Thursday, December 16, 2010
PERSONAL STORIES FROM ICILDA HUMES OF YWCA BELIZE
"Lets learn about how one can be able to contribute or participate at World YWCA Board Level!"
Standing for election to the World Board was not an easy one; I knew that it would require to lot of commitment and a lot of my time. However, I knew that my passion for the YWCA and for working for the advancement of women has led me to view this area of work as a vocation. Being elected to the World Board was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, primarily because it was the first time that a woman from Belize had every been elected to that level of the World YWCA and it was the first time that I had ran for a position based on an election of this magnitude. My sisters at the YWCA of Belize were extremely proud of this accomplishment and for the nurturing that they provided for me during a sixteen year period and looked to be for guidance in educating them on the revised YWCA Constitution.
During my tenure on the Board, I was a part of the Program and Advocacy Committee, A Committee in which I felt well-placed considering my position as Director of the Women’s Department for the Government of Belize. Attending the annual one-week Board Meetings in Geneva and participating in quarterly teleconference Committee meetings provided me with a fruitful experience and I felt that my contributions to deliberations were always respected and valued by my fellow Board Members and World Office staff.
As a mother of two boys, balancing work life, volunteer life and family life is never easy. The support that I received from my husband helped to facilitate that balance as much as possible. Being a part of a decision-making body at the international level, that is an organization that affects the lives of 25 million women, is truly a rewarding experience and one that I encourage other young Y women to pursue.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
FACTORS HINDERING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE
2.Inadequate Civic awareness and Social skills-The majority youths lack exposure,trainings and interaction on issues, processes and skills related to civic and political life. This is why they lack the ability to engage in Governance issues and processes
3.Waiting for Monetary/ Material Incentives- There is an abvious fall and decline of voluntary spirit and patriotism among the young generation.When you announce for a capacity building training,conference,village meeting and any other public event,provided that it is not a marriage ceremony,people openly ask you how much allowances they will receive. It is hard to believe that even the under 20s, the unskilled youth ask same question. They end up not learning,they witness bad governance practices and remain silence waiting for an NGO to pay for their participation.
4.Poverty and unemployment amongst the youths- Youths are confronted by a number of problems,specifically their vulnerability and proneness to social problems while they are inadequately involved in decision making processes. It seems logical that a hungry person will not dare to participate in any activity until he/she gets a bread and is assured of his/her tomorrow.Therefore unemployment and life hardships endangers political growth and weakens democracy hence poor participation of the youth in Governance.
5.Some structural frame works do not favour youth particiaption
Civil awareness information is a power to enter a political road. Informed citizens are better equipped to take advantage of opportunities,exercise their rights and hold state accountable. Youths should wake up and take up their role in public life,we must not try to deny that youths as young as they are need to be capacitated in oder to participate in governance issues and processes.They must be included,they must have activities to keep them alive with critical questions about their poverty and socia-economic status of their nation and must be empowered to identify socio economic opportunities,risks and governance challenges so as to meaningfully participate to address them.
Friday, November 5, 2010
SYMPOSIUM ON YOUTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ARUSHA- TANZANIA((8th - 9th November 2010)
MS TCDC will host a symposium to stimulate intellectual debate on the critical engagement of youths in governance and the dynamics of development in Africa. The symposium will seek to analyse the culture,political,economic and structure impediments that hinder the active participation of the youth in the developmental processes of their respective countries. It is hoped that the symposium will help to generate viable alternatives,best practises and robust strategies that can be employed at National,Regional and Global level to enhance the involvement of youths in the governance.
The symposium will bring together members of Action Aid International representatives,Partners,representatives of government agencies,NGOs and media houses involved in youth and development,staff of universities and research institutions and donor aencies. Zambia will be represented by Brenda Mwiinga from Young Women Christian Association of Zambia and Nankonde Nakayika from Young Women in Action.
Outcome of this symposium will be shared on this blog.
Stay Tuned!
The symposium will bring together members of Action Aid International representatives,Partners,representatives of government agencies,NGOs and media houses involved in youth and development,staff of universities and research institutions and donor aencies. Zambia will be represented by Brenda Mwiinga from Young Women Christian Association of Zambia and Nankonde Nakayika from Young Women in Action.
Outcome of this symposium will be shared on this blog.
Stay Tuned!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
PERSONAL STORIES
JOYCE UZANGI
UN STAFF/ STUDENT (BACHELOR DEGREE IN NURSING )
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA
I was born in Kalulushi,brought up in Lusaka. I would like to encourage my fellow youths who may be going through a hard time right now and thinking that nothing will ever change in life even after been actively involved in decision making processes. Indeed most youths have realised the importance of taking up leadership roles and have been actively involved in generating brilliant ideas that can contribute to National Development,but implementation by leaders remains a challenge. This leads to frasturation and giving up,which at the end of the day doesnt help.
I am going to share how i personally treasure organizations that aims at empowering youth( YWCA). Before i joined YWCA in 2005,i never knew the importance of youth participation towards Natonal Development, but now i can say we are a very importance resource that Government is dependant on for Development.
Youths,we have the energy,fresh minds and brilliant ideas that can change the world.we need not to keep such ideas to ourselves.
I was volunteering in the Youth Drop in Centre where i was helping counselling youths and children, little did i know that i was learning and growing for the better,which really helped me personally,because from that i was able to understand what real problems are on the ground and how we can handle them. I learnt how to work with people and also how to handle my own personal challenges in life. With that experience, i found myself working with Child fund - UN.
My first step in taking up leadership role was when i was asked to attend a meeting at a youth confrence where i was able to meet different youths from different organizations and learn from them. It was impressive for me to see youths articulate issues which motivated me to working so hard.
I enrolled at YWCA for Social Work Diploma and did my attachment at YWCA in different centres which was more exciting. At the same time i was participating in different youth programs such as workshops,trainings and conducting outreach activities in communities and schools which really helped me gain skills in faciliation,presentation , leadership skills etc.
As am writting now, i am in Australia, YWCA helped me develop my dream and work toward achieving it through believing in myself that through determination i can make it. Because of my volunteering in the centres, i developed a heart for people. Now i am actively involved in charitable organizations through recommendation made from YWCA. Every minute i spent attending meetings,workshops, training,youth meetings,match past,counselling people was worth it because i have learnt alot and the experience opened so many doors for me to be where i am.
I am encouraging solidarity among youths because nothing is impossible,we have the power to change the world.With God on our side we can do ALL things. Lets also remain focused and actively involved in productive activities and also to ensure we upgrade with our education just as Omega mentioned because leadership should go with education or information for our voice to carry more weight. If you aim high, you will achieve high, rise your bar and go for it, the only thing that can stop you from achieving the best is yourself and no one, I alone can not change the world,but together we can make it possible.I am proud of being a Y member!
ONCE A Y MEMBER! ALWAYS A Y MEMBER!
UN STAFF/ STUDENT (BACHELOR DEGREE IN NURSING )
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA
I am going to share how i personally treasure organizations that aims at empowering youth( YWCA). Before i joined YWCA in 2005,i never knew the importance of youth participation towards Natonal Development, but now i can say we are a very importance resource that Government is dependant on for Development.
Youths,we have the energy,fresh minds and brilliant ideas that can change the world.we need not to keep such ideas to ourselves.
I was volunteering in the Youth Drop in Centre where i was helping counselling youths and children, little did i know that i was learning and growing for the better,which really helped me personally,because from that i was able to understand what real problems are on the ground and how we can handle them. I learnt how to work with people and also how to handle my own personal challenges in life. With that experience, i found myself working with Child fund - UN.
My first step in taking up leadership role was when i was asked to attend a meeting at a youth confrence where i was able to meet different youths from different organizations and learn from them. It was impressive for me to see youths articulate issues which motivated me to working so hard.
I enrolled at YWCA for Social Work Diploma and did my attachment at YWCA in different centres which was more exciting. At the same time i was participating in different youth programs such as workshops,trainings and conducting outreach activities in communities and schools which really helped me gain skills in faciliation,presentation , leadership skills etc.
As am writting now, i am in Australia, YWCA helped me develop my dream and work toward achieving it through believing in myself that through determination i can make it. Because of my volunteering in the centres, i developed a heart for people. Now i am actively involved in charitable organizations through recommendation made from YWCA. Every minute i spent attending meetings,workshops, training,youth meetings,match past,counselling people was worth it because i have learnt alot and the experience opened so many doors for me to be where i am.
I am encouraging solidarity among youths because nothing is impossible,we have the power to change the world.With God on our side we can do ALL things. Lets also remain focused and actively involved in productive activities and also to ensure we upgrade with our education just as Omega mentioned because leadership should go with education or information for our voice to carry more weight. If you aim high, you will achieve high, rise your bar and go for it, the only thing that can stop you from achieving the best is yourself and no one, I alone can not change the world,but together we can make it possible.I am proud of being a Y member!
ONCE A Y MEMBER! ALWAYS A Y MEMBER!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
25% OF YOUTH REPRESENTATION AT ALL LEVELS IS A POLICY IN THE YWCA
OMEGA MWENYA
YWCA NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER (YOUTH)
YWCA KITWE
Lets learn from Experiences!
I became a member of YWCA Kitwe in 2004 where i started as a youth at the Branch Level. I was involved in many youths activities such as outreach programs,enterprenuership,Peer to peer counselling,leadership programs and contributing to reduction of teenage pregnacy cases and many more.
The YWCA trained me to understand that i have the power as a "youth" to effect change and contribute towards National Development through my participation in decision making processes. With these skills i was motivated to actually contest for a position at Branch so that i could be able to represent the concerns of the youths in the YWCA movement. At the same time i was working on inspiring other youths to take up leadership roles. I learnt alot as a Youth Chairperson for the Kitwe Branch,at the same time i gained exposure at different levels.
Through my determination and commitment to the YWCA,I was nominated to participate in the World Council in Nairobi in 2007 where we had an opportunity as youths to meet from different countries of the YWCA and encourage each other on how to take up leadership roles and also to have full understanding of the value of a youth in the World YWCA. It was so encouraging and motivating.
Through my experience at the YWCA,I gained so much confidence in myself and became very knowledgable about global issues affecting youths and women in general. My experience at the Y helped me get a job. Unemployment levels still remains, but as youths we need to be creative,make use of all opportunities and continue upgrading in our studies. All we need to do is to be determined and committed to what we have to do.
The journey for me continues,I contested for position at the National Board and am now representing the youths at the YWCA National Board.We need more youths to take up such leadership roles so that we begin to address our concerns.
I would like to take this opportunity to recommend the Lusaka Branch Youths for creating this site that will help us (youths)share information and improve on our communication which has been one of our challenges.
YWCA NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER (YOUTH)
YWCA KITWE
Lets learn from Experiences!
I became a member of YWCA Kitwe in 2004 where i started as a youth at the Branch Level. I was involved in many youths activities such as outreach programs,enterprenuership,Peer to peer counselling,leadership programs and contributing to reduction of teenage pregnacy cases and many more.
The YWCA trained me to understand that i have the power as a "youth" to effect change and contribute towards National Development through my participation in decision making processes. With these skills i was motivated to actually contest for a position at Branch so that i could be able to represent the concerns of the youths in the YWCA movement. At the same time i was working on inspiring other youths to take up leadership roles. I learnt alot as a Youth Chairperson for the Kitwe Branch,at the same time i gained exposure at different levels.
Through my determination and commitment to the YWCA,I was nominated to participate in the World Council in Nairobi in 2007 where we had an opportunity as youths to meet from different countries of the YWCA and encourage each other on how to take up leadership roles and also to have full understanding of the value of a youth in the World YWCA. It was so encouraging and motivating.
Through my experience at the YWCA,I gained so much confidence in myself and became very knowledgable about global issues affecting youths and women in general. My experience at the Y helped me get a job. Unemployment levels still remains, but as youths we need to be creative,make use of all opportunities and continue upgrading in our studies. All we need to do is to be determined and committed to what we have to do.
The journey for me continues,I contested for position at the National Board and am now representing the youths at the YWCA National Board.We need more youths to take up such leadership roles so that we begin to address our concerns.
I would like to take this opportunity to recommend the Lusaka Branch Youths for creating this site that will help us (youths)share information and improve on our communication which has been one of our challenges.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
WORLD FOOD DAY
BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN AFRICA- CASE STUDY OF TANZANIA
FUEL vs FOOD
Biofuel means Liquid,solid or gaseous fuels that are exclusively produced from biomass.Examples include ethanol and biodiesel.Biofuel energy crops are specially for energy for vehicles and these crops are Jatropha,Sugar cane, oil palm, cassava, maize,cashew nuts.sorghum,sunflower etc.
Tanzania is among the countries in Africa and globally whose economic development were shocked during the global recession in 2006. More than36% of population live for less than one dollar a day and 60% of food insecure.Most of them live in rural areas that makes Tanzania the poorest countries too.
Now Tanzania limited has secured land for jatropha plantation in Kisarawe and different villages.The determining factors for acquiring land from the villagers has been the amount of rainfall,soil,nutrients and infrastructure,characteristics of good agricultural land for food production. Two Tanzanians hold shares with 1% in the company while the remainder of the shares are held by British entities and persons. The investors admitted that the land given to them once supported about 250,000 households on account of which affected villagers became entitled to compensation.
Investors promised to build hospitals and schools, create job opportunities for most of the youths considering the hight levels of umeployment in Tanzania and basically to bring development to the country but nothing has materialised.
Besides this, many young farmers in the areas have stopped growing their own food and gone to work at Jatropha plantation set up by investors. The work is seasonal and the pay received is not enough to make up for the fact that they now have to purchase food for their families from outside community. The community has lost self reliance in relation to food and the food security has thereby become seriously compromised.
The Fuel vs Food crisis arises from the fact that an increasing demand for biofuel compromises food security in several ways:
AFRICA! IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO ENGAGE INTO BIOFUEL PRODUCTION?
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO SHARE WITH VEHICLES?
FUEL vs FOOD
Biofuel means Liquid,solid or gaseous fuels that are exclusively produced from biomass.Examples include ethanol and biodiesel.Biofuel energy crops are specially for energy for vehicles and these crops are Jatropha,Sugar cane, oil palm, cassava, maize,cashew nuts.sorghum,sunflower etc.
Tanzania is among the countries in Africa and globally whose economic development were shocked during the global recession in 2006. More than36% of population live for less than one dollar a day and 60% of food insecure.Most of them live in rural areas that makes Tanzania the poorest countries too.
Now Tanzania limited has secured land for jatropha plantation in Kisarawe and different villages.The determining factors for acquiring land from the villagers has been the amount of rainfall,soil,nutrients and infrastructure,characteristics of good agricultural land for food production. Two Tanzanians hold shares with 1% in the company while the remainder of the shares are held by British entities and persons. The investors admitted that the land given to them once supported about 250,000 households on account of which affected villagers became entitled to compensation.
Investors promised to build hospitals and schools, create job opportunities for most of the youths considering the hight levels of umeployment in Tanzania and basically to bring development to the country but nothing has materialised.
Besides this, many young farmers in the areas have stopped growing their own food and gone to work at Jatropha plantation set up by investors. The work is seasonal and the pay received is not enough to make up for the fact that they now have to purchase food for their families from outside community. The community has lost self reliance in relation to food and the food security has thereby become seriously compromised.
The Fuel vs Food crisis arises from the fact that an increasing demand for biofuel compromises food security in several ways:
- Land formely used for production of food crops are being converted into use for biofuel crops like Jatropha
- Food crops( Maize and cassava) are being used for biofuel instead of consumption considering they are the main food crops in Tanzania.
- The production of biofuel draws on important resouces such as water and labor.
- Farmers choose to work on biofuel plantations or grow biofuel crops instead of growing food, which has negative consequences on food security both locally and nationally because less food is being produced.
- The use of marginal land for biofuel production has been used as a solution to the problem of fuel vs food competition, cases have shown that companies dont often chose to grow biofuel on marginal land but rather on good land that could be used for food production because that land gives a better yield also for biofuel production
AFRICA! IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO ENGAGE INTO BIOFUEL PRODUCTION?
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO SHARE WITH VEHICLES?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
UP COMING EVENT(25TH NOVEMBER - 10TH DECEMBER)
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an International campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institution sponsored by the Centre for Women Global Leadership in 1991.
Participants chose the dates; 25th November as International Day Against Violence and 10 th December as International Human Rights Day as to symbolically link violence against women to Human Rights and to emphaise that such violence is a violation to Human Rights.
YWCA with other link minded organizations will meet to call for elimination of ALL forms of violence against women through:
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an International campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institution sponsored by the Centre for Women Global Leadership in 1991.
Participants chose the dates; 25th November as International Day Against Violence and 10 th December as International Human Rights Day as to symbolically link violence against women to Human Rights and to emphaise that such violence is a violation to Human Rights.
YWCA with other link minded organizations will meet to call for elimination of ALL forms of violence against women through:
- Raising awareness about Gender based violence as a Human Rights issue at Local, National,Regional and International level.
- Provide forums in which organizations can come up with new ways of effective strategies
- Conducting radio and TV programs
- Demonstrating the solidarity of women around the World
- Creating tools to pressure Government to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women.
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