1 8/3/2010 YOUTH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER Welcome to the 7 th Annual Youth Assembly It gives us great pleasure to welcome you all to the 7 th annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations. This year the focus is youth involvement in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG s). We hope you will make friends, create networks and take this opportunity to review the progress made so far in order to formulate action plans for the future. We have all come from many places, but it is true that we all share a common future. No longer do we have the luxury of indulging in our differences to the exclusion of the work that we must do together in conducting practical, effective and mutual cooperation as to contributing to the realization of the MDG s in our regions as we return home and also contribute to the overall global development. Our mission is to help and support young leaders worldwide in pursuit of partnership, progress, and the Millennium Development Goals. We strive to empower the next generation of leaders through resources and opportunities they need to succeed. We advocate for an official body representative of the youth in the United Nations power structure. Follow us on: FACEBOOK: International Youth Council BLOG: http://internationalyouthcouncil.blogspot.com TWITTER: http://twitter.com/iycupdates WEBSITE: http://internationalyouthcouncil.com We encourage your participation in all sessions, workshops, programs, and events. Achieving the MDG s by 2015 is of paramount importance and we hope you will join with us to work towards this goal.
and social media, advocacy and project management (see the article on Think Tanks on page) 2 The International Youth Council (IYC) was founded at the Youth Assembly at the United Nations in 2007. It is a nongovernmental organization providing youth with project support, leadership opportunities, and a broad outreach base to effect change on a global scale. This year, the International Youth Council (IYC) is collaborating with Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF) on three major events during the 7th annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations (August 4 to 6). IYC will utilize its resources and influence to continue tapping into the vast network of motivated, passionate youth leaders at this year s Youth Assembly. We are excited about the think tanks that we are organising on fundraising, advocacy This event is an annual gathering of hundreds of young people from around the world who seek practical ways to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, global networking and social entrepreneurship skills as well as meeting with and contributing to civil society formally affiliated with the United Nations. To join us or find out more please see www.internationalyouthcouncil.com.
3 Millennium Development Goals The United Nations website explains the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the most broadly supported comprehensive and specific development goals the world has ever agreed upon. framework for the entire international community to work together. The objective is to make sure that human development reaches everyone. If these goals are achieved; world poverty will be halved, tens of millions of lives will be saved, and billions more people will have the opportunity to benefit from the global economy. There are eight goals that provide concrete, numerical benchmarks for achievement by 2015. This includes targets on income poverty, hunger, maternal and child mortality, disease, inadequate shelter, gender inequality, environmental degradation and the Global Partnership for Development. With only five years left until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the 7th Annual Youth Assembly hopes to facilitate youth to seek practical ways to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, global networking and social Entrepreneurship skills as well as meeting with and contributing to civil society formally affiliated with the United Nations. The eight MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators. You can find out more at one of our sessions The MDGs are both global and local. They are tailored by each country to suit specific development needs. While providing a
4 MDG 101 By Milvi Saarna (IYC YA Organising Committee Member) When we hear about problems in Thailand and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we might first think that it s a complicated problem happening far away. Yet you can join the thousands people in every country trying to solve these problems. You can contribute by helping countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight goals 192 countries pledged to achieve by the year 2015. These goals are 1. Halving the portion of people living on less than $1 a day. 2. Achieving primary education for both boys and girls globally. 3. Promoting gender equality and empowering women. 4. Reduce child mortality rate. 5. Improving maternal health, 6. Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. 7. Ensuring environmental sustainability. 8. Developing a partnership for global development. If you are interested in helping to achieve these goals, you could intern/study/volunteer for institutions specializing in any of these areas by finding opportunities on websites like www.idealist.org. with a concrete global action agenda. To learn about more specific ways to help, join 600 other youth at the Youth Assembly taking place in August at the United Nations.: Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women Goal 4: Reduce child mortality Goal 5: Improve maternal health Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development You could lobby for renewed political commitment as country representatives meet again in September 2010, and make sure that the 2010 summit ends
Our MDG Think Tanks 5 During the Youth Assembly, the IYC will be facilitating the discussion of the 8 MDGs with specifically focused think tanks. These are optional and operate on a first come first served basis. The think tanks are facilitated by active young professionals who have experience working in that field. They aim to assist you to engage in dialogue or create your plans to engage with the MDG of your choice. We hope that you are interested by one of the MDGs and take the time to join us on Friday. Ever wonder how you can start an organization? Or even How to make your organization better to achieve the Millennium Development Goals? Our Think Tank workshops are aimed towards giving you the tools necessary to grow and learn how to use your skills. You have a choice of: o Entrepreneurship Enterprising spirit/skills to develop nonprofit, for profit, community project o Advocacy & Social Media Raising awareness/activism of MDGs, utility of social media o Fundraising Responsibly raising human & financial capital to grow an organization o Project Management. Conflict resolution, Cultural/Interpersonal skills, logistical, financial Come and share your ideas. You might be closer than you think to achieve your Millennium Development Goal. We promise not to lecture you. Thank you for coming!
IYC s Youth Assembly Working Groups 6 Communications The Communications group objective is to increase membership of the International Youth Council, raise awareness of youth involvement in the Millennium Development Goals There are three strands 1. Marketing 2. Media 3. Online presence We are interested in hearing from you if you have any innovative or creative ideas. Fundraising Contact Saba Loftus (saba@internationalyouthcouncil.com) The purpose of this working group is to raise funds for the Youth Assembly that is held in August. This group does NOT raise money for participants to attend the event. If you are interested in getting involved. Please contact Jamie@internationalyouthcouncil.com for more information. Outreach This group is going to be one of the busiest as they work during the event to ensure that things run smoothly in there given areas. As a result, the group has been further broken down into subgroups that focus on specific aspects. Join http://groups.google.ca/group/iyc-outreach for more information. Programming On August 5, 2010 from 4:30-6:00 PM, IYC will be inviting all 700 Global Youth Leaders to the Dag Hammarskjold Park, near the UN Headquarters to host an "IYC Networking Event."
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UN Commission on the Status of Women: A youth delegates experience by Paola Garcia (IYC YA Executive Committee member) 8 I would like to share a glimpse into my work with the Commission on the Status of Women. (CSW). It is at this Conference, seven years ago, that I first heard about the Millennium Development Goals. I worked towards MDG#3 in the capacity of being a Simultaneous Interpreter for the morning briefings and had the opportunity to attend numerous side events, panel discussions and the sort. The privilege of facilitating communication for so many motivated and dynamic women and bearing witness to their dialogue and effort to find solutions was and always is beyond what words can describe and interpret. I learned that the importance of promoting gender equality surpasses the satisfaction we would gain from being able to say we have achieved a singular goal. It is more about recognizing how we can create an effective pathway to combat all the other MDG s by empowering women. We CAN eradicate poverty and hunger, ensure environmental sustainability and achieve the other 6 goals if we incorporate strong gender equality initiatives into our strategies, policies and programs. Women are an overwhelming majority of the world s population so why has it taken so long to integrate our concerns and experiences when addressing issues on economic, societal, and political spheres?!? Eliminating discrimination, removing obstacles, and simply believing in a female s abilities and judgment is critically necessary for progress. I encourage us all to just reflect on some of the things I ve shared with you that have been illuminated for me these last few years. If you do not know what MDG to start working towards first and how
9 exactly to do so, I would recommend that you start by making a simple adjustment in your thinking and always ask yourself, how will this affect a man and a woman, individually? Such a simple question might make all the difference and render greater results when you find yourself action planning for a solution to one of the eight MDG s closest to your heart. Best of luck to you and remember, the pyramids were all built brick by brick. One step at a time, my friend! Written by: Paola Garcia Spanish Simultaneous Interpreter International Youth Council Planning Committee Member for the 7th Annual Youth Assembly hosted at the United Nations Co-Founder of Maendeleo del Popolo (Progress for and of the People) International Youth Council (IYC) is currently seeking for those individuals that are interested in applying for the Global Teen Leaders Program sponsored by the WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION. Each year, global teen leaders are nominated to participate in the yearlong Three Dot Dash initiative from nominations by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other qualified organizations that are members of the Three Dot Dash Coalition. GTLs are chosen on their efforts to promote a peaceful society by addressing issues related to the basic needs of food, water, shelter, health, safety, education and environment and then invited to participate in the yearlong Three Dot Dash Initiative. GTLS must be: Be nominated by a nongovernmental organization (NGO), other qualified organization, or other former Three Dot Dash GTL Leader Be between the ages of 13-19 at the time of the summit Must demonstrate a track record of leadership and have shown initiative within their communities and/or globally that has significantly addressed one or more human basic need. Must speak and write English proficiently Must be able to travel to the United States during the entire youth summit If you are interested, please contact asha.castleberry@yahoo.com. We will be accepting applications on August 5, 2010 at the 7th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations and sending out to members that are interested.http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=ntnysa0sies
10 Jobs, Events Internships and Other Opportunities The International Youth Council is in no way affiliated with, nor do we recommend the following employers. However, these are some jobs that we have been forwarded for inclusion in this section by members that may be of interest to you. THE NIGERIAN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT NEW YORK CITY DATE: August 13-14 2010 The Nigerian Leadership Summit is bringing together Nigerians from all across the Diaspora as well as the international community, especially youths and young people to discuss about Nigeria s present leadership issues, and familiarize participants with the leadership styles and strategies needed in the partnership required in delivering results that will trickle down to Nigerians at home involving organizations and the government for the economic growth of the country. Accelerated national development is the collective responsibility of every Nigerian home and abroad. This summit will be based on four thematic areas; namely: 1. Leadership for Change 2. Fighting corruption 3. Peace building and conflict Resolution 4. Sustainable development. Plan of Events: August 13 2010 - Networking and Open Mic Event Venue : 74 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002 August 14 2010 - The Nigerian Leadership Summit Venue :Vincci Avalon Hotel, 16 E 32nd Street, New York,NY 10016 Registration is Open to the public for free. To register go towww.leadnigeria.org TAKINGITGLOBAL Tread Lightly Language and Engagement Coordinators Recruiting bilingual interns. For more information,visit http://opps.tigweb.org/8687 ASIA PACIFIC CLIMATE YOUTH CAMP The Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network is inviting you to join the Asia Pacific Climate Youth Camp that network will be organizing on November 3-6, 2010 in Baguio City Philippines. This event aims to bring together 60 indigenous young leaders from all over Asia and the Pacific to talk about the issues that confront indigenous communities regarding climate change and to encourage the indigenous youth to take action and to be critical on this matter, specifically on adaptation and mitigation strategies. The deadline of submission for the application will be on August 30.