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Posted: July 22 2006,08:06 by verasilva from -
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1. a) If funds were available, what youth activities related to a CoP would you
to do as an individual?
ACTIVITIES THAT I CAN DO
1. ESTABLISHMENT OF INFORMATION CENTRES
I would establish the information centers called;
“CULTURE
OF PEACE INFORMATION CENTRE” in the following provincial centers with a
vision to expand in all the districts of Zambia:
Eastern, Central, Northern, Southern, North Western, Western, Luapula and copper belt.
These centers would stalk materials on;
* Education for a culture of peace
* Respect for human rights
* Sustainable development
* Democratic participation
* Equality between women and men
* International understanding, tolerance and solidarity
* Free flow of information
* International Peace and Security
And other CoP declarations for the youths to read and understand these
issues. Youth Volunteers would be identified to be information officers
who shall be managing the centers.
2. HIV/AIDS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
1. Recruitment and Training Peer Educators
Two
categories of peer educators would be trained. One group would be drawn
specifically from the community with the assistance of my colleagues
who are trainers while the other group will consist of the young
professionals in the formal sector.
The peer educators drawn from
the community would be trained in local language, while those drawn
from among the professionals will be trained in English. These people
would be trained as trainers. The peer educators would be given manuals
to facilitate their ability to replicate the program.
Training in local language would ensure that all categories of people in the communities especially the illiterate are reached.
The
aspect of gender among the peer educators would be highly considered, I
would ensure that the ratio of males to females would be one to one so
that everybody is covered. As peer educators would be drawn from the
communities.
.
2 Leadership Training
I would train
young people living with HIV/AIDS in leadership skills. The trainings
would be done both in local language and English. This would be done to
cater for all categories of people. Young people would be trained as
trainers to enable them replicate the program in the community.
Training manuals would be given to the participants. I have Leadership
Training Network Program in place hence would easily facilitate
training among young. This leadership training would build the capacity
of these people to make good decisions at individual level and also
contributes to policies that aim at improving the welfare of young
people and also reducing the AIDS pandemic. Having been trained in
leadership skills, these individuals would be expected to lead the task
forces on HIV/AIDS.
The Idea is to strengthen confidence, hope in
youths from the communities on HIV/AIDS and also reduce stigma and
discrimination to those who are living positively.
3 Debates and Quiz
I
would conduct debates and quiz in the communities, high Schools,
colleges and universities in order to enhance the fight against the
HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Unlike the other debates and quiz conducted under HIV/AIDS programs, would invite celebrities such as musicians
who are my colleagues to grace the final part of these debates? Young
people follow certain celebrities or role models, thus their presence
on such debates and quiz is expected to greatly influence young people
positively.
4 Educations through Entertainment, Sport and Community Popular Theater
Sensitization
on HIV/AIDS would also be done through mobile discos, sport and
community theatre. I have in the past done very successful
sensitizations targeting young people through such means. I have
observed that sensitization through the above approach reaches a lot of
people. Mobile discos tend to attract a lot of people especially young
people hence would be the most appropriate means of HIV/AIDS
sensitization. Using these means proved very successful for instance in
the 2001 elections, 47.88% of young people registered as voters as a
result of the awareness campaigns that I undertook.
5 Productions of Information, Education and Communication Materials
IEC materials would be produced both in English and local language. The idea is to reach all categories of people.
6 Formations of Support Groups of Young People Living With HIV/AIDS
I would also facilitate the formation of support groups specifically for young people living with HIV/AIDS.
Unlike other support groups which are mainly for all ages, these would only be meant for young people.
The
idea is to enable them offer psycho- social support and share life
experiences. The young people would be trained in life skills, group
dynamics and leadership skills. Thus training of young people in
leadership skills will build confidence and hope in them and therefore
be able to make right decisions.
7 Income Generating Activities
I can also aim to help set up income generating activities in the communities among the young people living with
HIV/AIDS as well as those who are negative. My intention is to add a new dimension to these IGAs by encouraging
a mix of positive and negative young people. Those who are positive will lead their support groups.
The rationale behind mixing positive and negative youth is to reduce stigma and discrimination in the communities.
By leading the IGAs, young people living with HIV/AIDS would have confidence that despite being positive,
they can still hold positions and make valid decisions.
I
can work with a Network of professionals who are volunteers in the
communities. These professionals freely offer services to projects
hence would facilitate the IGAs once the project comes to an end.
8. GO BACK TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
In
order to contribute to the realization of the MDGs,I would carryout
this campaign targeting Children who are missing out on education in
rural communities of all the nine provinces of my countries.
The
Zambian government has re introduced free based education, but a lot of
parents and their children are not aware about this developments.
9. RAISING COMMUNITY AWARENESS CoP 8 CORE AREAS
Education for a culture of peace
? Respect for human rights
? Sustainable development
? Democratic participation
? Equality between women and men
? International understanding, tolerance and solidarity
? Free flow of information
? International Peace and Security
This will be done through Drama, Radio program discussions and youth symposiums
b) What non-financial support do you need to do these activities?
NON FINANCIAL SUPPORT
In Order for me to do these activities competently and efficiently, I will require the following;
· A 4 BY 4 wheels drive Toyota Hilux
· 10 computers for the Information centers
· 1 lap top for the field work
· 10 printers for the centers
· 10 digital and video cameras for the centers
· Buildings to be used as centers
· A secretariat
· 10 scanners for the Centers
· 10 fax machines for the centers
· Furniture for the centers
· 10 BINDING MACHINES
· 10 LAMINATING MACHINES
· 10 LAND PHONES
· 1 MOBILE PHONE FOR THE FIELD
· 10 television sets for the centers
· 10 DVD for the centers
c) If funds were available, what youth activities related to a CoP
would your
organization like to do?
Organizational activities
My organization would undertake the following activities;
Convene youth Parliaments at District, Provincial and National levels
National Youth Constitutional Assembly (The Zambian Youth Parliament) would convene these Youth Parliaments.
This
is the core result area for the National Youth Constitutional Assembly
(NYCA) and is based on the recognition that the youth have been left
out of the formulation of legislation and laws at both National and
local levels. This is mainly because they do not have a forum through
which they can participate. The convening of youth parliaments would
provide access to structures of decision making such as the National
Assembly, Local Councils in the participating Provinces. The youth
parliaments shall be convened in all the nine (9) Provinces of Zambia.
Young
persons shall be provided with information on the deliberations of the
National Assembly and the Local Councils through the secretariat and
Provincial Committees. They shall also be oriented on the following:
1.
Existing laws (The Republican Constitution, Juvenile Act, Employments
of Children and Young persons Act, National Youth Development Council
Act),
2. Policies (National Youth policy, National Child Policy,
policy on orphans and vulnerable children, Poverty Reduction Strategy
Paper) and
International instruments that provide protection to
them, (e.g. UN World Program of Action for Youth, Convention on the
Rights of the Child, ILO Convention 182 Worst Forms of Child Labor.,
Notice of the Parliamentary session would be dispatched by the NYCA
Provincial Committees to relevant stakeholders for nominations of
participants to the Provincial Youth Parliaments.
6. The UN CoP 8 core areas will be discussed by Youth parliamentarians,
Education for a culture of peace
? Respect for human rights
? Sustainable development
? Democratic participation
? Equality between women and men
? International understanding, tolerance and solidarity
? Free flow of information
? International Peace and Security
The
other topics to be discussed in the National and Provincial Youth
Parliaments would be initiated by the youth through the NYCA
Secretariat and the Provincial Committees in consultation with other
NGO’s in each respective Province.
The secretariat and provincial
committees will ensure that relevant issues on the agenda of the
National Assembly and Local Councils are simplified and also debated by
the youth.
NYCA secretariat would transform topics for debate into
Parliamentary Motions and Bills. The Bills earmarked for debate would
be sent to the nominated Youth representatives in order to afford them
a chance to research and prepare for debate.
All resolutions i.e.
expressions of young people’s views, interests and aspirations passed
in the National and Provincial Youth Parliaments would be presented to
the following decision making structures:
1. National Assembly through the Parliamentary Committee on Sport Youth and Child Development
2. Relevant Ministries
3. Provincial Government Administration
4. Local Councils
5. The Law Reforms Commission
6.
Other ad hoc structures such as the Constitutional Review Commission,
Electoral reforms Technical Committee, The National Youth Policy review
Committee.
7. The United Nations
8. The Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF)
9. The commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting ( CYMM)
10. SACD
d) What non-financial support does your organization need for CoP
Activities?
My organization would need the following;
· A vehicle for easy Mobility
· A computer
· A lap top,
· A printer
· A land phone
· A television set
· A DVD machine
· A laminating and scanner
· A binding machine
· An office for secretariat
· Furniture
· Staplers
· A Fax machine
· video and still digital cameras
· And necessary office requirements
2. a) What changes in youth policies do you think the
government/leadership in
your country should make to promote a CoP?
In
2004, our government in partnership with The Commonwealth Youth
Programs (CYP), Germany Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Zambia and UNICEF
embarked on the 1994 National youth policy review. Views of youths were
gathered from whole the nine provinces of Zambia. The revised national
youth policy was launched this year in April.
This new policy has
given direction on the strategies to improve the welfare of youths and
all the eight CoP values have been embranced.However; this policy has
got no action plan making it half baked. The government or leadership
should quickly speed up the process of formulating the national plan of
action for the youths to accompany the national youth policy.
The
national youth council a body that represents the interest of youths in
the council is not democratic and lacks equal representation of youths.
There
is need therefore for the government/parliament to revisit this act of
parliament that established this council so that the council is
representative; youths submitted this during the national youth
conference.
The republican constitution must provide the quarter
system reserving 30% of decision making positions for the youths, this
has worked in Uganda.
b) What CoP youth activities/initiatives do you think the UN should do?
ACTIVITIES/ INITIATIVES
CHALLENGESYoung
people are empowered when they feel that they have and can create
choices, make an informed decision freely, take actions based on that
decision and accept responsibility for the consequences of that
decision. The youths more especially African Youths still continue to
face some of the following challenges besides the 8 CoP core values : ·
Persistent high levels of poverty in Africa · Widening gap between the
rich and the poorer nations · High and raising levels of unemployment ·
Negative effects of globalization on Africa · Armed conflicts · Glowing
signs of religious and ethnic intolerance, extremism and conflict ·
Unfair trading arrangements between developed and developing countries
· HIV/AIDS · Pervasive impact of the illegal drug trade on the global
social, economic and political landscape · Unsustainable environmental
practices · Rising levels of violence and crime · OPPORTUNITIES· New
avenues and opportunities to expand access to education and information
critical for building sustainable livelihoods-have been created as a
result of unprecedented developments technology and telecommunications
· This phenomenon has also created unprecedented opportunities for
economic development, employment creation and public advocacy · The
growth of democracy in many parts/regions previously dominated by
totalitarian regimes has created new opportunities for citizens to
participate more meaningfully in national, political and economic
processes · The insistence by multi-lateral institutions and agencies
that governments should uphold and practice the principles of good
governance has led to some successes in the fight against corruption,
nepotism and waste · The establishment of human development goals and
social mandates by international institutions and agencies has created
an enabling environment to address the negative consequences of
globalization and ineffective governance. These global challenges
highlighted here have affected humanity in most profound manner. But
the indisputable fact is that they affect young people in a
disproportionate manner therefore provide grounds for global
concern.Any international forum which convenes more especially the
United Nations, to discuss and examine youth and youth development
issues must therefore examine these African and global challenges and
determine how to reduce their negative impact within our national and
regional context.The United Nations should therefore strive to fund
youth driven activities more especially in the remote areas of
developing nations, these projects must basically y aim to realize the
8 CoP areas.· UN should help establish good youth resource centers that
will promote CoP areas· Rural Youth empowerment for sustainable
development· Clearly define the place and role of youths in UN, many
youths more especially from the rural communities of the developing
nations have or no knowledge on the World largest body and its
operations.·
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS
3. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for improving youth
participation in CoP activities on any levels (UN, government, civil
society)?
I
strongly believe that youth engagement is not just about recruiting
young people as volunteers, interns and junior staff members. It is
about a deeper transformation that makes them central in the work of
different institutions.
The reality is that hardly anyone in the
leadership of organizations and key institutions opposes the ideal of
bringing in young people as partners in social change and development,
yet everyone struggles to find creative ways to make it happen.
Youths are not engaged in most case in formulation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of programs that concern them.
We
live in a society where adults hold power over young people, especially
in families, schools, churches, community organizations and other
social spheres.
Adults make the decisions and implement them,
inserting young people where they deem appropriate. The refusal to
share power is the single biggest obstacle that stands in the way of an
organization’s desire to bring in young people as co creators of
positive change. Increasingly, there is evidence that when young people
work together with adults in a supportive environment, they can add
value.
SUGGESTIONS / RECOMMENDATIONS
UNITED NATIONS
· UN should make it mandatory that various governments include two youth delegates to the UN meetings
·
Views of youths on the challenges, opportunities and recommendations on
the realization of the 8 CoP areas must be gathered from youths across
the various countries and these must be submitted by youth delegates
· The youth delegates must be given the platform to report back on various resolutions at the UN meetings
GOVERNMENT
· Various governments must exhibit high degree of political will if we are to realize full youth participation
· A deliberate fund must be allocated to help youths who doing activities in line with 8 CoP areas
(My government must be commended for setting aside 12.9million US dollars towards youth empowerment)
·
Governments should put in place a quarter system to accommodate youths
in decision making positions to enhance high degree of democracy
CIVIL SOCIETY
A lot of civil society organizations in Zambia are adult driven, youths are only used as pure volunteers.
It
is for this reason therefore that I recommend that UN must support
youth driven civil society organizations. There should be less
beauracracy when it comes to accessing the funds that will enhance
Youth participation in 8 CoP areas
4. What could be done to improve/ensure transparency and flow of information in promoting the CoP?
Youths
more especially from the developing nations continue to suffer from the
Digital divide deficiency; truly there is need to bridge this gap. This
will be done by teaching youths on how to use internet and other
technological equipment.
Youths must be empowered with computers for easy communication.
Creation of the talking global for United Nations CoP THAT WILL ENABLE THE NETWORK OF Youths exchange information.
Exchange meetings should be encouraged also.
Youth
driven projects must be materially and financially supported and
priority must be given to rural youths who are far behind in
information acquisition compared to their urban friends.
5.To ensure the best possible return of a voluntary fund for youth and CoP, how should it be managed/administered?
Am
not competent enough to comment on the management or administration of
the funds, but I think there should be high degree of transparence and
accountability in the administration of this fund. I propose less
beauracratic procedures to enable this fund be available to all the
youths.
6. How can youth not yet involved in CoP activities be reached and
Motivated?
The
only way these youths can be reached and involved is by seriously
implementing the activities that I have outlined above. Youths in most
cases are not motivated in various organizations were they work either
as volunteers or as paid workers.
They can be motivated not only by
giving them financial support but non financial materials that I have
mentioned above, this motivates youths greatly.
7 a) Which other organizations do you know of, that work for a CoP?
National Youth Dialogue in Malawi, Youth Development International Nigeria, Commonwealth Youth Dialogue in Sierra Leone
b) Would you be willing to contact them or may we contact them with the
questionnaire? Please specify.
You can contact them
8. My response to this questionnaire is my personal opinion ?
organisation?s opinion ?
My response is my personal opinion
Name of organization:
_NATIONAL YOUTH CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY (NYCA)
(Zambian Youth Parliament)
Address:
P.O.BOX 511293
Eastern Province
Chipata
Zambia
Southern Africa
Contact Person:
Gilbert Chisenga
· National Youth Parliament Facilitator
· Commonwealth Youth Programs African Region
Youth Caucus Representative for Zambia
_
Telephone and fax: ++ 260 97 450243
FAX IS NOT AVAILABLE
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