YES Insider # 14
November 17, 2003
Inside the Insider
1. Senate of Nigeria Supports YES Nigeria Network
2. Pakistan YES Member Wins United Nations NGO of the Year Award
3. Country Delegations to Hyderabad Forum Get Energized!
4. Mexico: National Organizing Committee Plans YES 2004
5. Opportunity for Youth Organizations To Participate in Entrepreneurship
Program
6. YES Pakistan Forms Cultural Wing
7. Macedonia Hosts Balkans Regional Youth Employment Workshop
8. Creating Common Wealth Forum Convenes in Australia
9. YES Canada Launches Website
10. Asian Summit on Youth Entrepreneurship Held in India
11. Hyderabad Cultural Program Hots Up!
1. Senate of Nigeria Supports YES Nigeria Network
A motion supporting the aims of the YES Nigeria Network passed the Nigerian
Senate in early August 2003. The motion announced an upcoming national
conference organized by YES Nigeria, recognized the extent of the youth
employment crisis in Nigeria and took note of national and international
efforts on the issue.
"...it is common knowledge that our tertiary educational institutions have
an annual turnover of about 300,000 graduates into the labor market without
commensurate employment opportunities for them. This does not even include
the products of secondary educational institutions and those not fortunate
to have formal Western education."
The Senate motion called on the administration of President Obasanjo to add
its support to the work of YES Nigeria, in conjunction with existing
government programs and the Youth Employment Network of the Secretary
General of the United Nations.
Specifically, the motion calls on the government to "localize the gains of
the Alexandria Summit; create awareness of the menace of youth
unemployment; and galvanize the stakeholders, particularly the youth to
participate in the job creation process."
YES Nigeria, the National Directorate of Employment and the local office of
the International Labor Organization (ILO) will jointly host a national
consultation in Abuja, November 18-21, 2003 to be inaugurated by the Senate
President and the Minister of Youth.
Contact: James Olawale Ajani, < youthresearch@yahoo.com>
2. Pakistan YES Member Wins United Nations NGO of the Year Award
AMAL Human Development Network is one of two NGOs in Pakistan presented
with a Recognition Award by the United Nations system in Pakistan. AMAL and
the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) were
presented with the award at a ceremony in Islamabad, October 27, according
to the UN's weekly newsletter in Pakistan.
Mr. Pervaiz Tufail, a founding member of the YES Pakistan Network, reports
that the award is tremendously gratifying for his organization, but that so
much work remains to be done. "We're excited and proud of the achievement,
but our first ten years is the tip of the iceberg. I'm looking forward to
the next ten years, to see what we can achieve for children's rights in
Pakistan."
AMAL achievements include improving the conditions of commercial sex
workers in Lahore, where the efforts of AMAL has led to significant
increase in the use of contraceptives.
Contact: Pervaiz Tufail <pervaiz22@yahoo.ca>
3. Country Delegations to Hyderabad Forum Get Energized!
As the countdown to the YES Regional Forum reaches 30 days, YES Network
organizers are busily arranging country delegations to travel to India.
Over 1,000 applications have been received online from 22 Asian countries.
A large number from outside Asia have also been received.
In Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh YES Network delegations are preparing to
travel overland in a bid to increase participation of members.
Ministers from fifteen countries are confirmed, with applications and
confirmations arriving each day. Rajendra Prasad, a key organizer in the
YES Hyderabad Office, says he's impressed by the response. "We're sending
out hundreds of letters to people everywhere, and we're working 'til all
hours to get it done. It's going to be exciting."
Register for the Forum online at:
http://www.yesweb.org/hyderabad/register.html
4. Mexico: National Organizing Committee Plans YES 2004
Plans for YES 2004 moved forward considerably at a National Organizing
Committee meeting in Mexico City, October 23 2003. "Defining the Value of
YES 2004", sponsored by the Mexican Institute of Youth and the YES Mexico
Network, was the latest in a series to thrash out the details of next
year's marquee YES Campaign event.
Mr. Esteban Gonzalez, YES Campaign co-chair, says the event was a valuable
planning session for activities in 2004. "Our major objectives in 2004 are
to establish regional YES Networks in all of Mexico's provinces and to
prepare for YES 2004.
We had an excellent workshop with 50 participants from all sectors. During
the workshop we had a great discussion about how YES creates value for our
country in relation to national strategies to promote youth employment and
how can we be the best hostess for YES2004. So, now the YES México Network
is bigger and we have more support from very different organizations", Mr.
Gonzalez said this week.
Prominent members of the YES 2004 Organizing Committee in attendance
included Mr. Cristian Castano, Director of the Institute of Youth, Ms.
Martha Juy, a presidential advisor and Mr. Ary Kahan, President of Kahan
Automotive.
Contact: Juan Jeron Gonzalez, <juan@fundacione.org>
5. Opportunity for Youth Organizations To Participate in Entrepreneurship
Program
The Dutch National Youth Council (www.jeugdraad.nl) is seeking interest
from countries with an historic, or other clear link to the Netherlands for
a youth entrepreneurship and mentoring program in 2004.
Youth Employment Spark (YES*) is a new program funded by the National
Commission for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO)
in Holland. Initially, four youth organizations will be invited to
Amsterdam, Holland in January, 2004 to design a two-year program. Travel
and accommodation costs will be paid for by the Dutch National Youth
Council.
To express interest Leontien Peeters <leontienpeeters@jeugdraad.nl>
6. YES Pakistan Forms Cultural Wing
In an effort to reach audiences through entertainment, YES Pakistan
announces the formation of an ongoing cultural program. Activities include
street theatre in poor districts combined with free medical services and
books for children.
Coordinator Ali Raza Khan says Professor Sallmaan Raffiq, Deputy Director
of the Islamabad Arts Council will direct the program in its initial
stages. Professor Raffiq will bring his substantial experience, creativity
and industry contacts to the program.
"The objectives are to educate people on various social issues like child
labor, child marriage, and importance of education, health, environment,
women's rights and the evils of dowry. We'll also organize Free Medical
Camps where the local populace will get free medical services. We are
focusing on both marginalized and developed communities. Free distribution
of books will also be arranged on the spot for school going kids", Khan
said this week.
Contact: Ali Raza Khan, <aliaccessed@hotmail.com>
7. Macedonia Hosts Balkans Regional Youth Employment Workshop
Ms. Rodica Pop, YES Romania Coordinator reports the Balkan youth employment
meeting in mid-October met its objectives of increasing regional knowledge
and relationships.
Youth development professionals from Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and
Romania met in Skopje, Macedonia to participate in a regional GTZ-sponsored
initiative to identify regional effective youth employment programs and
policies. The workshop was organized by German Education & Training (GET).
Ms. Pop says the three-day workshop enabled many young people to learn
about the YES Campaign for the first time, and to become aware of youth
programs from throughout the region. "We presented the YES Networks
Guideline Agreement to all the participants. The Bulgarian and Macedonian
participants were particularly interested and want to start a YES Network."
Check out the GET's regional initiative online:
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/employget
You can see photos of the workshop: http://irina.50megs.com/photo.html
Contact: Rodica Pop, <cplanet@rdslink.ro>
8. Creating Common Wealth Forum Convenes in Australia
Hundreds of delegates from Commonwealth nations gathered in Brisbane,
Australia, November 10-13, 2003. The official website states that the
objectives of the "Creating Common Wealth Forum" are "to facilitate
exchange of expertise in the different ways of establishing enterprises and
nurturing entrepreneurship in young people in Commonwealth countries."
The launch of the Enterprise Network for Young Australians (ENYA), a
A$52,000 Australian Government initiative, was the centerpiece of the
event, organizers said. The new Network's business plan states that "it is
essential that an organization be created to provide support and mentoring
so that young people can make their newly formed or ongoing business a
success." Check out ENYA at http://www.enya.org.au/
Small business case studies of Forum delegates can be found on the YES
Australia website. http://projects.yesweb.org/YES-Australia
Find out more about the Creating Common Wealth Forum:
http://www.thesource.gov.au/creating_common_wealth/.
9. YES Canada Launches Website
Ms. Nikki Whaites, YES Canada Coordinator, reports that the fledgling
network has launched its website. Check it out at www.yescanada.org
Ms. Whaites says the major objective of YES Canada is to connect Canadian
youth with opportunities to assist youth in other countries. "We're looking
for enthusiastic Canadian youth who want to link up with an organization or
agency overseas (we do the linking part for you) and help them meet their
goals!"
The website offers Canadian youth a range of resources, including
employment-related events in Canada, links to major youth development
organizations in Canada, and all-important bridge between Canadian youth
and their peers in many other countries.
Contact: Nikki Whaites, <nikkiwhaites@yahoo.com>
10. Asian Summit on Youth Entrepreneurship Held in India
The Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) and Youth Business International
hosted a two-day Asian Summit on Youth Entrepreneurship in New Delhi,
India, October 29-30, 2003.
Hundreds of delegates attended panel discussions on youth employment, and a
number of field visits were made to BYST businesses in and around Delhi.
Delegates came from many countries in Asia, including China, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, Mauritius, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and
Bangladesh.
The Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister of India launched YBI's Asian
Regional Centre based within BYST, to provide support and training for all
existing and potential YB programmes in the region.
Check out YBI at: http://www.youth-business.org
11. Hyderabad Cultural Program Hots Up!
A full schedule of music, dance, poetry and song awaits delegates to the
YES Regional Forum. Outside the formal agenda organizers have arranged
programs on almost every evening of the five day event in December.
Highlights include "Beats of India" featuring Shivmani on Percussion on Day
2, and a martial arts display and Bollywood film on Day 3. Each cultural
event is accompanied by dinners hosted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh
and other organizations in Hyderabad.
Check out the full program: http://www.yesweb.org/hyderabad/index.html
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