 | Global Youth Network ASIA
Outcomes of Meeting of Asian representatives hosted by Youth Challenge
Singapore 3-5 February 2002
Dear regional youth representatives,
QUERIDOS REPRESENTANTES REGIONALES
As you are aware, between the 3rd- 5th of February, several Asian youth representatives met in Singapore. The meeting, hosted by Youth Challenge in Singapore, was a youth-led follow up process after the recent World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR). Two observers from Singapore attended the meeting.
Representatives from various sub regions in Asia came together to discuss possibilities and options of following-up to the Youth Summit Declaration and Plan of Action and becoming more active and involved in anti-racist activities. Although the meeting was not attended by all the representatives within the Asian region, it was successful as all the participants are very committed to ensure that the outcome of the Durban conference will become a reality.
At this stage, a priority for our region is maintaining and strengthening our outreach of youth organisations in our region and what current projects are taking place as a follow-up process from the WCAR. As you all know, in the Asian region, we have broken our region into 5 sub regions; East Asia, South East Asia, South Central Asia, Western Asia and Asia Pacific.
1. Continuation of networking process in Asia region
a) Role of national representatives
In our region, we strategise that in order to network with youth organisations from all corners of Asia, we will get one key contact person who will act as a national representative to assist in disseminating and collating information about what anti-racism projects are currently taking place as a follow up to the WCAR and issues of concern. In Asia, there are 43 countries and we currently have 22 key contact person.
b) Decisions on regional representatives
Sheryl Wong from Australia and Samuel Jayakumar from India are the current regional representatives from Asia. Our roles were to establish the network in the Asian region for 6 months after the WCAR. During the meeting, this was discussed and it was decided that Sheryl Wong from Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia continues for another 6 months after March as the Asian representative from our region. We will discuss this further at the next national representatives meeting.
2. Continuation of WCAR process
a) Formalising the Global Youth Network
We discussed the need to formalise a structure of the Global Youth Network that was created at the WCAR. The global youth network was specifically created to work on practical solutions and how youths can collaborate around shared actions and shared goals at an international, regional, national and most importantly grass-root level.
b) Inaugural International Youth Summit
In anticipation of the above point, we will organise an inaugural international youth summit, which will open on the 21st March (the formal International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination). We will ensure that there will be a parallel event devoted to youths in the Asia region to convene. Its main objectives will be to encourage and mobilize youth to battle racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to offer concrete programs and projects to ensure the success of the activities at all levels.
c) Process of organising the International Youth Summit
We discussed a tentative date, country and venue for the international youth summit. We discussed a few possibilities for a host country for the summit including, India, Singapore, Thailand and Canada. We also discussed the summit secretariat and pros and cons of each host country and what NGO is best suited to act as a secretariat for the international youth summit. We have established the aims, objectives and follow-up process of the summit. We also established the criterias for scholarships and maximum representatives per country, including selection of representatives to attend the summit. We decided on a strategic plan for funding submissions and target organisations to assist in the inaugural international youth summit. As a result of all these points, we also wrote a funding submission for the summit.
3. Follow up to Singapore Meeting
a. Next Meeting for our region
We have organised a follow up for the next national representative meeting for our region to discuss the inaugural youth summit.
b. Funding for Summit
We have a strategic plan for funding submissions and timeline with target to achieve.
For further information, please contact Sheryl Wong at velq@hotmail.com
6 | | AGENDA DE ACTIVIDADES / AGENDA Dear Stakeholders/Colleagues,
SPECIAL INVITATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA 2002
We write to inform and invite you to participate in Youth summit, Nigeria 2001 on: AIDS, DRUG ABUSE AND UNEMPLOYMENT. Schedule for 2nd 5th April, 2002 in Lagos. Theme: Meeting the Needs and Challenges of Youth and Young people in 21st century. We recognise you as a major stakeholder in this project which promises to be one of its kind of intellectual gathering of youth and stakeholders in the field of youth and which will bring together over 2000 delegates in the 52 Africa countries and ar
We all need to reaffirm our common goal in finding solution to youth problems in Africa.
Over the years in Africa, particularly at the birth of democracy, there had been tremendous interest on the need to fully develop and nurture the youth into worthy ambassadors of tomorrow against the backdrop of their insensitivity to HIV/AIDS, Drug Abuse, and Lawlessness, Human rights violations etc. While there has been great concern of Unemployment in the society among youth.
The youth and stakeholders in the field of youth must rise up now to Break the silence on Empowering Youth for Action Against AIDS, DRUG ABUSE AND UNEMPLOYMENT with adequate support, resource mobilisation and allocation. Youth emancipation, empowerment and sustainable development demand from us all a unified response. No one person, United Nations, Government, Scientist, Organisation can do what needs to be done on their own, they can only achieve real success when working with others. The barriers that stop us working together with the youth and young people must fall.
NIGERIA 2002 is about breaking down barriers those which inhibit effective stakeholders action in sustainable youth development in Africa, those which prevent care and support for youth empowerment, those which prevent adequate resource mobilisation and allocation to youth development, those which prevent the formulation and implementation of good national youth policies in various African countries, those which prevent youth in the implementation of policies and project that concern them, those which prevent youth leaders in having access to Political leaders/Policy makers.
An effective partnership between all those involved is essential for adequate response, hence we have sough to involve as many groups and individuals as possible, and we are committed to ensure and facilitate adequate representatives and participation of stakeholders.
This Summit, which will articulate positive, and practical action plan for sustainable youth development in Africa in the 21st century will build support for effective and rapid African countries government responses. The Summit will build the Africa Youth capacity to lobby for good national Youth policies, Resource mobilisation and allocation as well as skills for organisational management in the fight against AIDS, DRUG ABUSE AND UNEMPLOYMENT.
Please kindly nominate, sponsor and facilitate delegates participation and attendance from your organization to enable you reap from the benefit of this summit as a stakeholder.
Your positive contributions, active participation and attendance will be highly appreciated.
We look forward seeing you in Lagos City, 2nd 5th April 2002. Please find attached participation of registration form and other vital information.
Yours faithfully,
Benson Ehiagwina Prince Dr. Ernest Osolease
President/ Coordinator General Tel: 234-1-4971712
The Genius International Organisation Email: benson2@onebox.com
23, Oyetola Street, Off Samuel Street, For: The International Planning
Mafoluku Oshodi, & Steering Committee.
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: 234-1-4931201-2
Tel/Fax: 234-1-4931201
Email: thegeniusintl@yahoo.com
| | |
