YES Insider # 11
August 15, 2003
Editor's note: YES Insider is a monthly e-newsletter designed for YES 2002
delegates, members of the YES Global Alliance, YES Country Networks, and
friends and supporters of the Youth Employment Summit (YES) Campaign. Our
goal is to provide you with timely information regarding the YES Campaign
as well as share effective practices.
1. YES Egypt hosts workshop on Youth with Special Needs, Egypt, July 29-30
2003
2. YES El Salvador Hosts Latin American Youth Entrepreneurs' Congress
3. YES Malawi succeeds in generating a Parliamentary Debate on Youth
Empowerment Strategy
4. YES Iran Meets with Ex-President Rafsanjani, July 29 2003
5. YES Pakistan Launches National Youth Service Program
6. YES Serbia and Montenegro Network Launches, 14 July 2003
7. YES Advisor Mohammad Yunus Awarded Volvo Environment Prize
8. Enterprise Network for Young Australians Launches Website
9. Events in August 2003
1. YES Egypt Workshop on Youth with Special Needs, Egypt, July 29-30 2003
YES Egypt organized a two-day workshop in July to discuss the realities of
youth with special needs in Egypt. In preparation for the event YES member
Amira Sobeih published a paper exploring challenges facing special needs
educators and disabled youth in Egypt - A Brief Review of Disability in
Egypt.
The paper notes that while approximately two million Egyptians (3.5%) are
disabled, according to official sources, other studies estimate the real
figure may be as high as 4.7 million. Recommendations, a survey of current
services and the role of government agencies and medical professionals are
also reviewed in the paper.
Held at the Sheraton Montazeh Hotel in Alexandria, the workshop aimed to
identify mechanisms to involve youth with special needs in employment
activities, according to organizers. Read the entire paper and more about
the event at the YES Egypt website.
Contact: Abdallah Sobeih Abdallah@yesweb.org
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YES-Egypt
2. YES El Salvador to co-host Latin American Youth Entrepreneurs' Congress
Up to 900 delegates from Latin America are expected to attend the
International Congress of Entrepreneurs in San Salvador, August 29-30 2003.
The major theme of the Congress is "How Entrepreneurs Generate Employment."
"The objective of this Congress is to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
of young people, to generate the commitment of leaders to create productive
employment and to attract investment capital to maintain sustainable
development in our region," said YES Network member Daniel Barrientos.
Organized by the Entrepreneurs Students Association (SAE) and Escuela
Superior de Economía y Negocios (ESEN), the event is sponsored by El
Salvador's largest companies, Barrientos says. See more information at this
website www.emprendedor.com.sv
Contact: Daniel Barrientos, danielbarrientos@transmind.net
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YES-ElSalvador
3. YES Malawi succeeds in generating a Parliamentary Debate on Youth
Empowerment Strategy
As a result of the lobbying efforts of YES Malawi, members of Malawi's
Parliament are currently debating a bill proposing measures to increase
youth participation in the social, economic and political life of the
country.
Proposals include a call for research on youth employment rates in Malawi.
YES Coordinator Kondwani Munthali says research is badly needed, "from 1964
up to the present, there has not been a census on unemployment rates. There
is not much data on how many young people are unemployed in Malawi, let
alone actively participating in the socio-economic activities of Malawi."
A comprehensive youth empowerment strategy for Malawi is the centerpiece of
the bill. It notes that 60 percent of Malawi's 11 million citizens are
under the age of 30. The bill, presented by Malawi's youngest
parliamentarian Mr. Roy Commsy ? who is 24 years old, was lobbied and
sponsored by the YES Malawi leadership team.
Contact: Kondwani Munthali, kmunthali@yahoo.com
http://projects.yesweb.org/YES-Malawi
4. YES Iran Meets with Ex-President Rafsanjani, July 29 2003
In the lead-up to the Tehran Regional Session in early September, members
of YES Iran met the Honorable Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, Head of the
National Advisory Council and ex-president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hamideh Tabatabaie, YES Iran Coordinator shared, "in this meeting, after
the presentation of YES Iran Country Network activities, the ex-president
encouraged members to continue their hard work for promoting the culture of
entrepreneurship in society. He mentioned that in addition to promoting
green and small enterprises to create good opportunities for youth, we also
have to emphasize the availability of micro credits and goods in the poor
areas.
"Also, he affirmed that in promoting youth employment the role of the
associations of civil society and private sectors is very meaningful and
important."
The Tehran Regional Session for Youth Employment takes place September 3-4
2003. Delegates from ten countries in the region are expected to attend.
Contact: Hamideh Tabatabaie, iytiassociation1@hotmail.com
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YES-Iran
5. YES Pakistan Launches National Youth Service Program
In Lahore this week a province-wide youth volunteerism program is being
launched by the YES Pakistan Network. Coordinator Ali Khan says the
program's goal is "to mainstream the youth of Pakistan into the nation
building process. The project recognizes youth as major partners in
development."
One hundred young Pakistanis took a public oath on August 13, 2003 to
dedicate one year of their lives to civic service. Over five hundred people
from all sectors attended the swearing-in ceremony. Mr. Donald Eberly,
Honorary President of the International Association of National Youth
Service (IANYS) agreed to be the honorary patron of the program.
Ali Khan believes the program represents a milestone for the integration of
Pakistani youth into social development. "I want everyone to see the spirit
and commitment of these youth who have volunteered to dedicate one year of
their lives for community building. This project will contribute immensely
to improving the employability of Pakistani youth," said Ali Khan. The
Pakistan program is largely based on the youth service model used in the
USA, as seen in programs such as National Youth Service USA and Americorps.
Participants will engage in a wide range of community service over a period
of one year, according to organizers.
Contact. Ali Raza Khan, aliaccessed@hotmail.com
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YES-Pakistan
6. YES Serbia and Montenegro Network Launches, 14 July 2003
The first national consultation on youth employment took place July 14 in
Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro. Organized by a coalition of 18 NGOs, the
consultation included officials from the Ministries of Labor and Education.
YES Coordinator Goran Mitrovic reported that YES Serbia and Montenegro
Network was formally launched at the consultation.
Members of the YES network in Serbia and Montenegro pledged to promote the
issue of youth employment nationally. They also decided to lobby their
government to adopt effective youth employment policies, and to replicate
and promote successful local youth employment initiatives. The YES Serbia
and Montenegro network plans to initiate a national campaign that would
create an infrastructure and enabling environment for young people seeking
employment.
Contact: Goran Mitrovic, gorca@ptt.yu
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YES-SAM
7. YES Advisor Mohammad Yunus Awarded Volvo Environment Prize
Mohammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank which provides microcredit
loans to the poor, is to receive the Volvo Environment Prize for 2003. Mr.
Yunus is a co-recipient of the 1.5 million SEK (USD$185,000) award
alongside Professor Madhav Gadgil, a world-renowned conservation scientist.
The Volvo Environment Prize, awarded annually since 1989, has the objective
of "promoting research and development across the environmental spectrum,
by acknowledging people who have made an outstanding contribution to
understanding or protecting the environment through scientific,
socio-economic or technological innovation or discovery of global or
regional importance."
http://www.environment-prize.com
7. Enterprise Network for Young Australians Launches Website
The Enterprise Network for Young Australians (ENYA) has been established to
promote the active participation of young people in enterprise in an
ethical and sustainable manner. ENYA is a public not-for-profit company
limited by guarantee. The organization is a collaboration of young people ?
predominantly young entrepreneurs ? as well as stakeholders from
government, community, NFP and corporate youth enterprise initiatives.
"By going online prior to the launch, ENYA hopes to start building a strong
membership before the official announcement," said Ainsley Gilkes, Vice
Chairperson and one of the founding Directors of the company.
With support from the Federal Government ENYA will be officially launched
at the Creating Common Wealth Youth Enterprise Development Forum in
Queensland, Australia, in November 2003.
"We will be in a much healthier position for the public and media attention
that the Creating Common Wealth Forum and official launch will generate if
we already have a growing membership base. ENYA can better capitalize on
the opportunities for funding and other interest that the Forum brings if
we can say we already have an engaged membership of young entrepreneurs."
Check out the new ENYA website at www.enya.org.au
Events in August
1. World Congress of Youth, Casablanca, Morocco, August 16-28. This event
is organized by Peace Child International, www.maroc2003.org
2. First World Summit on the Experiences and Initiatives of Youth and
Sustainable Development, August 26-30, 2003 Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
YES Colombia is an organizer of this event.
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YES-Colombia
3. ICT and NEPAD Conference, August 11-16 in Windhoek, Namibia. This event
is co-hosted by YES Namibia lead agency, the National Youth Council.
4. Rural Development Conference, September 5-7, 2003 in Lima, Peru. This
event is organized by YES Peru lead agency, Instituto para la Proteccion
del Medio Ambiente (VIDA). http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YES-Peru
5. World Youth Festival, August 27-28, Manila, Philippines.
**** If you have a story, event or project which you think is of interest
to YES Global Alliance members please email the details of your news to <
info@yesweb.org> ****
For a history of discussion on the YES Email List please visit the archive:
Discussion Group Archive
http://www.edc.org/hypermail/yes/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : 08/15/03 EDT