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: Yemen, Fiji, Botswana, Jamaica, Namibia, Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, England, Scotland, USA, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Russia

Bringing youth news around the world

IN this bulletin:

YEMEN : Al-Gharbi meets Democracy Initiative members

FIJI : Telecom supports youth initiative

BOTSWANA : BNYC consults on formation of youth fora ; Youth should shun
unprotected sex

JAMAICA : National Youth Council Being Revamped to Reach More Young People

NAMIBIA : Bank joins Youth Council in expo partnership

RWANDA : Districts, Youth Form National Reconciliation Forums; Ministry to
Empower Youths

GHANA : British Council challenges youth; Youth in Upper E/R learn
entrepreneurial skills

MALAWI : Malawi to set up youth enterprise development fund

ENGLAND : British Youth Council urges MPs to make minimum wage equal

SCOTLAND : Young Scots asked to examine country’s ‘culture of alcohol’;
Local youth participate in NAACP march

USA : Local teens face real-world problems

KENYA : Youth told to lobby for Eala seats

AZERBAIJAN : Azerbaijan, China discuss prospects of youth policy cooperation

RUSSIA : Medvedev to call State Council on youth policy if proposals ready

NIGERIA : 'Youth restiveness, a disconnection from mainstream society'

PAKISTAN : Sindh Ministry of Youth Affairs, NAPA to stage drama

BARBADOS : More funds needed to help nation’s youth

NEW ZEALAND : Emergency housing plan for at-risk youth

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YEMEN

Al-Gharbi meets Democracy Initiative members

Sana’a, March 30 - UNDER Secretary of the Capital Secretariat Mohammed al-Gharbi met on Monday a team of the Democracy and Change Initiative -the Leaders of Future.

Al-Gharbi affirmed adherence of Capital Secretariat leadership to support all youth initiatives, asking members of local councils for supporting youth survey teams.

He appreciated the initiative's activities that aim at training the members of Child Parliament, pointing to the importance of youth participation in following up local councils.

The initiative team briefed their missions and project's goals that would be achieved by the Democracy School in cooperation with Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

[SABA]

*************************************************

FIJI

Telecom supports youth initiative

Suva, March 20 -TELECOM Fiji Limited’s (TFL) support of the National Youth Day Suva and Labasa programme indicates the value that the organisation places on young people as essential participants of society says Director for Youth and Sports, Sakaraia T Naivalu.

TFL donating a total $11,275 to support the themed march competition, the music fest programme and the National Youth Day workshop at the Civic Centre today.

The fund also supports post flood rehabilitation programmes being organised by the department’s northern divisional office and the Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata Provincial Youth Councils in Labasa.

“We are grateful to TFL for their kind donation and their support and
commitment in celebrating the lives of youths as essential agents for positive
change in society,” Naivalu said.

“Their support indicates that they recognise young people’s potential to
impact communities positively and this is really the message that we hope to
communicate to the private sector so that they can invest strategically in youth
development,” he added.

[FIJI DAILY POST]

*****************************************************

BOTSWANA

BNYC consults on formation of youth fora

Serowe, March 10 - THE Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) is on a
nationwide tour consulting stakeholders about the ambition to form District
Youth/Local Authority fora.

The BNYC Executive Director Mr Ndulamo Morima said this when addressing a
meeting in Serowe recently.

According to Mr Morima, the objectives of these fora are among others, to act
as a link between the local community and the local authority, act as a liaison
body between the young people and the district youth desk officers and to debate
and present issues pertaining to youth development.

The forum will comprise nine members from six major bodies which are district
youth council, village/ward youth councils, Non-Governmental Organisations,
district council, land board and District Administration.

According to Mr Morima, the purpose of this consultation was to get the
public's opinion on the formation of the forum.

"We are here to ask your advice, especially in the following departments;
chairpersonship, nature and frequency of the meetings, objectives and if we
really need the forum", he said.

Local Entrepreneurs Authority (LEA) Sofficial, Mr Ramasia Ramasia welcomed the
move.

"Since LEA is also passionate about issues of youth development we believe
you are in the right track, but I will advice you not to appoint any one in
office, for example the district officer or council secretary as the forum's
chairperson because they already have their plates full, this is a serious issue
on its own", he said.

South Region's Youth Coordinator, Ms Keletso Koosaletse advised that the
forum should look for its own chairperson who will be solely responsible for the
forum.

"There are cases where we appoint people who are already working to chair
some clubs and societies then we equip them with the relevant education.

From there their employer transfers them to other stations, this is a draw back
to us because they leave with our education to benefit different regions, said
Ms Koosaletse.

Meanwhile, another participant Ms Lesego who represented Serowe youth raised
concern about the accessibility of LEA, CEDA and youth funds.

"These are only benefiting those from well off families who can afford to
pay for the required business plan, since most of us are not learned therefore
can not write a sound business proposal that can help you win the funds",
she said.   

[BOPA]

Youth should shun unprotected sex

Ramostwa, March 30 -YOUNG people have been called upon to prepare and plan for
an HIV/AIDS free nation by disengaging from unprotected sex for the attainment
of a safe and secure nation by 2016.

Botswana National Youth Council's regional coordinator in the north, Mr
Goitse Mpolokang said the country aspires to attain an HIV/AIDS free generation
by 2016.

Speaking at a Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) at Police College recently, Mr
Mpookang said that goal is possible if every Motswana, particularly the youth,
could commit themselves to behavioral change and discipline in issues of
adolescent sexual health by taking personal responsibility.

He challenged young people to take stock of the successes and challenges of
HIV/AIDS interventions for the past eleven years since the inception of MYAA.

He said HIV/AIDS continues to ravage humanity unsparingly by negatively
impacting the quality of life of individuals throughout the entire spectrum of
life, causing persistent pain and suffering of all the affected.

He added that HIV/AIDS is a threat to economic, social and political stability
of any country. Mr Mpolokang said some individuals have resorted to risky
behaviours to earn a living, alleviate poverty and fight unemployment by
engaging in commercial sex and many others.

He said the modern Police College in Otse provides an opportunity to young
people as it trains and guides them to learn to do things which, in the long
run, could promote their adolescent sexual reproductive health. "Youth as
leaders of today must take a participatory and leading role in the fight against
AIDS", he added.

Mr Mpolokang said there has been a strong political commitment to fight the
epidemic as proven by the provision of national intervention programmes to
contain the scourge.

He said other countries envy Botswana's proactive response and position to
the epidemic. As such "we must utilise these to save and prolong
lives".

This year's theme 'One me, One Partner, One Life' he said,
challenges young people to adopt ways to prevent HIV acquisition.

He said the youth must take pride in abstinence until marriage. He also urged
young couples to be faithful to their sole life-long partner.

Mr Mpolokang said HIV/AIDS is a predicament to health and requires a multi
faceted and holistic approach hence government's introduction of youth
economic empowerment programmes to augment the national HIV/AIDS intervention
programmes.

He said those government programmes are important because pregnancy among the
youth is still high because of unemployment.

It is reported that the courts in Botswana are flooded with unemployed young
women requesting to be assisted to bring men to court so that they could support
their children. He said that is a clear testimony that young women are having
unprotected sex and outside marriage.

On the other hand men have been accused of basking on cultural myths and
believe to exacerbate the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He said cultural myths and beliefs extra marital affairs by married men and
other Setswana sayings such as monna phafana o a fapaanelwa and monna poo ga a
agelwe lesaka should be viewed with the contempt they deserve. Mr Mpolokang said
men must take equal responsibility by stopping to use their economical strength
to lure young girls into unprotected sexual acts.

He said the interest of the government is to mould a robust young person with
an ability to take decisions where it matters most in sexual relationships.

[BOPA]

***************************************************

JAMAICA

National Youth Council Being Revamped to Reach More Young People

Kingston, March 23 - THE National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) is
revamping the National Youth Council to enhance and extend its reach to the
country's young people.

Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council, Trishan Haughton, tells JIS News
that the restructuring is necessary, as "it was found that the level of
involvement of youth clubs is somewhat limited because previously, we operated
in a kind of top-down approach and so we are trying to take it from the bottom
up."

She notes that the restructuring will not change the overall objective of the
Council, as it will still represent community-based youth organisations,
"but the structure itself and the reach and in terms of specific goals,
specific mandates - that might change."

As part of the reform process, a registration campaign, dubbed 'Getting
Involved,' will get underway soon, where youth clubs across the island will
be encouraged to register with the Council. Through registration, the clubs will
be able to access the various benefits provided by the NCYD, including financing
for projects and other activities.

Youth clubs can access a $25,000 subvention to be used as seed money for
fund-raising activities, among other things. A total of 106 youth clubs
benefitted from this grant last year. Financial support is also provided for
uniformed youth organisations. Last year, 10 such groups received $500,000 in
grants.

In addition to these monetary benefits, Miss Haughton, who is also Youth
Empowerment Officer at the NCYD, says that having a registry for all youth clubs
will make the process of holding Youth Council elections easier.

"Every time that you want to have elections, clubs have to be found and
verified all over again. Having conducted this campaign, you will always have a
working list of clubs, (and) that will be the voters' list of the electoral
process," she points out.

Turning to other programmes under the NCYD, Miss Haughton informs that changes
will also be made to the Youth Ambassadors Programme this year, with the
Ambassadors-at-Large to be given portfolio areas, "so that they can hone in
on specific areas of work."

The majority of Youth Ambassadors have specific portfolios, each with precise
mandates. There are Youth Ambassadors to the Commonwealth, to the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), and to the United Nations General Assembly.

Geared towards enhancing the leadership skills of Jamaica's youth, the
Youth Ambassadors Programme selects young people to represent the views of
Jamaica's youth population, internationally, regionally, and nationally. The
Ambassadors have represented Jamaica in other Caribbean countries, Sri Lanka,
the United States, and countries in Europe.

These youth leaders sit on several boards in and outside of Jamaica, and attend
meetings such as the United Nations General Assembly, and any other
youth-related conference to speak or advocate on behalf of young people in
Jamaica.

Miss Haughton explains that in order to be selected as a Youth Ambassador,
persons have to be within the age range of 18 to 25 years, and be a member of a
youth organisation. "The first stage involves you writing an essay and if
your essay is selected, you move on to phase two where we .test your ability to
work in teams and your interpersonal skills," she informs.

She says that those who make it through this process are asked to make a
presentation to a group of young people, "because you would be representing
them, so we look at how it is that you relate to young people, how they relate
to you, how well you communicate with them. If you've made it through all
that, the final thing is an interview."

From that final interview, a Youth Ambassador is selected to serve for a
two-year period. Twelve to 14 persons serve during each two-year cycle.

During their tenure, the Youth Ambassadors are required to remain a part of
their original youth group, and engage in voluntary activities to benefit those
in the 15 to 25 age group. "So they might conduct empowerment sessions.
They (can) engage in activities like children's home ventures," Miss
Haughton points out.

Youth Ambassadors sit on various boards and they have been involved with the
Violence Prevention Alliance and the process to reform the justice system.

The NCYD is the youth division of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth
and Sports, and works to promote the empowerment of youth and to advocate for
public investment in young people.

"The work that we do is focused around the need for an effective public
policy framework to support the transition from childhood to adulthood. The
objectives of NCYD include fostering an environment, which allows for young
people in Jamaica to self-actualise," Miss Haughton informs.

These objectives are realised through the various programmes that the NCYD
co-ordinates, which, in addition to the National Youth Council and the Youth
Ambassadors Programme, entail the National Secondary Students Council, the
Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students, and Spotlight Bright.

The organisation also co-ordinates Operation Phoenix, under which Youth
Information Centres are constructed and operated. There are now five centres in
Portmore, St. Mary, Kingston, Portland and St. James, where young people can
access free internet service, do their homework and benefit from sessions
conducted by the parish Youth Empowerment Officers.

The NCYD is also in charge of organising Youth Month activities in November of
each year, which include Youth Parliament, International Students Day, Marching
Band Day, Youth Entrepreneurs' Exposition, Youth Organisations Sports Day,
and an all-island youth run. Activities culminate with the Prime Minister's
Youth Awards.

According to Miss Haughton, the NCYD's work is driven by the National Youth
Policy, which aims to foster a culture of positive youth development and
participation. The policy is broken down into six focal areas: education and
training; employment and entrepreneurship; health; participation and
empowerment; care and protection; and the environment.

[JIS]

*******************************************************

NAMIBIA

Bank joins Youth Council in expo partnership

Windhoek, March 20 - FNB has committed in excess of N$500,000 to the Annual
Youth Expo since 2005 which brought more than 300 young entrepreneurs to
Windhoek annually to showcase their products, said FNB Group Communications
Manager, Cassius Moetie earlier this week. For this year’s upcoming Youth
Expo, NB is committing another N$100,000. The Youth Expo is taking place
concurrently with the National Youth Week, this time in Swakopmund.

“The FNB Foundation has pledged a long-term partnership with the National
Youth Council to build the annual youth expo into a popular youth exposition, a
platform where young people can exhibit their products which can easily become
profitable SME’s to secure funding from FNB’s SME division,” said Moetie.

“We regard the National Youth Council as an investment property of the FNB
Group because we have invested in access of N$500,000 in the NYC’s Youth Expo.
This investment makes FNB the anchor sponsor after the Ministry of Youth,
National Service, Sport & Culture,” claimed Moetie.

The National Youth Council has recently announced that they brought forward the
Youth Expo to coincide with the National Youth Week taking place from 27 April
to 3 May in Swakopmund. “As we speak, we have no financial commitment to help
us cover the organisational expenses of the National Youth Week, however, we in
the Youth Council can confidently say that FNB is our trusted and long-time
financial service provider that was and will always be there when we need them
most. Perhaps, FNB’s How can we help you? catch-phrase, is always alive when
we  knock at FNB’s doors for help” Mandela Kapere, Acting General-Secretary
of the National Youth Council said.

Kapere said: “FNB will remain the main sponsor of the Swakopmund National
Youth Week, while the government as the parent of the National Youth Council
will continue its uncompromising commitment to raise the youth to ultimately
drive the economy through the informal sector.”

[The Economist]

***********************************************************

RWANDA

Districts, Youth Form National Reconciliation Forums

Kigali, March 22 - DISTRICTS authorities and youth leaders have been asked to
establish national round tables where interactive discussions to promote unity
and togetherness among Rwandans are held.

These forums would set up committees representing the people and will be
charged with the responsibility to give ideas with the aim of contributing to
lasting national progress.

According to Fatuma Ndangiza the Executive Secretary of the National Unity and
Reconciliation Commission (NURC) this would strengthen the cooperation between
the commission and other stake holders in peace building efforts.

She said tha during the launch of the youth forum at La Palisse Nyandungu
yesterday, Ndangiza challenged all Rwandans to own a share of the county's
history and subsequently plan for a better future.

"Youth are the backbone of the nation; their dynamism is what made the
majority of them participate in the dark days of the country during the
genocide. You should build on your strong points and build unity at the national
level," she said.

Sylvie Nsanga, the Executive secretary and acting chairperson of the National
Youth Council (NYC), called upon collective participation and condemned youth
associations which do not put what they preach into action.

"We discourage those who do not do what they are supposed to do and only
hide in the name of promoting unity among the youth. They should come up with
clear clarifications of how they work and we shall support them as much as we
can," Nsanga said.

NURC has been organizing consultations with different groups like faith
leaders, the media and women representatives to discuss about their role in the
promotion of unity and reconciliation.

These forums will meet every three months to create a platform for discussion
on unity and reconciliation and to evaluate and report on their role and
participation in reconciliation.

[The New Times]

Ministry to Empower Youths

Kigali, March 30 - THE Ministry of Youth (MINIYOUTH) is mooting an idea of
initiating more income generating activities for the youths in the country to
improve their standards of living.

According to Jean Serge Polisi, an official from the ministry, they are looking
at ways of putting up Youth Friendly Centres (YFC) in various places which will
help youth access information on how to develop themselves.

"We are planning to have a plethora of activities to help the youth this
is especially because you find many of them have some skills but they just need
to be trained on putting in practice what they learnt in theory," said
Polisi, in an interview with The New Times.

He said that so far, there are 17 YFC out of 30 districts and the ministry
targets to have at least a centre in every district through which it will
establish employment funds to be combined with other venture capital funds.

Polisi revealed that they are mainly focusing on what can develop young people
adding that most of the youths, especially those in the countryside lack skills.
Relevant Links

Polisi urged the youth to form co-operatives which will help them exchange
ideas with people of different skills.

He also called upon them join the Youth Saving and Credit Bank (COOJAD), which
will extend to them loan facilities to implement their different projects.

The aim of the ministry, according to Polisi, is to ensure that all young
people, regardless of their education background, have something in place to
increase their per capita income.

[All Africa]

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GHANA

British Council challenges youth

Accra, March 24 - THE British Council on Tuesday launched a media campaign to
urge the youth to come up with ideas to help the nation to achieve its
Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Speaking at the launch, a representative of
the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Abdullai Yakubu, said government was
committed to help the youth to take part in developing the nation. He said the
Ministry of Youth and Sports had outlined programmes and activities which had
been on the drawing table for many years to ensure the realization of its aim of
empowering the youth. Mr Yakubu said the draft youth policy document which is
already in place would be subjected to further examination and subsequently
enacted for implementation.

He said the National Youth Council Law (NYCL) was out of tune and needed to be
re-examined and injected with the necessary dynamism and drive to promote
activities in the youth sector. Mr Yakubu said the Ministry would strengthen
youth leadership training institutes to offer skills and entrepreneurial
training to enable the youth to become competitive in the labour market. He said
when potential energies of the youth were properly enhanced, the MDGs could be
achieved. Mr Moses Anibaba, Director of British Council, said Ghana needed to
support and encourage young people to take up the leadership of turning the
debate and knowledge into tangible and sustainable action at their levels within
communities.

The campaign called Debate to Action is a partnership between the World Bank
and the British Council which is to urge the youth to create ideas to help the
nation achieve its MDGs. The programme will run on Adom Fm for two weeks and the
winner would win 1,000 pounds.

[GNA]

Youth in Upper E/R learn entrepreneurial skills

Accra, 26 March - MR Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, on Wednesday
commended managements of Youth Harvest Foundation (YHF) and Junior Achievement
(JA) both NGO’s for collaborating to train the youth in the Region
entrepreneurial skills to become self-reliant.

He made the commendation in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Abdulai Hakeem,
Deputy Upper East Regional Coordinating Director at the launching of
entrepreneurial skills training programme in Bolgatanga.

Mr Woyongo said acquisition of entrepreneurial skills was a major tool for job
creation and urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity.

The two NGO’s signed a memorandum of understanding on "Junior
Achievement Company and National Programme" targeting two different age
groups of the youth.

The "JA Company Programme" would target students in Senior High
Schools and "National Programme" for students at the Junior High
Schools.

The programme was jointly sponsored by managements of Barclays Bank, Newmont,
Coca-Cola Company, Goldfield Ghana, ECOBANK Ghana and DHL..He urged the
beneficiaries to take the training serious to empower them in their livelihood
and appealed to them to eschew drunkenness, drug abuse and stealing.

Mr Jefferson Worlanyo Agbai, Executive Director of JA Ghana, said the training
was to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy through
entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness.

He said JA was founded in 1919 by Theodore Vail, President of American
Telephone and Telegraph and other partners, and for nearly 90 years had helped
train many young people in its area of operations performing well.

Mr Agbai noted that since the programme was introduced in Ghana in 2007, it had
trained about 3,000 students with entrepreneurial skills and easy acquisition of
jobs.

Mr John Kingsley Krugu, Director of YHF said self-reliance was ideal to reduce
poverty and appealed to Government to provide the necessary environment for
people especially the youth to acquire entrepreneurship skills and create
enabling environment for the smooth operation of enterprises in the Region.

Mr Daud James Abang-Gos, Upper East Regional Coordinator of National Youth
Council, said Government alone could not provide jobs for the youth, and
appealed to them to learn entrepreneurial skills and good business practices to
be gainfully employed and employ others.

[GNA]

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MALAWI

Malawi to set up youth enterprise development fund

Lilongwe, March 10 - IN efforts to reduce poverty among youth, Malawi Sports
and Youth Development Minister Simon Vuwa Kaunda has said government would
establish a Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) worth US$19.5million for
use by the country’s young people to start small businesses.

He said in Lilongwe that the fund will among other things address some of the
disadvantages faced by the youth on the labour market.

"Government would like to give the young citizens a life time opportunity
by making them to become successful entrepreneurs of the country," he said.

He said as youth, their efforts would add up to transforming Malawi from a
predominantly importing nation into a net exporter of goods and services.

He added that consultations with stakeholders are at an advanced stage.National
Youth Council Chairperson Thembi Thadzi said the establishment of the initiative
would reduce the unemployment and under-employment prevailing among the youth in
the country.

"This will reduce both child labour and unemployment since the youths will
be doing their businesses for their well being," she said.

Youths account for 65 percent of Malawi’s population, and most of these are
unemployed.

[Nyasa Times]

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ENGLAND

British Youth Council urges MPs to make minimum wage equal

London, March 31 - THE British Youth Council (BYC) is calling for MPs to
support equal pay for young people on the 10th anniversary of the minimum wage.

More than 100 young people have emailed their MP and last November the British
Youth Council delivered 1,800 letters from young people to the chair of the Low
Pay Commission, calling for an equal minimum wage.

The National Minimum Wage came into force on 1 April 1999, and there are
currently three rates: £3.53 for 16- and 17-year-olds, £4.77 for 18- to
22-year-olds and £5.73 for all other adults.

Emily Beardsmore, British Youth Council chair, said: "It's more
important than ever to consider the pay packet that young people on the minimum
wage are taking home at the moment.

"It's discriminatory that a 17-year-old on the minimum wage can earn
up to £17 less per day than a 22-year-old just because of their age for equal
work."

The government will announce whether there will be any changes to the minimum
wage rates on 1 May.

Meanwhile a survey conducted by the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) has revealed
more than a third of young people are choosing their university on financial
grounds with many opting for cheaper courses or choosing a local university so
they can live at home during the recession.

The survey also found 64 per cent of young people said the recession will
affect their ability to finance their time at university and 95 per cent oppose
plans for the government to lift the current cap on university tuition fees.

[CYPNOW]

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SCOTLAND

Young Scots asked to examine country’s ‘culture of alcohol’

Edinburgh, March 18 - YOUNG Scots are being recruited to serve on the first
National Youth Commission on Alcohol and set up their own research project
studying the country's relationship with drink.

As part of the scheme set up by the Young Scot charity and the Scottish
Government, 15 volunteers between the ages of 14 and 21 will be asked to examine
Scotland's alcohol culture and the factors that shape young people's
drinking habits.

The young "commissioners" will carry out a study over 12 months and
will report back to ministers on their recommendations to help shift attitudes
towards alcohol.
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Louise Macdonald, CEO of Young Scot, said: "Young people are citizens of
today, not just tomorrow, and Scotland's relationship with alcohol affects
their lives today and shapes their future. This ground-breaking piece of work
will offer young people a powerful opportunity to shape Scotland - both in terms
of health and social culture."

Scotland has the eighth highest level of alcohol consumption in the world, with
nearly 50 million litres of pure alcohol consumed in 2007. Some 999 men and 448
women are estimated to die from alcohol-related causes every year and it is
frequently linked to antisocial behaviour and violent crime.

The latest Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey
showed that 84% of 15-year-olds admitted to having drunk alcohol. Around
one-third (32%) of 15-year-old girls who had drunk alcohol in the previous week
had consumed at least 14 units, the weekly recommended limit for adult women.

Two weeks ago the Scottish Government unveiled its framework for action on
alcohol which ministers claim will help address ill health, antisocial behaviour
and violence and reduce the £2.25bn annual cost of alcohol misuse to the
nation.

The measures include a ban on cut-price promotions in off-sales and the
introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol to put an end to
"pocket money" alcohol.

The government had also supported raising the minimum age for buying alcohol in
off-sales to 21 but after a consultation it replaced its original plan with a
proposal to allow licensing boards to consider the issue locally.

Now, for the first time, youngsters will be directly asked to contribute their
ideas for tackling the problems caused by alcohol misuse. Young Scot said the 15
youngsters, who may or may not have had experiences with alcohol, will act as
commissioners as part of a year of events and online debate on the issue.

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, said: "We recognise that
alcohol misuse is an issue in Scotland and by no means restricted to young
people. However, drinking habits are formed early, so it's vital we hear
what young people think should be done if we are to bring about the cultural
shift needed to rebalance Scotland's relationship with alcohol.

"I firmly believe that Scotland's young people have an important role
to play in finding solutions to the problems caused by alcohol misuse and I
invite them to get involved in this important debate."

[The Herald]

Local youth participate in NAACP march

Edinburgh, March 19 - NEARLY a dozen young people from Scotland County
participated in a statewide march this weekend to urge law makers not to ignore
the needs of poor people during the economic downturn.

Members of the local NAACP youth council traveled to Raleigh Saturday to
participate in the annual Historic Thousands on Jones Street, or HK on J, event.

Founded three years ago, the event has focused primarily on the rights of
average citizens.

Members of the Scotland Youth Council along with NAACP members from Pembroke
and Lumberton joined roughly 10,000 people in a two- mile march from Chavis Park
on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the state Legislature Building on Jones
Street.

"It was a meritorious experience. The purpose of it was fulfilled and I
can't wait until next year," said Scotland County NAACP Youth Council
member Shaquille Carbon of the march.

The event began at 9:30 a.m. with a rally in Chavis Park, followed by the march
and a program on Jones Street.

Chants of "Don't balance the budget on the backs of the poor"
were shouted during the march and the subsequent program.

At the program, speakers discussed the event's primary objective of
demanding state leaders to complete action on a 14-point agenda drawn up by
North Carolina citizens.

The Reverend William J. Barber Jr., president of the North Carolina NAACP,
served as the program's primary speaker. Other speakers included
representatives of the various demographics which enforcement of the
movement's 14-point agenda would affect.

The 14-point agenda outlined a reform plan for the state and included such
points as high-quality education for all children, health care for all, livable
wages and support for those with low incomes, the redressing of North
Carolina's racist history, more funding of HBCUs, protection of the rights
of immigrant workers, the abolishment of racially biased death penalties,
putting young people to work to save the environment, and bringing home American
troops from Iraq.

Organizers also used the event to remind attendees of the NAACP's 100th
year anniversary last week.

"I'm glad to be a member. It is truly a blessing and a great
experience," said Scotland County NAACP Youth Council President Tyler
Harrington. The NAACP celebrated its 100th year anniversary last Thursday.

The NAACP youth council holds meetings every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Scotland
County Memorial Library.

"I think they all birthed first-hand a stand for justice. They were able
to actually do it instead of reading or hearing about it," Scotland County
NAACP Youth Council Advisor Rena McNeil said of the youth attending the event.

[The Lauringburg Exchange]

********************************************************************************

USA

Local teens face real-world problems

Greenville, March 22 - SOME very serious real-world challenges confronting
teenagers in Greenville and Pitt County were the topic at a conference attended
by more than 75 youngsters at Greenville City Hall on Saturday morning.

The second annual Real World Youth Leadership Conference, jointly hosted by the
Greenville Youth Council and the Winterville Youth Council, gave middle and high
school students a chance to come together, share their feelings and ideas, and
learn important coping strategies, said Cassandra Daniels, of Greenville's
Human Relations Office, who serves as liaison to the Greenville Youth Council.

“The Greenville council was originally formed to get young people acclimated
to local government and give them something positive to do,” Daniels said.

The conference focused attention on five areas that pose the greatest
challenges to a healthy and successful future: drugs, gang violence, alcohol
abuse, teen peer pressures and college social life, Daniels said.

It was an opportunity for middle school students to meet and establish ties,
interact with their high school counterparts and get a peek at future
possibilities, Daniels said.

“We added the topic of teen pressures to the list this year because we
invited middle school students for the first time,” she said. “The
transition from there to high school is challenging. Even if they don't know
exactly how to handle peer pressures, they will at least have older council
members to turn to for help.”

The conference began with an icebreaker led by conference co-chairs Shampa
Panda, 17, a senior at J.H. Rose and Tomika Broughton, 17, a senior at South
Central High School. The two then guided the attendees to the topical workshops
presented by adults.

“Young people often feel detached from the world around them,” Panda said.
“This is a way to get exposure and share with other kids from many different
backgrounds.”

The most important activity at the conference, regardless of the topic of
discussion, Panda said, was the act of discussion itself.

“That is the first step toward making any kind of change,” Panda said.
“Then we want everyone to continue and widen the conversation when they leave
here.”

Broughton wanted to leave the younger students with something before she heads
to college. Her big concern was the growth of bullying and other teen pressures.

“Overall, it's hard to say what should be done because we don't all
have the same issues,” Broughton said. “Having organizations like this
provides a safe environment for young people to express concerns and work
together to solve them.”

Greenville detectives Augustus Etheridge and Donald Manley talked with the
youngsters about gang violence.

“We informed them about what signs to watch out for and how to avoid being
sucked into the gang element,” Etheridge said

If the officers had one goal for the day, it was to make sure that the students
understood the long-term consequences of gang life, they said.

“Young people sometimes only see the flashy lifestyle, but it's a
downward spiral with no positive outcome possible,” Etheridge said. “We hope
these kids will see that and pursue college instead of a criminal record.”

Justin Streeter, a senior at Farmville Central, has plans for using what he
learns when he heads to Elizabeth City State University, he said.

“I want to gain more leadership qualities and prepare myself for the college
experience,” Streeter said.

Karen-Nia Edmonds, a sophomore at Ayden-Grifton High School, plans to use the
information she learned to buffer herself against the teen pressures she feels
every day at school, she said.

“It's getting worse all the time,” Edmonds said.

The energetic Broughton said she plans to continue as an advocate for teen
issues, talking with them in their own environments.

“I want young people to know the benefits of being involved with things like
this,” Broughton said. “They need to know that they are very important to
our community and state.”

Broughton keeps herself anchored in the real world and fashions her goals
accordingly, but still feels it is worth her involvement, she said.

“I know we can't save the world or every high-risk young person, but
doing what we do will at least let them know somebody cares,” Broughton said.

[Reflector]

***************************************************************************

KENYA

Youth told to lobby for Eala seats

Nairobi, March 27 - THE young have been urged to fight for positions in the
East African Legislative Assembly and assert their position in the regional
integration process.

Eala Speaker Mr Abdirahin Abdi said their voice will expedite and strengthen
the East African regional integration process, saying that they were the bedrock
of and the future of a strong EAC,

He advised youth in the five EAC countries to embark on representation by first
requesting for the observer status at parliamentary proceedings as they prepare
to fight for slots in the next session.

"They should use the observer status as an entry point to everything East
African because this way, they will be more conversant with all the issues at
hand," he told a regional youth forum in Nairobi.

The meeting at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre was the first ever
between Eala and the Youth from East Africa.

It provided an opportunity for the youth from Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda
and Tanzania to engage with the regional MPs and have a general discussion on
key issues they feel require attention especially as concerns young people.

The Speaker said investment in the youth was the sure way of guaranteeing the
future strength of any society.

He emphasised on the need for youth-focused legislation saying that there was a
deficiency currently.  However, he cautioned that young people must first be
organised and clear on their goals to be able to form a strong voice for
successful articulation of their interests.

He expressed the Assembly’s full support towards the creation and cultivation
of an East African Youth Council as has been proposed recently saying it will be
crucial in raising concerns of the youth.

Ugandan first deputy Prime Minister in charge of East African affairs Mr Eriya
Kategaya urged the EAC governments to fund and support youth programs that will
promote their interests and wellbeing. He cautioned against over-reliance on
donor funding.

Kenya EAC Assistant minister Peter Munya urged the five countries to move
faster in the process of integration, blaming the sluggish pace to bureaucratic
process within their governments.

He said focus should be on having a common market noting that the rest of the
issues would easily be addressed thereafter.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Mr David Nalo said the youth formed 70 per
cent of the EAC population hence should be used in the integration process and
to bring about transformative leadership.

"This is what this region needs very badly. The gap in filling
transformative leadership lies with the youth," he said

[Daily Nation]

**********************************************************************

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, China discuss prospects of youth policy cooperation

Baku, March 25 - AZERBAIJANI Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Intigam Babayev
said that Azerbaijan and China are cooperating in the sphere of youth policy
over ten years. "Azerbaijan takes efforts so that to extend the
cooperation. The visits developed and strengthened the youth policy between the
two countries," Babayev added.

Deputy Secretary General of All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) Wan Xueyuan said
that the relations in the sphere of youth policy should be developed.
"China offers Azerbaijan to prepare a joint plan of cooperation in the
sphere of youth policy", Xueyuan said.
 
Xueyuan invited the delegation of the Youth and Sports Ministry of Azerbaijan
to visit China.

In 2005, an agreement on cooperation in the field of youth was signed between
Azerbaijan and China. Azerbaijan has an agreement on cooperation in the sphere
of youth policy and sports with 50 countries.

[Trend]

********************************************************************

RUSSIA

Medvedev to call State Council on youth policy if proposals ready

Moscow, March 13 - RUSSIAN President Dmitry Medvedev is ready to call a meeting
of the State Council on issues of working out of the youth policy in Russia, but
only in the case if specific proposals and draft laws are prepared fro the
meeting.

“I support the idea of holding the State Council meeting on this issue and
the corresponding concept, as well as other events. The only thing that I wanted
is to request all of you to think over the substantive content of this State
Council meeting and legislation,” the president said at a meeting of the
Council of Legislators on Friday.

Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Vologda region Nikolai Tikhomirov
at this meeting asked the president what the federal centre intends to do for
the acceleration of the passing of the federal law on the youth policy and
formation in Russia of the integral youth policy.

“We have no right to pass empty documents on the youth. I had witnessed
enough of this back in the 1980-1990s. There were all kinds of bills written on
this issue then,” Medvedev said. The president is certain that any legislative
documents adopted for the youth should be meaningful and sensible.

[ITAR-TASS]

*******************************************************************

NIGERIA

'Youth restiveness, a disconnection from mainstream society'

Abuja, March 17 - THE Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi
Olasunkami, has said that youth restiveness and widening joblessness is not only
a clear disconnection of the youth from the mainstream of society but a sign of
non-commitment to their development.

Disclosing this yesterday at the national validation meeting on the review of
national youth policy held in Abuja, the minister said the youth question has
since taken a challenging dimension requiring a national policy framework that
is responsive, comprehensive, multi lateral and inclusive for effective
attention to the youth question.

Olasunkami further stated that the 2001 policy put in place by the previous
government to address the youth problem did not meet up with the challenges the
Nigeria youth faced.

“The 2001 document was not equipped to meet the demands of the triple goal of
the seven Point Agenda, the MDGs, and the Vision 20-2020 of the present
administration.

He said: “The grand vision to become one of the top 20 economics by the year
2020 requires a youth policy attuned to equipping the youth with life and
technical skill, positive orientation and all round empowerment as the drivers
of this vision.

“As the nation is currently fine tuning the Vision 20-2020 mechanism, it is a
sacred responsibility of my ministry to ensure that the youth policy is in
tandem with the vision as the youth are both partners of today and the leaders
of tomorrow.”

The review of the youth 2001 policy became imperative because while it is noted
that as at 2007 the policy was already outdated, but the youth question by 2007
has assumed a strategic dimension as “fresh challenges un-envisaged in the
2001 document has taken the centre stage of national discourse. Youth
restiveness was spreading; youth poverty was deepening due to widening
joblessness; the HIV/AIDS pandemic was almost full blown; the gap between
graduates, qualifications and labour market requirements were manifesting; and a
clear disconnection of the youth from the mainstream of society was a sad
reality.”

The minister however revealed that the renewed commitment of the Federal
Government to evolve a youth policy that integrates youth concerns and
challenges while also conforming with international best practices as enshrined
in the relevant resolutions of the United Nation’s General Assembly, the
Commonwealth Youth Charter, the African Youth Charter and the Youth Policy of
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to which Nigeria is a
signatory.

[Daily Sun]

************************************************************************

PAKISTAN

Sindh Ministry of Youth Affairs, NAPA to stage drama

Karachi, March 18 - Sindh Minister for Youth Affairs Faisal Sabzwari said on
Wednesday that his ministry has decided to launch a drama in coordination with
NAPA. “The basic aim of this step is to attract youngsters towards theatre and
keep them away from negative activities,” he added.

Addressing a press conference at the National Academy of Performing Arts, he
said his ministry sees performing arts as a tool to stop youngsters from
indulging in negative activities. He said that the Ministry of Youth Affairs
would bear all costs relating to the drama and said that the government would
also try to engage private partners in the project so that NAPA could be helped
financially. The drama will be staged at the Arts Council Auditorium and will
begin in the last quarter of April.

NAPA faculty member Rahat Kazmi appreciated the steps being taken by the
ministry. When asked about the theme of the drama, he stated that is has not
been decided yet.

[Daily Times]

************************************************************************

BARBADOS

More funds needed to help nation’s youth

Bridgetown, March 29 - COMMITTING an unprecedented $10 000, or two-thirds of
its subvention, to approximately 20 youth groups across the island, the Barbados
Youth Development Council (BYDC) is calling on Government to significantly
increase the funds allocated to this umbrella organisation.

The call was made by BYDC President, Jason Francis, during the official launch
of the inaugural National Youth Expo hosted by the BYDC in collaboration with
the Ministry of Youth, Family and Sports at the Queen’s Park yesterday. It
also marked the launch of the Easter Camp programme called Camp Connections
which will begin tomorrow.

Francis said this call for increased funding comes with the understanding that
the country is currently in the midst of trying economic times.

“Assisting our youth groups financially will go a long way in combating the
negative spin-offs of the economic recession by providing positive avenues for
expressing and spurring entrepreneurial activity,” he argued.

He made the point that it is currently difficult for youth groups to receive
substantial funding from international donor and development agencies simply
because they do not have the organisational capacity to meet the stringent
requirements which these agencies outline and are therefore unable to undertake
very credible and creative projects.

Francis also used the opportunity to call for a secretariat for the Council, in
order to better organise the activities and also to become more accessible to
its stakeholders.

“Being at the mercies of the private sector, other NGOs and even Government
itself to host meetings or to provide training workshops for our youth,
certainly has not been the most pleasant experience for myself nor the
executive. Furthermore, we call for a National Youth Centre to be established in
which youth groups across the country can conduct training [sessions], host
meetings and be able to engage in wholesome recreational activity and further
the cause of youth in this country.”

“This is not an empty plea, but is backed by numerous calls from my
counterparts in youth organisations who at times are subjected to the ridicule
and are at the whims and fancies of those whose help they seek.”

The BYDC president also sent some caution to persons whom he said comprise the
bureaucracy of Government. He stressed that regardless of their partisan
affiliation they should not try to hinder the development of the nation’s
youth.

“I therefore urge our civil servants, especially those mandated with the task
of empowering our youth, not to play games with our future. We are the leaders
of tomorrow and whatsoever you do, in time you will reap,” he stated.

[Barbados Advocate]

*********************************************************************

NEW ZEALAND

Emergency housing plan for at-risk youth

Wellington, March 23 - Christchurch is launching an emergency youth housing
project after research showing thousands of vulnerable young Kiwis are living on
the street or in unsafe homes.

A housing report released in November 2008 estimated up to 20,000
"vulnerable" or "at-risk" youth were living in unsafe or
insecure housing nationally, and hundreds were living rough on the streets.

Many received no help from service providers despite housing being seen as
essential.

Canterbury Work and Income regional commissioner for social development,
Michelle Mitchell, said there had been growing concern among Christchurch
agencies about the lack of urgent accommodation for teenagers in trouble.

Work and Income, along with other groups including the council, Ministry of
Youth Development and police were creating a youth housing project run from the
central city YMCA, she said.

The pilot was expected to begin within a couple of months.

It would cater for between five and seven 16 to 17-year-olds on the independent
youth benefit and in need of emergency housing.

In December 2008, 131 young people in Canterbury were on the benefit.

The teenagers will live at the YMCA with 24-hour supervision and support and
will be offered training, employment or drug and alcohol counselling.

After six months they would move into more sustainable housing.YMCA chief
executive Josie Ogden said urgent youth housing had been an issue for many
years, but the problems of dealing with at-risk young people meant it had never
been addressed.The new project still needed to secure funding and would probably
not be able to help those with severe behavioural issues, she said.

But once started, Ogden hoped it would give many the hope and support they
needed. The Centre for Housing Research report described "at-risk" or
"vulnerable" youth as those who had "come to the attention of
social, educational, justice or health services as requiring active management,
treatment or support".

This could include young mothers, refugees or the disabled. Nearly one third of
these youths were living in unsafe or insecure housing, including about 14
percent who were exposed to crime, sexual or physical abuse, gang activities or
drug making and 2.5 percent who were living on the street. Barriers to housing
included landlords not wanting to rent properties to young people and lack of
skills in running a household.

Social housing providers and local councils did not give priority to young
people in housing need. At worst, less than one fifth of vulnerable young people
in unsafe housing received housing assistance by service providers in 2007, the
report said.

"Unmet housing need cements young people into prostitution, criminality
and makes gang affiliations rational, albeit undesirable choices," it said.
Minister for Social Development and Employment, Paula Bennett, said it was vital
young people lived in a safe home environment, and the housing report was
concerning.

Bennett welcomed the pilot programme in Christchurch, and noted the working
party had been encouraged to apply for funding through the ministry. "If
successful, it's possible similar projects could be established in other
parts of the country".

[Stuff]

*****************************************************************

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