Global Youth Action Network - YouthLinkExpress Newsletter

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Boletin en Español Aqui
La version en español estara disponible en 5 a 7 dias.

Dear friends,

It seems that the Millennium Development Goals are finally generating a real buzz.. whether it's MTV and the mainstream media, or fortune 500 companies, the conversation is growing! With 10 years left to make the historic effort to end extreme poverty a success, it is going to require governments' commitments and civil society's efforts to be well coordinated.

There is also new momentum building behind the concept of developing a common technology platform for the non-profit sector -- a remarkable opportunity to link the various web sites, databases, communities and communications vehicles that power social movements over the internet. Initial conversations with some of the largest not-for-profit organizations and leading web-based companies just may provide a solution that could be the real digital revolution...

In closing, you may be interested in two publications recently published by UNFPA: "Our Voice. Our Future," which summarizes progress made on the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, and "The Case for Investing in Young People," which focuses on national efforts to reduce poverty and argues for greater participation of young people.

Benjamin Quinto
Execuive Director

DID YOU KNOW?

InsideVOICE Newsletter
A publication of TakingITGlobal and GYAN that features policy- and decision-making processes which welcome youth participation.

The VOICE Section of the TakingITGlobal web site offers more information on how youth can get involved in policy processes.

Global Youth Action Awards
GYAN distributes USD1000 to youth-initiated projects that have created measurable, positive impact in the community. Applications are now available online.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

MDG Youth Web Site: mdg.takingitglobal.org

MDG Civil Society Hearings at United Nations
From 23-24 June, the UN Civil Society Hearings were held in the process leading up to the M+5 Summit in September, when Heads of State will review progress on the MDGs, and suggestions to reform the UN. GYAN Arab Region Coordinator, Mohammed Al-Ghanim, was selected to be the only youth speaker at the event. Fabrizio Scrollini and Oleksiy Kuzmenko, TakingITGlobal regional MDG youth editors, also spoke on youth and ICT. GYAN organized a side event on youth and the MDGs, held in the ECOSOC Chamber and co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Norway and Sweden to the UN, the UN Programme on Youth, and World Lutheran Federation. Read about the Hearings and watch archived web casts here.

GYAN launches publication on Globalization “Debating Globalization: Youth Perspectives on the International Economic and Social Order.”
This book is a compilation of selected articles from an international competition among youth who have expressed their voices on the global world order. For more information, see the web page. To order copies, contact GYAN-France.

Volunteer in Kenya
Global Volunteer Development Association is looking for young people who are interested in working with grassroots community development initiatives in Kenya. Projects range from medical outreach and awareness, to management and conservation of the environment. Commitment levels vary from short to long term. For more information contact by e-mail.

Volunteer with Middle East Youth Groups
A collection of Middle East youth groups are inviting young people to participate in this summer’s Middle East International Voluntary Workcamps. The work is specific to each region but they include environmental, agricultural, intercultural, artistic, construction activities, or working with orphaned children. Fees and deadlines vary. For more information please consult their website or contact by e-mail.

IN THE NEWS...

AMERICAS

Prison Moratorium Project Incorporates the Environment in Criminal Justice
PMP is trying to stop the building of youth jails. They argue that these “concrete jungles” perpetuate crime. More here.. or by visiting the PMP web site.

AFRICA

African National Congress Youth League Pushing Mines to Hire Young People
The League believes that the mining industry will help curb the rampant numbers of unemployed young people and reduce poverty. More here..

UN Meeting on HIV/AIDS says Measures have been Inadequate
The U.N. General Assembly said the spread of HIV/AIDS has not slowed down in many areas. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 64 percent of the world's HIV infections and 74 percent of all AIDS deaths last year. A report, “Our Voice, Our Future,” was given to the G.A. to suggest ways young people can get involved. See the report…

African Youth Activists Unable to Attend International Forums Due to Visa Restrictions
Africans are under-represented due to their inability to attain visas to western countries. Those who succeed must pay large fees. At the International Youth Forum on the Millennium Development Goals in Buenos Aires Argentina, only 5 of 12 attained visas, all were from Southern Africa. More here..

MIDDLE EAST

In Iran, It's Jobs, Not Bombs
Iran's Islamic theocracy - and by extension, its potential development of a nuclear weapon - could very well rise or fall on the jobs issue. For that's where the internal threat to the regime lies, in millions of unemployed youth. More here...

ASIA & PACIFIC

China Opens Special Office to Improve Youth Employment
The office will help young people find jobs and start their own businesses in hopes of lowering the 7.4 unemployment rate their demographic holds.
More here..

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Working to Strengthen Summer’s Youth Campaigns.
Prime Minister Pham Van Khaki has called together youth unions and agencies to collaborate on community initiatives. The initiatives will be directed at reducing poverty and increasing young people’s participation in national issues. More here..

EUROPE

European Commission sets Agreement to Promote Growth and Employment for Youth
The EC is reacting to recent reports that unemployment for young people is more than double the overall number in Europe. This is the first piece of EC legislation accepted that was proposed by the Youth Council. More here..

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT -> View Full Org. Directory

Young Entrepreneurs of the Americas: Forum for Civil Society Participation
Date: 10-12 August, 2005
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) is organizing the Forum to include young people in the process of the Summit of the Americas. The Forum gives youth the opportunity to participate actively in the process of the 4th Presidential Summit to take place in November, in Argentina. The organizers collected youth opinions on Leadership, Competitiveness, Training, and Technology, which will be integrated with the Forum's conclusions and recommendations for the Presidential Summit. See their web site for more information.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT - --> View Global Calendar

Mobility Program of Francophone Youth
Date: 23-29 July, 2005
Location: Adamaoua, Cameroon
The Mobility Program will be bringing youth organizations tgether to implement a more comprehensive approach to promote sexual equality between men and women. The conference will seek new ways to promote women’s rights, allow more young girls to receive an education, and support women's participation in decision-making processes in the government. The event is free. For more information, email the organizers.

International Roundtable on Service and Volunteerism
Date: 3 August, 2005
Location: Washington, D.C., USA
The second annual conference will feature voluntary, national service and civil society sector leaders, representative from embassies and international organizations, national policymakers & researchers in discusssions on volunteerism. The registration fee is $25. For more information see the website.

Peace Caravan Trail Youth Campaign
Date: 5-31 August, 2005
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Peace Caravan Trail is a youth initiative which aims to address issues affecting youth. It is a campaign to lobby and advocate for youth involvement in decision-making and taking leadership positions. The Trail also encourages a bottom-up approach in working for social justice, community development and sustainability. The event costs $1200. For more information email Rachel Wambui Kung'u.

Think Outside the Bomb, a National Youth Conference on Nuclear Issues
Date: 15-21 August, 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, California USA
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is gathering young leaders, disarmament experts, educators, veteran activists, and artists to discuss nuclear issues, expand social and professional networks, identify needs of organizations and inspire the next approach against nuclear weapons. Facilitators will continue to work with participants after the conference on the plans set forth during the conference. For more information, email Michael Coffey.

International Conference on Environment and Disaster Management
Date: 26-29 August, 2005
Location: Melaka, Malaysia
The World Youth Foundation Malaysia is organizing this conference to create awareness, increase education, and examine our current approaches in environment conservation. Their goal is to create a society that is able to control the effects of natural disasters and crises, and discuss the role that young people can play in this process. The deadline is 30 July 2005. For more information visit their website.

Young Words Happening
Date: 22-24 September 2005
Location: Torino, Italy
“Young Words Happening” is a 2-day event that will attract young people from all over the world, ages 18-35, to work towards the suspension of verbal aggression and conflict of positions. It is being held in Torino, Italy, in partnership with the Olympic Truce. The conference is free; the deadline is 31 July 2005. For more information email the organizers.

Volunteerism – A Driving Force for Community Building
Date: 7-9 November 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS) is hosting the 10th IAVE Asia-Pacific Regional Volunteer Conference with the theme: “Volunteerism – A Driving Force for Community Building.” The conference will showcase the value of volunteerism, work happening today around the world and the international network for volunteer development. For more information see their website.

BE CAUTIOUS: Many scams exist these days, inviting people to register for a youth conference, and are meant only to get registration fees. Please beware and only pay registration fees when you are certain it is a legitimate event (those taking place in both Guinea-Bissau and the USA often feature in these schemes).

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Exhibit of Refugee Youth Photography & Writing
Date: 4 June - 31 August, 2005
Location: San Diego, USA
INTER+SECTIONS is a public exhibition of photography and writings by refugee youth living in the City Heights area of San Diego. Photographs taken by refugee youth who are students in The AjA Project's Journey program will be displayed in storefronts and on exterior walls and fences along a 1.7-mile stretch of University Avenue. For more information see their website.

“The Apprentice” for Young People
Date: 15-16 July, 2005
Location: Markham, Ontario Canada
Power Unit has organized E3, an entrepreneurial challenge modeled after Donald Trump's The Apprentice, for young people interested in gaining business skills. Participants will go through a number of missions, similar to those on Trump’s television show, to test participant’s leadership abilities. For more information see their website.

Aberdeen International Youth Festival
Date: 3-13 August, 2005
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
The 33rd annual AIYF will present youth performers from around the world to build a better sense of unity among youth in the global community, and to share different cultures and art forms. For more information see their website.

Youth-Produced Human Rights Music Video
A new music video made by teenagers from Youth for Human Rights International has received high acclaim and been invited to several film festivals like the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. "This music video is a whole new angle on human rights education. It has opened so many doors to the media, to world leaders, and to the hearts of children around the world." For more information, or to see the video, check out their website.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES -> Full Listing

Youth Organizer Position for Jovenes Unidos
Jovenes Unidos, the youth branch of Padres Unidos, is a grassroots, student-led group in Denver (USA) that organizes for justice and equality in communities and schools. Jovenes Unidos is offering a Youth Organizer position to work with student campaign for educational justice. For more information, consult their website.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES -> Full Listing

Nigerian HIV/AIDS award
LEAP Africa is recognizing outstanding Nigerian young people who have done important work with HIV/AIDS related projects. They are awarding cash prizes to encourage young people’s participation in the HIV/AIDS fight. The deadline is 24 July, 2005. The prizes are N68,000 (500USD). To nominate a candidate, download the application at their website.

APC Betinho Communication Prize In 2005
The APC Betinho Prize will be offered in recognition of community initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean that use the Internet and other networks to access markets, skills and opportunities. These initiatives must have made a positive economic contribution to the community. Applications will be accepted in Spanish, Portuguese and English by October 16, 2005. The prize is USD $7,500. For more information see their website.

Council of Europe offers "Young Active Citizens" Award
The Young Active Citizens Award encourages cooperation between local/regional authorities and young people. Any concrete and sustainable measure, action or project implemented at local and regional levels, focusing on the participation and citizenship of young people, is welcome to apply. The 2005 Award focuses on educational methods and tools to promote young peoples' active civic engagement, and raise awareness of European citizenship. Prizes of up to 2000€ are offered. Applications (English or French), are due 30 October 2005. More information can be found on-line.

Science Journalism Contest to Honor Coverage for Children
The Science Journalism Awards has announced a new category for 2005: excellence in reporting news on science for children. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) organizes the contest to recognize outstanding coverage of the sciences, engineering and mathematics. The new category is open internationally for print, broadcast and online journalists whose work is geared toward children, including young teens. Entries, due August 1, must have been published or broadcast between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005. English-language translations of international entries are requested whenever possible. For more information, please see their website.

PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES

Submit Papers on Nuclear weapons for Conference
International Youth Nuclear Congress is inviting young people to submit papers for publication and to present at their 2006 Conference. The conference will be focusing on Nuclear Science and Technology, Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning, Non-power Applications of Nuclear and Nuclear Politics and Economics and Young Generation and IYNC Activities world wide. For more information see their website.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

South Asian Commuter Training
Panos South Asia (PSA) is organizing a 5-day South Asian regional ‘Online Journalism and Web Publishing Training Workshop’ for media practitioners in South Asia. The workshop will work with new media formats and allow participants to learn the latest in technology. The workshop will take place on 15 -19 August, 2005 at the Media Centre in Kathmandu, Nepal. The deadline to apply is 15 July, 2005. More information is available on their website.

Travel to China and Hong Kong
Global Teens is sponsoring a small group of US teens (17-19 years old) to travel to Hong Kong and China for 20 days this summer free of charge. The trip will include service learning, home stays and cultural travel experiences to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. For more information contact Angie at +1-212-875-4307.

EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

OTHER RESOURCES (FREE!)

Internships & jobs on Idealist

Internships & more on TakingITGlobal

Google News listings and clippings

TechSoup.org - discounted software

Newsletter Submissions

1 short paragraph to by email
Please write FOR GYAN NEWS in Subject Line.

Join the Global Youth Action Network:

.........Uniting the youth movement for a better world!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------YouthLinkExpress ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vol 7, Issue 5 ---------

	EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Exhibit of Refugee Youth Photography & Writing Date: 4 June - 31 August, 2005 Location: San Diego, USA INTER+SECTIONS is a public exhibition of photography and writings by refugee youth living in the City Heights area of San Diego. Photographs taken by refugee youth who are students in The AjA Project's Journey program will be displayed in storefronts and on exterior walls and fences along a 1.7-mile stretch of University Avenue. For more information see their website. “The Apprentice” for Young People Date: 15-16 July, 2005 Location: Markham, Ontario Canada Power Unit has organized E3, an entrepreneurial challenge modeled after Donald Trump's The Apprentice, for young people interested in gaining business skills. Participants will go through a number of missions, similar to those on Trump’s television show, to test participant’s leadership abilities. For more information see their website. Aberdeen International Youth Festival Date: 3-13 August, 2005 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland The 33rd annual AIYF will present youth performers from around the world to build a better sense of unity among youth in the global community, and to share different cultures and art forms. For more information see their website. Youth-Produced Human Rights Music Video A new music video made by teenagers from Youth for Human Rights International has received high acclaim and been invited to several film festivals like the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. "This music video is a whole new angle on human rights education. It has opened so many doors to the media, to world leaders, and to the hearts of children around the world." For more information, or to see the video, check out their website.

	PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES -> Full Listing Youth Organizer Position for Jovenes Unidos Jovenes Unidos, the youth branch of Padres Unidos, is a grassroots, student-led group in Denver (USA) that organizes for justice and equality in communities and schools. Jovenes Unidos is offering a Youth Organizer position to work with student campaign for educational justice. For more information, consult their website. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES -> Full Listing Nigerian HIV/AIDS award LEAP Africa is recognizing outstanding Nigerian young people who have done important work with HIV/AIDS related projects. They are awarding cash prizes to encourage young people’s participation in the HIV/AIDS fight. The deadline is 24 July, 2005. The prizes are N68,000 (500USD). To nominate a candidate, download the application at their website. APC Betinho Communication Prize In 2005 The APC Betinho Prize will be offered in recognition of community initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean that use the Internet and other networks to access markets, skills and opportunities. These initiatives must have made a positive economic contribution to the community. Applications will be accepted in Spanish, Portuguese and English by October 16, 2005. The prize is USD $7,500. For more information see their website. Council of Europe offers "Young Active Citizens" Award The Young Active Citizens Award encourages cooperation between local/regional authorities and young people. Any concrete and sustainable measure, action or project implemented at local and regional levels, focusing on the participation and citizenship of young people, is welcome to apply. The 2005 Award focuses on educational methods and tools to promote young peoples' active civic engagement, and raise awareness of European citizenship. Prizes of up to 2000€ are offered. Applications (English or French), are due 30 October 2005. More information can be found on-line. Science Journalism Contest to Honor Coverage for Children The Science Journalism Awards has announced a new category for 2005: excellence in reporting news on science for children. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) organizes the contest to recognize outstanding coverage of the sciences, engineering and mathematics. The new category is open internationally for print, broadcast and online journalists whose work is geared toward children, including young teens. Entries, due August 1, must have been published or broadcast between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005. English-language translations of international entries are requested whenever possible. For more information, please see their website. PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES Submit Papers on Nuclear weapons for Conference International Youth Nuclear Congress is inviting young people to submit papers for publication and to present at their 2006 Conference. The conference will be focusing on Nuclear Science and Technology, Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning, Non-power Applications of Nuclear and Nuclear Politics and Economics and Young Generation and IYNC Activities world wide. For more information see their website. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES South Asian Commuter Training Panos South Asia (PSA) is organizing a 5-day South Asian regional ‘Online Journalism and Web Publishing Training Workshop’ for media practitioners in South Asia. The workshop will work with new media formats and allow participants to learn the latest in technology. The workshop will take place on 15 -19 August, 2005 at the Media Centre in Kathmandu, Nepal. The deadline to apply is 15 July, 2005. More information is available on their website. Travel to China and Hong Kong Global Teens is sponsoring a small group of US teens (17-19 years old) to travel to Hong Kong and China for 20 days this summer free of charge. The trip will include service learning, home stays and cultural travel experiences to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. For more information contact Angie at +1-212-875-4307. EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES Idealist (Action Without Borders) Public Services International Communication Initiative International Environment & Dev't Vacancies OTHER RESOURCES (FREE!) Internships & jobs on Idealist Internships & more on TakingITGlobal Google News listings and clippings TechSoup.org - discounted software Foundation Center European Foundation Center Communications Initiative

	ACTION ALERTS! Youth-Led Tsunami Relief Efforts Young people in grades Kindergarten to 12th are volunteering to sell lemonade at home-games in their community to assist the 31 families of Kalamitiya, Sri Lanka, through the Sahana Project. Those interested in joining the Project should contact Ru Freeman [+1-207-873-7595] for details. Participants should be willing to make contact with colleges and/or sports groups in their communities to obtain permission to sell the lemonade during home games. For more information, visit their website.

Key Links
ABOUT GYAN: www.youthlink.org WEB COMMUNITY: www.takingitglobal.org(in partnership with TakingITGlobal) ORGANIZATION DIRECTORY: organizations.takingitglobal.org EVENT CALENDAR: events.takingitglobal.org
Newsletter Submissions
1 short paragraph to by email Please write FOR GYAN NEWS in Subject Line.
Join the Global Youth Action Network:
Linking thousands of organizations worldwide Join at www.takingitglobal.org/joingyan