Dear friends,

Although we skipped the last edition of our newsletter, we trust that the new year is off to a good start, and wish to share with you our best wishes for a joyous and prosperous 2007. We are also grateful for your continued interest in our work, and in keeping abreast of what's happening in the youth empowerment field. Here at GYAN, in the last 6 months we have begun a process of transition within the organization that we expect will breathe new life into our work as we continue to evolve, and help further unite the efforts of young people working to improve our world.

Next week we are moving our Headquarters across town, and will share an office with our partners, NextNext Entertainment, and their Chat the Planet TV series. After 7 years with our office near the United Nations in New York, we are excited by the change of space! The core purpose of GYAN has always been to support greater collaboration among youth and youth serving organizations, and we expect this move to only take us a step further in that direction.

Our new address will be:
307 West 38th Street, Suite 1805
New York, NY 10018

As we continue with this great transition, we're also excited to announce the 8th Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), which will be held 20-22 April in over 100 countries. As the largest celebration of young volunteers, GYSD was launched by Youth Service America, with GYAN as its key partner, and now mobilizes millions of young people in community service projects organized by thousands of organizations. We hope to count on your participation again this year!

We look forward to being back in touch, and to sharing information as we progress with these changes in our organization. Thank you for your understanding and continued support during this time!

In peace,

Benjamin Quinto
Executive Director

We Need Young People Who Are Hungry For a Future of Civilization
Executive Intelligence Review (EIR) - Leesburg, VA, USA, 1/12/07
Every great movement in history depends upon young people, generally adult youth—today, 18 to 35 (and 35 is kind of old) for leadership... More here.

CNS to hold a very sparkling National Youth Day Celebration this year
ThaisNews - Bangkok, Thailand, 1/5/07
The Council for National Security (CNS) Chairman has affirmed to hold the most sparkling National Youth Day Celebration this year to boost young people's ... More here.

BT and The Guardian to launch youth website
New Media Age - London, UK, 1/5/07
BT has partnered with The Guardian to launch a youth website as part of its Young Voices scheme, based around a panel of young people. More here.

73 per cent of young people have misconceptions about HIV: survey
Hindu - Chennai, India, 1/2/07
... drug use, alcohol, and adolescent pregnancy, the survey calls for helping the youth in accessing appropriate information. When young people receive knowledge ... More here.

GYCA Recruits 11 New Regional Focal Points for 2007
The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS just recruited 11 new Regional Focal Points (RFPs) for 2007 from over 135 applications! Go to the GYCA website to see the new RFP profiles and contact them for more information and updates with respect to HIV/AIDS in your regions! Some of GYCA's current activities are to continue with the capacity-building free online e-courses, hold local gatherings/trainings globally, follow up with commitments made at the XVI International AIDS Conference in August 2006, and scale up opportunities for youth by selecting a team of National Focal Points to strengthen the regions.

Join 8th Annual Global Youth Service Day - April 20-22, 2007!
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is the largest annual celebration of young volunteers, and every year more than a million young people in more than 100 countries participate, organizing thousands of community service projects. The application process for National and Local Lead Agencies is now open, so apply on-line today! For more information, visit GYSD.org or contact the Coordination Team.

Staples and Youth Venture Present the "That Was Easy" National Competition
Are you a Youth Venturer who is making life easier for others? Are you thinking of launching a social venture? All Youth Venturers (including new Ventures launched by 7 February 2007) have the chance to win a free trip to Staples headquarters, $1000 cash and a $5000 Staples shopping spree! Apply for the That Was Easy National Competition at the website. For information on entering the competition, visit That Was Easy Youth Venture Competition.

2007 Global Survey of Youth Attitudes Towards Citizenship and Identity in the 21st Century
This survey is intended to take the pulse of how youth (under the age of 24) in different parts of the world think and feel about issues of cultural, social, and economic identity. The Survey is sponsored by Our World, an alliance of organizations working on youth and global citizenship education in different countries. An international NGO, Education Development Center (EDC) serves as the Secretariat for this Consortium. For more information, please visit Our World Global Citizenship Education.

Under-30s are not apathetic. But they're not stupid either
Mother Jones - USA, 11/16/06
At a time when idealism is no longer expected of young people, young people are voting in increasingly significant numbers, inspired by their peers and their hopes. More here.

Condor: Young people hold keys to the future
Sun St.Kitts/Nevis - St. Kitts and Nevis, 11/30/06
Christopher/Nevis. “I am firmly of the view, however, that youth empowerment will generate enormous opportunities, through rapid economic expansion and high ... More here.

Youth Crisis Looms in North Caucasus
The Moscow Times - Russia, 11/30/06
A rise in the number of young people coupled with a lack of opportunity in... The 88-page study, "Youth in the Northern Caucasus: From Risk to Opportunity," was... More here.

World AIDS Day and its revolving themes
Mmegi - Gaberones, Botswana, 12/1/06
... board. In 1998, the youth were once again urged to pay attention through force for change: World AIDS campaign with young people. It ... More here.

People's Association Youth Movement aims to stay relevant
Channel News Asia - Singapore, 12/2/06
... youth, and also trying to work with corporations....(to find out) what we can do for working youth, not only ... "It is important to get the young people to make ... More here.

Young people addressing HIV/AIDS discrimination
Jamaica Observer - Kingston, Jamaica, 12/7/06
...Meanwhile, Miriam Maluwa, UNAIDS country representative in Jamaica, responding to the young people's concerns about a lack of youth-friendly services and... More here.

Largest-ever youth exchanges help to build harmonious world
Xinhua - China, 12/11/06
... to the Central Committee of Communist Youth League of China (CYLC). "As an important part of people-to-people diplomacy, Chinese young people's exchanges with ... More here.

The Queen Appeals For A Bridging Of The Generation Gap In Her Christmas Message
CityNews - Toronto, Canada, 12/25/06
... monarch makes it clear that the world will soon belong to today's youth. ... and Muslims praying to Mecca, and pays tribute to the young people who greeted her at ... More here.

Campaigns scheme for young people
BBC News - UK, 12/29/06
... The Youth Parliament said the project would give young people the networks, skills and information to take action. Participants ... More here.

Government receives National Youth Policy
AntiguaSun - St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, 12/29/06
... of the direct involvement of youth in issues which affect them and noted that an effective youth policy is one which empowers the young people of Antigua & Barbuda... More here.

Ho Chi Minh City praise excellent youths
Nhan Dan - Hanoi, Vietnam, 1/2/07
... contributions. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Le Thanh Hai praised these youth in particular and young people of the country in general. He ... More here.

:: PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Youth Venture
Whether your focus is poverty, health, the elderly, the environment, education, race or diversity issues, the arts, an international issue in another part of the world, or any other social issue, we believe in your ability to address it! Around the world, young people are taking the initiative to use their passions to creatively solve the problems they see in the world around them. Youth Venture and its partners around the world believe in the ability of young people to create positive change in society and support them by providing coaching, helpful resources, a seed grant to finance the launch of their social venture. For more information, click here.

:: EVENT SPOTLIGHT [Full Calendar]

Global Youth Village
Date: 13 July-4 August 2007
Location: Bedford, USA
The Global Youth Village is an international summer training program for young people ages 13-18. Be an agent for social change this summer by exploring global citizenship, teamwork, project planning, decision-making, and public speaking with friends from around the world. Learn how to make a difference both locally and globally and participate in an array of stimulating recreational and cultural activities and events. For more information, click here.

1st Vienna International Historic Model United Nations (HISTOMUN)
Date: 18-22 March 2007
Location: Vienna, Austria
The HISTOMUN is a new kind of Model UN hosted by the United Nations Youth and Student Association of Austria - Academic Forum for Foreign Affairs (UNYSA-AUSTRIA-AFA). The plan for the HISTOMUN is five Security Councils dealing with five yet unresolved problems. These will be simulations of actual historic events in which the real UN Security Council was involved. HISTOMUN is open to students and young people over age 18 and from all nations worldwide. Participants will be offered social programs during the evenings following the debates each day. Application deadline: 15 February 2007. For more information, click here.

Never Again Rwanda: International Youth Peace Summit
Date: 1-18 July 2007
Location: Rwanda
The International Youth Peace Summit will gather 30 youth from all over the world (15 from the Great Lakes Region of Africa and 15 from other parts of Africa and the world) for 17 days of workshop programming, trainings and collaboration throughout Rwanda. Utilizing NAR expertise, know-how and connections, it will be possible to have a successful educational program for the IYPS that focuses on peace-building, human rights and international conflicts and conflict prevention. Application deadline: 19 February 2007. For more information, click here.

18th National Youth Crime Prevention Conference & International Forum
Date: 21-24 March 2007
Location: Denver, USA
Youth Crime Watch of America (YCWA) presents this powerful youth conference, where youth and their adult allies can find inspiration, valuable skills, prevention knowledge, and national resources in the fight against crime, violence, and drugs. The National Youth Crime Prevention Conference is a vehicle that recognizes the valuable contributions youth can make to the crime prevention effort. For more information, click here.

:: BE CAUTIOUS - POTENTIAL SCAMS
Many scams invite people to register for a youth conference, and intend only to collect registration fees. Please beware and only pay fees when you are certain it is a legitimate event. Common schemes include events taking place both in the USA and other countries.

• Global Youth Welfare Organization's Profile Youth Conference USA/Italy From 26 February to 2 March 2007 in Jamaica, NY, USA and from 6-9 March 2007 in Rome, Italy.
• World Youth Organization for Human Welfare Conference From 13-15 March 2007 in California, USA and from 20-22 March 2007 in Dakar, Senegal.
• Stop Child Abuse / Youth and Women Empowerment From 17th-20th April 2007 in USA and 23rd-26th April 2007 in Netherlands.