Youth Portal for the Latin America and the Caribbean

Simple initiatives from community meals, intergenerational housing to community strength on the web will be introduced to you.

The next e-bulletin will focus on Youth and Sustainability. Please don't hesitate to send us your comments, stories and ideas.

Most sincerely,

The YXC team

To unsubscribe, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

UNEP UNESCO YouthXchange

UNEP DTIE

Sustainable Consumption and Production branch
15, rue de Milan 75441 Paris France
Tel: +33 1 44 37 30 35 Fax: + 33 1 44 37 14 74
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.unep.fr/sustain www.youthxchange.net

EB V2 N10 – Creative Communities (July, 2009)
Article by Laure Meurisse
Communities: a way to be more open,
more engaged and healthier as individuals
On July 4th 2009, we celebrated the International Day of Cooperatives. Cooperatives have focused this year on Driving Global Recovery through Cooperatives in a time of crisis as cooperatives promote both economic growth and ethical values. A cooperative is an association where people gather voluntarily “to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.” Through such initiatives, the International Day of Cooperatives promotes a fairer world- and provides us with alternatives to face the crisis. For more information, you can visit: http://www.copac.coop/

Community beyond generations
A Society for all ages is rooted in the Programme of Action adopted at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995. The concept of “multigenerational citizenship” involves our awareness of being a recipient of heritages from earlier generations as we currently participate in creating legacies for succeeding ones in terms of economic, social, and environmental capital. No matter our age, we all deserve a place on earth and we can learn from each other. Learn more about intergenerational benefits through the following websites:
http://www.youthxchange.net/main/demographicchange.asp or http://www.un.org/ageing/society.html

Eating – Cooking - Sharing
In the Netherlands, the Living Room Restaurant scheme is a way for people to get a cheap dinner and meet other people in a home setting. People who love cooking use their skills to cook for a larger group. After reserving a place via email or phone; people can come and sit at the host’s dining table. After a short chat between all the guests, dinner is served, comprising two appetizers, main course, dessert and unlimited drinks. Guests can also choose the background music and help with cleaning the table between dishes. Ultimately, the hosts sit at the ends of the table and switch places throughout the meal so they can talk to everyone. The evening lasts as long as the guests and hosts want, and costs 15 euros. Meeting people and eating, what a pleasure! Set up the same community meals at your place and get inspiration visiting the following site:
http://home.planet.nl/~huiskamerrestaurant

Intergenerational Housing, more than a concept!
Megliomilano is an Italian organization that realized that independent elderly people could provide young students with low cost accommodation in exchange for a little household help. Elderly people use the service because they are tired of living alone. They often need the company more than the money and enjoy having young people around. Young students, keen on social issues, love the idea, especially considering the high cost of accommodation in Milan. A psychologist is employed to visit the houses, interview students and elderly people, and match the two together - so that everything goes well with your “house mate”! Learn more about the Megliomilano initiative by visiting:
http://www.meglio.milano.it/pratiche_studenti.htm

Community force on the web - How can you change the world?
We Are What We Do is a new kind of movement inspiring people to change the world through one small action at a time.

Small Actions x Lots of People = Big Change!
4 445 947 actions had been completed by the beginning of July, 2009. They have 130 small things that you can discover to change really big things. Let’s challenge our every day life committing ourselves to doing additional actions! Pick an action, track it here: http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/ and see how it all adds up.
Community Life and Art
Brett Cook is an artist committed to bringing collaboration and healing to communities all over the U.S. Guided by the ideal of interbeing, Brett applies his training in visual art, education, and contemplative practice to lead community members in cooperative art projects. By leading people through dialogue and art-making, he generates openness – a way to be more responsible and more engaged in your everyday life.
Additionally, last year in North Carolina, Brett facilitated a project called Face Up: Telling Stories of Community Life. Hundreds of people took part in community conversations about neighborhood goals, then traced and colored drawings of local heroes in large public art installations. Thanks to Brett Cook’s initiatives, people both socialize and learn art - a lesson for the well being of all of us earth citizens! For more information about Brett Cook’s sangha-building and art, including video clips and art slide shows, visit www.brett-cook.com

Small Actions x Lots of People = Big Change!
4 445 947 actions had been completed by the beginning of July, 2009. They have 130 small things that you can discover to change really big things. Let’s challenge our every day life committing ourselves to doing additional actions! Pick an action, track it here: http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/ and see how it all adds up.
Community Life and Art
Brett Cook is an artist committed to bringing collaboration and healing to communities all over the U.S. Guided by the ideal of interbeing, Brett applies his training in visual art, education, and contemplative practice to lead community members in cooperative art projects. By leading people through dialogue and art-making, he generates openness – a way to be more responsible and more engaged in your everyday life.
Additionally, last year in North Carolina, Brett facilitated a project called Face Up: Telling Stories of Community Life. Hundreds of people took part in community conversations about neighborhood goals, then traced and colored drawings of local heroes in large public art installations. Thanks to Brett Cook’s initiatives, people both socialize and learn art - a lesson for the well being of all of us earth citizens! For more information about Brett Cook’s sangha-building and art, including video clips and art slide shows, visit www.brett-cook.com

YXC guide: Take action
This chapter provides background information on Ethical Investments. When planning for the future, we can take steps to ensure that investments or saving choices promote more responsible lifestyles. Many forms of sustainable investments exist from buying shares in committed firms to investing in ethical pension funds or community initiatives. Ethical funds also offer the opportunity to address both global and local needs.
YXC.net:
In the Shaping Tomorrow section, learn more about other community initiatives such as “Creating a family”, “Intergenerational exchange” or “Designing communities” with AIESEC – one of the largest student run organization which interconnects students worldwide who are willing to develop themselves as individuals, communities and co-operation through global exchange … http://www.youthxchange.net