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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: Malta, Singapore, Angola, St Lucia, Uganda, Nigeria, Ireland, Ghana, United Kingdom, Namibia, Pakistan, Gambia, New Zealand, Barbados, Liberia, Azerbaijan, Zambia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Cameroon, Malawi, India.
IN this bulletin:
MALTA : 600 youth projects through EU funds
SINGAPORE : From tolerance to acceptance
ANGOLA : Youth willing to contribute to environmental protection
ST LUCIA : RISE recognises international youth day
UGANDA : MPs urge youth bodies to unite
NIGERIA : Gombe releases N40m grant to youth council
IRELAND : Recession is taking its toll on younger generation
GHANA : Youth urged to take advantage of government's initiatives ; Use
technology to address nation's challenges
UNITED KINGDOM : Youngsters invited to influence world leaders ; Youth
Council fact finding in Bielefeld
NAMIBIA : Young people to take lead
PAKISTAN : PC-1 sent to Planning Commission
GAMBIA : Towards youth empowerment
NEW ZEALAND : Youth say on supercity
BARBADOS : National Youth Policy way to go!
LIBERIA : 5,000 youth volunteers to get US$100 wage
AZERBAIJAN : Youth must be actively involved with fight against xenophobia
& discrimination
ZAMBIA : High-level panel discussion marks International Youth Day
BANGLADESH : Employment of 2,000 youths under national service planned
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM : Youth 'Must Prove Their Worth'
FIJI : Ministry promises commitment
CAMEROON : Youths NGOs - checking the surrounding of finance
MALAWI : Involve youths in decisions says Network
INDIA : More youth participation needed in India's decision making
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MALTA
600 youth projects through EU funds
Valletta, August 17 - NEARLY 600 projects and initiatives involving youths
have been made possible through EU membership, Parliamentary Secretary
Chris Said said on Monday.
The 592 projects include partnerships involving European schools and youth
organisations, training and studying abroad as well as youth exchanges.
Over 9,300 Maltese youths have participated in such initiatives, Dr Said
pointed out.
The Parliamentary Secretary was speaking during a meeting with a group of
youths who were about to depart to Germany on an EU-funded project. The
project, named “open your hands for new friends”, falls under the EU’s
Youth in Action programme, and involves a trilateral youth exchange
between Malta’s Y’s, Lithuanian group Ateitinink&# 371; Federacija and
Germany’s KjG.
Dr Said maintained that such initiatives proved that the EU membership was
not just an abstract concept, but a reality that benefited everyone.
He noted that over 3,600 youths participated in the Youth in Action
programme, around 1,600 participated in the Erasmus programme, which
enables higher education students to study part of their degree in another
country, and over 2,000 participated in the Leonardo programme.
[Di-Ve]
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SINGAPORE
From tolerance to acceptance
Singapore, August 27- MOST youth leaders are confident that young
Singaporeans can move from being tolerant of different races and religions
to acceptance.
A straw poll revealed that 91 per cent of the 28 youth leaders from
various ethnic and faith-based organisations who attended a Community
Outreach Group dialogue (COG) on Wednesday displayed such upbeat views.
The dialogue, organised by the National Youth Council (NYC), was chaired
by Mr Teo Ser Luck, chairman of National Youth Council. It was a follow-up
to the racial and religious issues raised by Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong at the recent National Day Rally.
Despite the sensitivity of the topics, participants generally agreed that
Singapore was still vulnerable to racial and religious tension, especially
through external influences in neighbouring countries due to increased new
media usage.
They also noted that more youths are seeking answers in religion and faith.
Many suggestions were also made on changing mindset.
Mr. Soh Yi Da, 20, an NSman, for instance, suggested putting young
Singaporeans through a common experience to enable them to understand and
bond with people of various backgrounds.
'It is like learning a language. If you learn Japanese and you don't
frequently practise it, you won't remember what you've learnt,' he said.
The dialogue was part of the Community Outreach Group series to strengthen
communication between the government and the community.
It is held throughout the year to enhance civic participation and outreach
to various youth community and interest groups.
[The Straits Times]
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ANGOLA
Youth willing to contribute to environmental protection
Luanda, August 27 - ANGOLAN youth associated in the National Youth Council
(CNJ), through members of youth organizations will take part from now on,
in the duties for protection and defence of environment, under the
Programme of Education and Environment Influence (PECA) of the central
government.
This information comes from the leader of CNJ, Claudio do Amaral, when
speaking to Angop, on the sidelines of the seminar to train provincial
facilitators for youth conferences for environment that closes yet today.
Claudio do Amaral promised a new dynamic based on the program for
environment education of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP).
During three days, participants who came from the 18 provinces discussed,
among other issues, "methodology in environment education”, “future
workshop, our school (modulo I)” and “planning conferences in schools
(modulo III), planning national conference, environment education”, as
well as “commissions of environment and life quality: with life”.
[AngolaPress]
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ST LUCIA
RISE recognises international youth day
Castries, August 14 - IN Observance of World Youth Day, RISE (St Lucia)
Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the healthy development of
youth, began the realization of one of its most important visions –
networking, collaboration and synergy in the best interest of St Lucian
children and youth - with the launch of what is to be a youth-led,
multi-agency, collaborative action research project on the state of the
human rights of children and youth in St Lucia and current governmental
and NGO responses.
RISE acknowledges that the overall well-being of children and youth in St
Lucia continues to be a cause for concern, and that Child Rights remains
an abstract concept to the average St Lucian adult with even the informed
challenged by newer and more complex opportunities for violations of these
rights than existed 20 years ago (Internet pornography, child
prostitution, child trafficking) , by frequent, often confusing, changes in
legislation and government policies, and by the minefield that is the,
albeit well-intentioned, multi-disciplinary landscape of children’s’
services.
RISE empathizes with the perplexing image that must face children and
youth who dare to even consider their human rights. Most would never have
heard of the 20 year old landmark document protecting these rights – the
1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) - and
none today are aware of a means to determine the success of government’s
pledged implementation of its recommendations, because none exists.
The most comprehensive, most widely agreed to, children’s human rights
instrument in history is practically unavailable to St Lucian children and
youth, except in theory.
On August 12, 2009, International Day of Youth, RISE set out to change
this situation by preparing to offer youth an opportunity to become
meaningfully involved in government decisions, policies or programs that
impact their lives and to heighten their awareness and that of the general
public on children’s rights The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
has transformed the way the world views children and provided the push to
further advance their rights, and the required reporting process provides
a space in which their voices can be heard.
The next UN CRC state report, due in 2010, is expected to be a combination
of St Lucia’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th reports, and this time a group of NGOs all
concerned with some aspect of care and protection of children, and
recognizing youth participation as their right under the UN CRC - Aids
Action Foundation (AAF) ; National Youth Council (NYC); St Lucia Planned
Parenthood Association (SLPPA), Society for Youth Development (SYD);
Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA); National
Council of/for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD); St Lucia Christian
Council, St Lucia Blind Welfare Association, Organization of Early
Childhood Educators -) have been invited by RISE (St Lucia) Inc; to
combine resources and expertise and to engage children and youth
themselves in this critical process to discover from their peers just how
well, or not, children and young people’s human rights are being realized
in St. Lucia.
Further, it is anticipated that youth involvement will be
institutionalized as recommended by the UN CRC, and that this NGO-youth
coalition may be formalized into the long-overdue mechanism for monitoring
and recording of St Lucia’s UN CRC implementation efforts.
[Caribbean Net News]
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UGANDA
MPs urge youth bodies to unite
Kampala, August 13 - YOUTH organisations must unite and speak with one
voice in order to achieve their objectives, northern Uganda youth MP Denis
Obua, has said.
Obua stated that failure by youth organisations to coordinate and agree on
fundamental issues was slowing down the progress of youth enlightment and
development.
He added that this makes it difficult for the drafting of a policy to
champion the cause of the youth.
“We should have a point of convergency to be able to make a resolution.
Lack of coordination makes our work as youth MPs difficult because we do
not know where to start from,” said Obua.
He made the appeal on Tuesday at an MP-Youth interface meeting at Hotel
Equatorial in Kampala.
Obua asked the various youth organisations to work with the National Youth
Council.
He urged them to consult the council constantly since it is mandated under
the law to champion youth affairs.
“According to the data bank of the National Youth Council, we have 600
youth non-governmental organisations which have competing interests. Such
differences can never help the youth to realise their aspirations and
develop,” added Obua.
He lamented the duplicity of policies formulated by the youth
organisations, saying it portrays them as unserious in the eyes of
Parliament when contradicting petitions concerning youth affairs are made.
Obua demanded that the youth desist from playing party politics on matters
concerning them, noting that such prejudice was hampering their progress,
yet all the youth must be brought on board.
[The New Vision]
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NIGERIA
Gombe releases N40m grant to youth council
Gombe, August 20 - GOMBE State Government has released N40 million to the
state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) for
disbursement to youth organisations and associations in the area.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abduljalal Dade, made this known on
Tuesday in Gombe in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said about 2,000 youth organisations and associations in the state
benefited from the special grant, adding that the money was disbursed to
the groups strictly according to their numerical strength.
Dade said the grant was meant to empower youths to be self-reliant, noting
that the council also organised a workshop on HIV and AIDS for them.
He said the state government also provided free training for youths in
various skills as part of the measures to empower them economically.
He appealed to youths to shun lawless acts, such as thuggery and drug
abuse, and urged government at various levels to come up with policies
that would adequately take care of the interests of youths.
[Daily Triumph]
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IRELAND
Recession is taking its toll on younger generation
Dublin, August 4 - IT is only a matter of time before people begin to
realise that young people are bearing the brunt of the recession.
This creates the risk that there will be a wasted generation -- whose
skills and contributions will not find a creative outlet.
The big problem is that unemployment among those under the age of 25 is
twice that of other age groups, at 19pc.
For those between the ages of 15 and 19, 26pc are out of a job. More than
one-in-five of those signing on the Live Register are under the age of 25.
The situation is grim for graduates, too. Some 56,000 people are set to
graduate from third-level colleges this year, but as many as 30,000 of
them are likely to end up queuing for social welfare payments.
Graduates normally have a much lower unemployment rate than those without
third-level qualifications.
Before the recession, the earnings of those with third-level
qualifications were 84pc higher than those with just second-level
qualifications.
There is little in terms of social welfare benefits available for
graduates. Most will not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit.
They may get Jobseeker's Allowance, which is means-tested, and an
applicant's means must be below a certain level to qualify. If the
applicant is 24 years of age or under and living with a parent or a
step-parent in the family home, some of their parents' income will also be
taken into account in the means assessment for jobseeker's allowance.
Younger people who are lucky enough to have jobs are more vulnerable to
wage cuts because of their relative lack of experience. The youngest
workers also saw a much sharper fall in average earnings growth in 2008
than other age groups, according to PricewaterhouseCoop ers research.
A recent National Youth Council of Ireland survey found that 20pc of young
people could not afford to see a doctor, and 40pc were struggling to pay
bills. Additionally, younger people trying to get a foot on the housing
ladder will have been hardest hit by restrictions in the supply of credit
over the past 18 months. And it is not as if the upcoming generation will
fare any better. The Government is considering a new student loan scheme
that could leave a graduate with between €20,000 and €30,000 of debts when
they start working.
If the scheme is put in place, an additional tax of 9pc of earnings could
be charged to graduates to pay down this debt.
[Independent]
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GHANA
Youth urged to take advantage of government's initiatives
Kumasi, August 13, - MR. Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti regional Minister, has
urged Ghanaian youth to take advantage of government's interventions
designed to help them to become economically self-supporting.
Skills training under the National Youth Employment Programme and the
Youth in Agriculture Programme are some of the interventions he spoke
about.
Mr Opoku-Manu was speaking at a ceremony held by the National Youth
Council (NYC) to commemorate this year's International Youth Day in Kumasi
on Wednesday under the theme: "Sustainability: Our Challenge, Our Future."
The Regional Minister repeated government's resolve to deal with the
unemployment situation in the country.
Mr Anthony Baah, the Kumasi Metropolitan Youth Organiser, said as part of
effort to make young people more socially responsible, a total of 1,204
youth groups had been nurtured in the metropolis.
He said the groups engaged in activities such as clean-up exercises,
donation to destitute homes and orphanages as well as to historic sites.
The ceremony was also used to create platforms for the education and
discussion of health issues, marriage, business management and financial
support schemes.
Mr Baah noted that the youth of today were plagued by many challenges and
indicated that they had to be adequately equipped to deal with the above
challenges.
This, he said, called for closer collaboration between the NYC, Civil
society organizations and other governmental agencies in youth development
programmes to help the youth to become real assets to the nation.
Mr Baah said it was important that Ghana moved quickly with the
formulation and implementation of a National Youth Policy.
He also appealed for the provision of basic sporting equipment at the
Kumasi Youth centre built by the Chinese.
[GNA]
Use technology to address nation's challenges
Accra, August 27 - DR. Osei K. Darkwa, President of the Ghana Telecom
University College (GTUC), on Thursday urged policy makers to prioritise
the use of technology to address the needs and challenges of the nation.
He said any nation which failed to maximize the power of technology would
be left behind in the global developmental agenda. Dr Darkwa was speaking
at the closing of Tech Camp 2009 organized by GTUC for both senior and
junior secondary students in Accra. The six-week course was to expose
participants to a wide range of computing skills and information
technology to give them hands-on experience with emerging technology and
channel their energies to the solution of puzzling information technology
challenges. Dr Darkwa also announced that GTUC had partnered Omatek Ghana
Limited, a local computer manufacturing company, to set up a Technology
Centre at the GTUC campus where students would be given practical
knowledge into the assembling and manufacturing of computers. He said the
technology course would start in January, 2010 and urged parents to enrol
their children in these specialized lessons. Dr Darkwa also stated that
GTUC intended to decentralize the Tech Camp programme to the other regions
and as such they were collaborating with the National Youth Council (NYC)
to use their training centres for the camping.
He said the next level of the Tech Camp meeting would focus on the
application of the technologies acquired by the participants to the
benefit of their communities.
Mr George Adorshie, University and International Relations Officer, said
the Tech Camp was carefully tailored to equip the students with the
'tools' to face the challenges of today's knowledge based global system.
He said the camp also afforded the participants the opportunity to tour
some institutions where the computing skills and technology they acquired
were being applied. Mr Adorshie encouraged the participants continuously
practise the skills that they had learnt and share their experiences with
friends who could not take part in the camp.
[GNA]
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UNITED KINGDOM
Youngsters invited to influence world leaders
London, August 12 - YOUNG people in the UK are being given the chance to
get their views heard around the world today, to mark International Youth
Day.
In line with this year's theme of sustainability, they are being asked
what world leaders should be doing to prevent climate change.
Young people can have their say via the Facebook group, Make it
Meaningful, which is run by a team of Young UK Ambassadors.
There are 15 Young UK Ambassadors, aged between 16 and 25, who aim to
represent the opinions and concerns of young people across the UK at
international forums, including the European Union, the Commonwealth and
the United Nations.
They want to hear from other young people about the things that matter to
them - and will share their views globally.
Young UK Ambassadors are concerned with things that particularly affect
young people, alongside more general issues - and encourage other young
people to take action, for example, Young UK Ambassador Thomas Spragg, 23,
from Staffordshire, recently attended Make IT Fair in Brussels, is now
campaigning for the mobile phone and electronics industry to become more
ethical.
Young UK Ambassadors, along with young representatives from each European
country, have also been involved in campaigning for an EU Wide Youth
Policy at the Czech Presidency Youth Event in Brussels in June 2009. They
are heading to Sweden in September to represent young people on issues
including education, employment and health.
Young UK Ambassador Elle Dodd, 21, from Solihull, said: "We are hoping
that the chance to have a say on a critical, global issue will encourage
many other young people to support this new project, today and in the
future.
"It's this kind of input that ensures Young UK Ambassadors can effectively
represent the views of all young people across the UK."
Organised by the United Nations, International Youth Day, taking place
today, is calling for young people across the world to team up, organise,
celebrate and take action.
The Young UK Ambassadors are supported by a project, co-ordinated by the
British Youth Council in partnership with Funky Dragon, Northern Ireland
Youth Forum, Scottish Youth Parliament and UK Youth Parliament.
[Community Newswire]
Youth Council fact finding in Bielefeld
Rochdale, August 27 - THE Youth Council and the Young Carers’ group
recently took part in a fact finding visit to Rochdale’s twin town of
Bielefeld in Germany. The purpose of their visit was to research the
support young people receive to give them a voice and to increase their
involvement and influence in the decisions that are made that affect their
lives.
The programme for the week included an official reception with the
Burgermeister’ (Mayor Elect) of Bielefeld in which both groups from
Rochdale gave a presentation of their work and achievements. From this
they left information and a DVD in support of the many benefits of young
people having a voice and making a positive contribution.
The Mayor of Bielefeld was delighted with the presentations from the Youth
Council and Young Carers. He said that currently in Germany, they are not
as organised as we are in getting the voice of young people heard and was
quoted saying, “Germany needs to start listening to its young people”.
The visit was during the German election season, which they have every
five years. As the current Mayor will not be standing again, he appeared
keen to push youth empowerment up the political agenda as soon as
possible. The Youth Council was told that the very next day in a meeting
of the Council, the Mayor mentioned the work of Rochdale Youth Council and
Young Carers.
The Mayor was very impressed with the delegation, the young people and the
work they do.
Groups have been invited back to Bielefeld. The Mayor also said that he
hoped both towns would be in contact more regularly in order to share best
practice and maintain a link.
[Rochdale News]
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NAMIBIA
Young people to take lead
Oranjemund, August 21 - "THE youth are the future leaders of both the
public and private sectors of Namibia. They are the ones that should drive
the mission and vision of the nation to a logical conclusion."
This was said by the Regional Councillor of the Oranjemund Constituency,
Toivo Nampala, during a meeting held in Oranjemund last weekend during the
election of the Oranjemund Constituency Youth Forum.
The Youth Forum will serve a two-year term and is responsible to address
the development of young people within their constituency.
According to Nampala, the youth are faced with many challenges,
particularly unemployment and should therefore engage in the initiatives
set up by the Government to help them address these challenges.
He highlighted the Namibia Youth Scheme that provides credit to young
people to start their own businesses, the National Youth Service that was
established to provide training and employment to the Namibian youth, as
well as the National Youth Council, assisting young people in
income-generating projects in conjunction with regional councils.
He also informed the young people about the establishment of the
labour-based works that involve youth in government infrastructural
development, e.g. rural roads. The councillor encouraged the youth to get
involved in animal husbandry and be recruited in the Namibian Police,
Windhoek City Police and the Namibian Defence Force.
Jutta Shikomba, Deputy Secretary of the Swapo Party Youth League, who also
spoke at the event, encouraged young people to employ a mindset of
self-sufficiency, innovation and entrepreneurship and move away from the
dependency attitude that currently prevails among the Namibian youth.
Shikomba said young people should explore all possible avenues to ensure
that they become active partners in the struggle of economic
reconstruction.
Relevant Links
Mathew Mumbala, Chairperson of the Karas Regional Youth Forum advised
elected leaders to ensure that the voice of the youth is heard through
their involvement in the Constituency Development Committee (CDC).
It is through their representation on the CDC that they can address their
needs to reach the regional government.
The meeting, attended by more than 100 young people from different youth
and civil organizations, elected Lazarus Nangolo as chairperson, Lovisa
Erasmus as vice-chairperson, Simon Nambandi as administrative secretary,
Paulina Neshuku as treasurer and Paulus Johannes, John Nakashona, Rauna
Sevelinus as additional members of the Oranjemund Constituency Youth
Forum.
[New Era]
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PAKISTAN
PC-1 sent to Planning Commission
Islamabad, August 28 - THE Ministry of Youth Affairs has submitted the
PC-1 of the project of Youth Activity Centres to the Planning Commission
with an objective to offer better services for enhancing creative
capabilities of marginalized youngsters of less developed areas.
Besides the construction of four youth centres at Gwadar, Gilgit, Karachi
and Sukkur, the Ministry of Youth Affairs has planned to establish more
Youth Activity Centres in the less-developed areas of the country with an
estimated cost of Rs 185 million.
It has been learnt that the PC-1 of the project has been submitted to the
Planning Commission and officials of the Ministry are waiting for getting
formal approval from the authority.
An official of the Ministry informed that the project would be launch
shortly, as they would not construct so many buildings for running these
centres, which would be too costly. That was the reason; he further
informed that they have decided to set up these centres at government
buildings and some other buildings of these particular areas.
“We would renovate these buildings according to requirements” , he noted.
It was also learnt that the Ministry’s officials have approached locals
and NGOs to provide buildings for these Youth Centres.
Under this project, two centres would be established in each district that
would be run by the locals of that particular area. These centres would
provide facilities for social, cultural and recreational activities to
marginalized youth along with vocational training. Each centre would have
a library, computers with Internet, facility of newspapers and indoor
games. These centres would be run with the public-private partnership.
[The Nation]
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GAMBIA
Towards youth empowerment
Banjul, August 11 - YOUTHS as the cream of any given nation need to be
empowered in order for a nation to achieve lasting sustainable
development. This explains why youths and related empowerment programmes
continue to be priorities in this country under the dynamic leadership of
President Yahya Jammeh.
Empowering the youths of the country means giving them the ability to move
the country forward to where it ought to be.
It is important to note here that empowerment could be done in different
ways such as the provision of quality and affordable education, skills
training in different areas of specialisation such as carpentry, metal
works, and fishing, among others. No nation can make it when its youthful
population is both intellectually and skilfully compromised.
In many countries, the youths constitute the highest part of the
population and are viewed as future leaders, thus the need for youth
empowerment programmes. It is rather unfortunate that some of our youths
choose to turn to idleness, drug abuse, and would rather embark on futile
voyages to Europe via the sea, leaving behind abundant opportunities that
they could have utilised for their own benefit.
The Government of the Gambia under the visionary and dynamic leadership of
President Jammeh, instituted and continues to established numerous
projects for youth empowerment. Such youth projects include the National
Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), National Youth Council (NYC) and youth
monuments throughout the length and breadth of the country. The president
himself personally went a step further by providing scholarship packages
for the youths. The girls'project and the President International Awards
Scheme are other bright examples.
There is no doubt that the Government of The Gambia has relentlessly
sought to empower and explore the potentials of the youthful population of
the country through different programmes. The latest manifestation of the
government's resolve towards youth empowerment was seen with the awarding
of certificates to five hundred members of the President's International
Awards Scheme and their Senegalese counterparts by the vice president and
minister for Women Affairs, Dr Aja Isatou Njie Saidy at State House in
Banjul. What is, therefore, important is that the youths of this country
have to change their attitude and pay heed to the calls of the president.
The current leadership has provided and is providing many opportunities
that we should take ownership of for our own development.
[The Daily Observer]
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NEW ZEALAND
Youth say on supercity
Auckland, August 26 - AUCKLAND’s young people want to make sure they
aren’t left behind when Auckland’s supercity is formed next year.
Members of the Auckland city, Waitakere city and North Shore youth
councils and the Manukau and Rodney youth forums have met to discuss their
views on the supercity.
Auckland City Youth Council deputy chairwoman Nive Sharat Chandran was one
of four representatives who compiled their submission to the government on
the proposal.
She says the youth want an overarching Auckland Youth Council, which would
be made up of representatives from each local body.
There would be youth representatives on each of the proposed local boards
which will replace community boards and someone who would sit on the
Auckland Council with speaking, but not voting rights.
The submission calls for youth consultation to be mandatory under law when
the council is developing policies relating to youth.
"By ensuring youth participation and engagement in local government today,
we can also ensure future participation of generations to come.
"This is also a great way to address the significant decline in youth
participation in local and central government," says the submission.
It also asks for a youth transition agency to be set up with members aged
between 12 and 24 to help the council set up the Auckland Youth Council,
local territorial youth councils and youth representation on local boards.
Mayor John Banks hopes to lead the new Auckland Council and has been
meeting with different community sectors.
"To become a true supercity, we need to include all of the diverse
communities in order to get the best quality decision-making that
represents the aspirations of the diverse groups that make up the city,
especially the young people who are the city’s future."
Nive and fellow submission compilers Joseph Bergin, Sharon Ryan and Kheng
Lee Ho have asked to speak on their submission when it goes before the
select committee.
[Central Leader]
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BARBADOS
National Youth Policy way to go!
Bridgetown, August 16 - IT’S all about preparing our youth today for the
world tomorrow!
In observing International Youth Day last Wednesday, a Government Minister
and an organisation made some observations that will impact heavily on our
youth.
Firstly, this country’s Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Dr. Esther
Byer-Suckoo, revealed that a National Youth Policy is on the cards for our
youth.
Secondly, head of the newly-established organisation Supreme Counselling
and Personal Development, Shawn Clarke, recommended that today’s youth be
taught self-management skills to be able to deal with conflict.
In her message to mark the Day, the Minister said that the Department of
Youth is currently working on that policy which will be “holistic and
addresses all aspects of Youth Development”.
This is not the first time that the voice of the youth will be heard and
it’s also not the first time that programmes will be geared towards them.
Some will recall the days of the Barbados Youth Council (BYC) followed by
the Barbados Youth Development Council (BYDC). These associations started
the ball rolling for today’s youth and with progress there must be change.
We therefore welcome a National Youth Policy. This new policy, as with
other programmes, will have some input from the youth themselves. It’s
always good to know what the youth are thinking and secondly, there’s no
point in having a National Youth Policy without involving those who it
will affect.
I’m sure they will see things that adults will never see and if any policy
is to be effective, we must know what the youth want. Let’s see it from
their point of view, since they are the future leaders.
Clarke is all for encouraging the youth to live in harmony with one
another. In his quest to promote unity, he believes that if young people
learn to love one another and if spiritual harmony is encouraged within
communities, there would be less likelihood of violence.
I agree with his suggestion that “We must teach young people to view their
neighbour as a brother. Once that is inculcated in the youth, then it can
help us solve some of the problems, in that regard.”
When we look at the bottom line, it is difficult to hurt one’s brother, so
why not let our youth adopt that attitude?
Clarke also feels that as part of the negotiating skills, our youngsters
should be taught anger management techniques so that they will learn to
appreciate that they can better control their emotions.
Anger always bring pain. It is better to control oneself than to spend a
lifetime regretting a careless act or unkind words. Remember that words
spoken can never be recalled and they wound deeply. Why spend time
regretting when that time could be spent before the act, in reviewing the
situation and coming to a sensible conclusion which would benefit all
parties?
The Minister also referred to the area of civic service being done under
the name “Project Give Back” and pointed out that last year, 200 young
persons took part in the programme which involved the beautification of
the homes of some of our senior citizens.
While I congratulate the youth for this project, I would urge them to go a
bit further. This is just one area they can give back, but there are lots
more including running errands for the elderly such as supermarket
shopping. Some elderly folk find difficulty in reading labels and I’m sure
they would appreciate the “younger eyes” giving them help.
[The Barbados Advocate]
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LIBERIA
5,000 youth volunteers to get US$100 wage
Monvoria, August 28 - HAVING been enlisted into the Inter-Ministerial
Youth Volunteer Program by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), about
5,000 Liberian youths are expected to receive US$100 each upon completion
of their three-month voluntary service.
Speaking recently to a team of journalists, who toured sites where the
community service aspect of the program, was being conducted, the Deputy
Minister for Youth Services, Sam Hare, said despite area of appointment or
level of education all youths participating in the volunteer program would
receive US$100 each.
Hare said that his Ministry has been ambitious in responding to the youth
unemployment crisis in the country, adding that last year about 1,100
youths had been enlisted in the program, but that this year about 5,000
were fortunate to have enrolled.
Duties are assigned, Hare said, based on the availability of slots at
various government and private-owned entities.
He admitted the MYS faces resource constraints. However, he said, the
limited availability of slots have made the impact of the program even
more powerful because of the dignity in labor. He advised young people to
have a changed mindset and not to focus only on white collar jobs.
He added that their major objective was to introduce young people to what
he termed “the world of work.” He emphasized the fact that “the world of
work” is a different world out there, and that students in school should
not assume that if they got a degree or proficiency in a particular skill,
then the will have a job out there waiting for them upon graduation.
One volunteer, Prince Bawo, said the youth are faced with many challenges,
which, according to him, have caused some to be delinquent in carrying out
the jobs.
Bawo said that since they started work on August 1, they have not received
any compensation in the form of transportation or lunch from the Ministry.
“Most of us live very far distances,” he added.
Others volunteers on the field said although they are getting along well
on the job, they have not been issued protective gears such as rain coats,
rain boots, or dust protectors.
The Deputy Minister for Youth Services, however, says that the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) has supplied the volunteers with tools
that will enable volunteers carry out their work, and at the end, earn
them money that will help them jump start the academic 2009/2010.
[Daily Observer]
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AZERBAIJAN
Youth must be actively involved with fight against xenophobia &
discrimination
Baku, August 25 - YOUTH must be actively involved with struggle against
xenophobia and discrimination, Azerbaijani youth and sports minister Azad
Rahimov said.
“There are 70 ethnic communities in Azerbaijan who worship different
religions. The fight against xenophobia and discrimination, enhancing
international cooperation in this direction and involvement of young
people in this regard is very important,” Rahimov said in his remarks at
the opening of the Summer School of the Standing Committee of the Council
of Europe for Work with Youth in Baku.
The minister also called on youth NGOs to get involved with the summer
school. “I am sure that the change in the format of the summer school and
youth NGOs’ involvement to this work would be productive,” he said.
In turn, the head of the Council of Europe Secretariat for Youth and Sport
Rene Weingartner stressed importance of implementation of so-called Baku
Initiative, aimed at combating religious discrimination and launched by
the Azerbaijan Ministry of Youth and Sport, by European countries.
The summer school to last from August 25 to 28 aims to deepen ties of
international cooperation of the Azerbaijani youth, discuss strategy of
the European Union in the sphere of youth policy and cooperation with the
CoE and the EU in this field. The forum will be attended by the
representatives of the Council of Europe Secretariat and representatives
of ministries and youth organizations of European countries.
[Today AZ]
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ZAMBIA
High-level panel discussion marks International Youth Day
Lusaka, August 25 - VIEWS of young people must be heard and acted upon,
says Commonwealth Youth Programme's Regional Director. A high-level panel
made up of representatives from the International Labor Organisation
(ILO), the World Bank, the Economics Association of Zambia, Zambia's Youth
Workers Association and Zambia's Ministry of Youth said that urgent action
is required to reduce the marginalisation of young people in society.
They were speaking at an event held in Lusaka which was organised by the
Commonwealth Youth Programme's (CYP) Africa centre to mark International
Youth Day. It was attended by journalists, young people and recipients of
Commonwealth Youth Awards.
"At a national level the views of young people must be heard and acted
upon in every corner of public life, and the contributions of the young
should be embraced," said James Odit, Regional Director of the CYP Africa
Centre. "At the community level, I urge all partners to continue
instilling a sense of shared responsibility in young people."
The panellists each outlined contributions from their organisations in
reaching out to today's youth:
The theme of this year's International Youth Day was 'Sustainability: Our
Challenge. Our Future'.
"At the ILO we are looking at ways to increase youth employment in all
sectors," explained Japheth Banda. "Young people, due to their energetic
and creative nature, are a valuable economic resource for the
sustainability of agriculture and rural development. "
Azele Mbewe, Senior Youth Development Officer from Zambia's Ministry of
Youth, Sport and Child Development, agreed. "The involvement of youth in
agriculture will enable the country to achieve sustainable household food
security and reduce malnutrition and other diseases."
Relevant Links
Panellists also noted the need for more private sector involvement to
prevent the marginalisation of youth. Jumbe Ngoma from the World Bank in
Zambia said: "Private sector involvement. ..will result in the successful
transition of young people from school to work, which will contribute to
economic development and reduce social problems."
Alexander Chileshe, Executive Director of the Economics Association of
Zambia, stressed the importance of education and training. "The government
should invest heavily in the education, training and skills of young
people."
Mathews Mulwanda, President of the Zambia Youth Workers Association
(ZYWA), noted that his organisation is concerned with youth workers, many
of whom are marginalised from mainstream society. ZYWA is, therefore,
working to enforce various rules to promote better interest and
understanding of their work.
[All Africa]
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BANGLADESH
Employment of 2,000 youths under national service planned
Dhaka, August 20 - THE government is planning to create temporary
employment for nearly 2,000 youths through developing their skills under a
'national service' providing programme of Taka 20 crore from the current
fiscal.
Under the programme, a youth will get Taka 100 per day during the
fundamental training period and after completion of the basic training
they will be engaged in different organizations on a daily basis and each
will get a wage of Taka 200 per day.
The present government in its election manifesto had pledged to undertake
projects for the employment of youths under the national service programme
for the students who have passed intermediate.
To materialize the pledge, the Department of Youth Development (DYD) has
framed a policy on temporary employment for the young men and women for
two years, said a high official of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The ministry source said firstly the DYD will implement a pilot project in
14 upazilas of Barguna and Kurigram districts.
The selected upazilas are Amtali, Bamna, Barguna Sadar, Betagi and
Patharghata under Barguna district and Bhurungamari, Rajibpur, Chilmari,
Phulbari, Kurigram Sadar, Nageshwari, Razarhat, Ulipur and Rowmari under
Kurigram district. The DYD will recruit a certain number of youths from
the districts through advertisement in the newspapers and then they will
be given three months' fundamental training in ten modules for skills
development.
The ten modules are national or character based training module, disaster
management and social service training module, fundamental computer
training module, self-employment related training module, concept on
different government social service module, health service related
training module, physical training and education related training module,
agriculture related training module, public security and law and order
related training module and union parishad and upazila parishad service
activities module.
About the programme, Ramani Mohan Chakma, director (planning) of DYD, told
BSS today that the "national service" is going to be introduced for
updating the skills of a youth but it will not be a permanent job, adding
that anyone can leave it (job) if he gets a better job."
In future, the programme will be extended throughout the country in light
of the experience of the pilot project, the official added.
According to a labour force survey in 2005-06, the country has 49.5
million working people, of them 2.1 million are unemployed who are more
than 15 years old.
[The New Nation]
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BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Youth 'Must Prove Their Worth'
Bandar Seri Begawan, August 24 - YOUTHS in the country should step up and
take the lead by using organisations and associations as a way for them to
develop themselves and the country, said some locals yesterday to The
Brunei Times.
"Youth organisations here (in Brunei) are still lacking the youth to lead,
hence sustainability is a challenge said Iswandy Ahmad, Commonwealth Youth
Ambassador for Positive living and Secretary of the Aids Council.
Also a member of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association, Datalish
Adventure volunteers and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation
volunteers, Iswandy emphasised that youths in the country need to prove
their worth, not just by following, but by meaningful participation.
He added that youths also need capacity building in order to enhance their
skills to empower themselves. "Work with youths, not work on them," he
stressed.
Iswandy added that while studying is good academically, it should be
combined with good governance in youth activities as it will raise their
self-worth.
This is in line with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam's titah in creating youth intellectuals, he said.
"Channel their (the youths') energy, idea and passion correctly and
insyaAllah, we will have youths as strong as Sayyidina Ali, the
forthrightly guided Caliph."
The active participant of local youth organisations further emphasised
that youths also want and need to be heart "Listen to our ideas, guide
us," he said.
Furthermore, he said that young people work best with other young people.
"You do not ask a clerk to cut wood, you ask someone who knows how to do
it well a lumberjack. It is the same with youths, only a young person
knows another," he said.
A senior lecturer horn Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Dr Asmah Morni said:
"Youth organisations benefit the members whereby they can express their
ideas and serve as ambassadors of Brunei, such as in the Brunei Nippon
Mani Association. "
Zulhilmi Rambli, a communications officer at an oil exploration and
production company, said that participating in organisations and
associations are a good platform for youths to understand and get involved
in solving current issues.
Now that I am worldly, I do not really have time to join any organisations
or associations, " he said.
Dk Nurul Hanani Pg Suhaimi said that a lot of the local youths are unaware
of the various activities facilitated and organised by the Youth and
Sports Department.
Think the activities are beneficial for survival skills. It also
encourages youth development so as to ensure the future development of the
country."
[BruDirect]
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FIJI
Ministry promises commitment
Suva, August 13 - THE Ministry of Youth has promised that it will be more
committed than ever to the cause of youth development, training and
nurturing in Fiji.
This assurance comes as youths in Suva celebrate the International Youth
Day in a workshop organized by the Department of Youth at the Holiday Inn.
Director Youth and Sports Makereta Sauturaga said the workshop was
organized to have youths discuss and plan out future development for our
young people in FIJI, now and in the future.
"The occasion is very important particularly since the department
facilitates the development of our youths in our country. For the day we
are looking at it as an opportunity to discuss youth issues so that they
can come up with concrete action plans and we can use this to develop
programs particularly for the development of youths."
Sauturaga said youths participation at the workshop yesterday was to hear
and learn of the challenges that young people face on a daily basis.
"The number was really great and I know that there are lots of challenges
out there for youths and we are looking at this in this afternoon
discussion to hear them out again and I think this is very important to
hear the youths. To hear their views rather than telling them what to do
and for them to come up with ideas, with action plans of how they can deal
with their issues in the future."
[Radio Fiji]
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CAMEROON
Youths NGOs - checking the surrounding of finance
Yaoundé, August 14 - AT Times, people ponder and question when they see
young people spearheading Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Others
see such youths as frustrated. Others consider them as those who are
looking for fast means to reap brisk money through the financing of NGOs.
However, authorities from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and leaders of
youth NGOs say finances for the functioning of NGOs are scrutinised to the
extent that one can hardly manipulate with them.
Engine Ngalim, President of the Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for
Peace (CAMYOSFOP) says the route to obtain financing for an NGO is so
complex that there is hardly ever any room for fraud on the way the money
is used. While testifying that most youth NGOs in Cameroon can be
considered "pocket NGOs" which are not only suffering from lack of
credibility but are also not well structured, Engine Ngalim says getting
financing can be possible when there is a reliable project at hand. But
such money, according to Ngalim, is carefully spent because justification
papers are needed at the end, to prove to sponsors the positive result of
their financial contributions. That is why Ngalim says it might be rare to
talk about mismanagement of funds within an NGO that is operating on a
specific platform and collaborating with development partners that
champion the same goal.
The Director of Associative Life and Leisure at the Ministry of Youth
Affairs, Selema Akedjol, says through partnership with developmental
organisations, the United Nations System in Cameroon as well as the
Ministry of Youth Affairs, youth NGOs are able to receive subventions for
what ever project they undertake. These subventions can be obtained
directly or indirectly.
Noting that youth NGOs have their proper funds on which they can carry out
their day-to-day functioning, Selema Akedjol says the Ministry of Youth
Affairs also provides financial means through which youth NGOs can get
their projects executed. When the Ministry of Youth Affairs provides
subventions for any youth NGO, Akedjol says the manner in which the money
is used is closely followed-up to check any loopholes of mismanagement. It
is also noted that at times development partners request the
recommendation of the Ministry of Youth Affairs before giving direct
financial assistance to the NGO. However, whatever means NGOs obtain their
finance, Akedjol says the Ministry of Youth Affairs plays a "referee" role
in its execution.
[All Africa]
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MALAWI
Involve youths in decisions says Network
Lilongwe, August 13 - NETWORK for Youth Development (NFYD) says it is high
time government started involving the youths in decision making processes
that directly affect them in various aspects of life.
The Network’s Board Chairperson Leonard Satali said this in Blantyre on
Wednesday during the commemoration of the ninth Annual United Nations’
‘International Youth Day’ whose theme is ‘Susatainability: Our challenge.
Our future.’
“It has been observed that youth’s needs have not been given specific
attention.
“In most cases government has addressed youth’s concerns in a wholesome
way instead of being specific to their needs,” Satali said.
Satali said NFYD, is a network of youth organisations in the country,
strives to sensitise people in all sectors of government including the
political leadership about the youth’s capacity as a powerful resource in
development.
Earlier, National Coordinator for NFYD Gift Numeri pointed out that
despite Malawi being a signatory to various United Nations’ protocols and
charters about youth issues, implementation still remains a serious
problem.
“The young men and women also expect the finalisation of the review
process on National Youth Policy of 1995-an overarching instrument on
youth development- as it has been done with the amendment of the
Constitution on minimum age on marriage,” Numeri said.
The Network’s Vice Board Chairperson Patricia Sangaya assured the youths
of this country their organisation will intervene in the marriage age
issue before it is approved and enacted into a law.
President Bingu wa Mutharika is yet to sign for the marriage age bill into
law.
Commenting on K3 billion Youth Development Fund, Satali said the Network
would also ensure that government puts in place proper system for it to
benefit all youths regardless of their political affiliations.
[The Daily Times]
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INDIA
More youth participation needed in India's decision making
New Delhi, August 13 - INDIA's youth demographic is high and therefore
their involvement in policy making and decision making process is crucial,
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan said Wednesday.
Khan was speaking at a round table discussion held in observance of
International Youth Day at the United Nations (UN) country headquarters
here at Lodhi Road.
"The country's youth demographic is high. Hence their involvement in
policy making and the decision making process is crucial. They need to be
empowered further. This is why the National Youth Policy was formulated
and our parliamentary forum on youth also works for this," Khan said.
"India's youth that accounts for over 50 percent of the population is an
advantage for us when compared to the rest of the world - but this can
become a disadvantage if their energy and capacity is not channelised
properly."
At the discussion organised jointly by the UN Information Centre (UNIC)
and NGO India World Foundation, several senior journalists, social
activists and young parliamentarians and professionals participated.
Ajay Jha, a senior journalist who participated in the discussion observed:
"The youth despite being the highest demographic is neglected in a
majority of the country's legislations and policies. Around 300 million
youth have no access to basic civic amenities in the country."
UNIC director Shalini Diwan said: "The number of young parliamentarians
and state legislators has increased significantly in the recent elections.
We have as many as 26 MPs in the 25-35 years age group."
"The question we need to ask ourselves is whether the imagination, energy,
idealism and enthusiasm of the youth is being channelled towards a common
sustainable future - or are we on the edge of wasting this marvellous
opportunity with more unemployment worsened by global recession turning
the youth into disillusionment, crime and worst of all, terrorism?"
She also shared UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon' s theme for this year's
observance as "Sustainability: Our challenge, Our Future".
"Addressing climate change is crucial. Therefore, when the leaders of the
world discuss a climate change treaty at the Copenhagen Summit in
December, young people have to raise their voice to urge them to endorse
the UN secretary-general' s call for the summit to 'seal the deal'," Diwan
said.
[Mangalorean] |
