategy, aims to improve education, training, mobility, employment and the social inclusion of young people. However, the whole spectrum of European youth policies has not yet been able to significantly improve the social and professional integration of young people. To reach the ambitious objectives concerning youth set out in the Lisbon Strategy, the EU Member States should fulfil their commitments.

[Youth Forum]

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