Dear friends,

Eleven years ago exactly, I started the United Nations Youth Assembly project, proposing a forum for young people at the United Nations. Eight years ago it evolved into the Global Youth Action Network, for which I have since acted as Executive Director. Six years ago, we partnered with TakingITGlobal, and together have become two cornerstone organizations in today's global youth movement. In 2002, we helped to mobilize over a million young people, our first step towards critical mass. Two years ago, we doubled again, and by then connected over 10000 organizations. Last year, we began to look for new leadership in the organization, and consider my own transition.

I am thrilled to share with you that Ms. Franziska Seel will become the new Executive Director of GYAN next month, and during this transition I will remain in a support role, while we move our long standing partnership with TakingITGlobal into a more defined strategic alliance. Franziska brings a rich history and years of youth organizing experience, and had volunteered with one of GYAN's member organizations in Germany. Later she completed an internship at GYAN's Paris Bureau, and shortly afterwards ended up as a program manager at TakingITGlobal, our sister group in Toronto, leading our joint MDG programming. We welcome Franziska to a team she knows well already, and look forward to this exciting next phase under her leadership.

We are also announcing that TakingITGlobal and the Global Youth Action Network have started to combine certain operations and programs that will consolidate and streamline our efforts, and elevate the impact of our work. As two key youth-led organizations connecting and empowering young people around the world, we know that together we can do so much more.

Holding the vision, and being of service has given my life purpose, and offered the most humbling and rewarding experience I could ever have imagined. Being a part of the youth movement, and the amazing communities it spans, has given me hope, inspired me in ways I can't describe, and motivated me to never give up on a dream. I am eagerly looking forward, and with great anticipation, to continuing in service, and finding ways to unite the efforts of those committed to making the world a better place for all.

I thank you so much for your continued participation in GYAN, and for all the support and encouragement along the way. This was not one person's dream, but instead a collective vision which continues to unfold, as it embraces the ideals of a generation ever more committed to finding peace and justice in our lifetime.

Yours in service,

Benjamin Quinto
Executive Director

Caribbean youth to benefit from Commonwealth empowerment
10/29/2007, Caribbean Net News - Guyana
Young people in the Caribbean and throughout the Commonwealth now have an enhanced opportunity of being fully empowered politically, socially and economically... More here.

Saudis, Britons Point Way Forward at Youth Forum
11/5/2007, Arab News - UK
Young Britons and Saudis joined recently in London to share thoughts about their generation...this forum was a prelude to the Two Kingdoms Conference. More here.

YES Fund announces Business Plan Competition
11/10/2007, HindustanTimes.com - India
YESFund, the Global Fund for Youth Entrepreneurship, announced the launch of the ICT Business Plan Competition for 2007-8, to support budding young entrepreneurs. More here.

Wyclef Jean Promotes Youth Programs
11/12/2007, Associated Press - Haiti
Wyclef Jean has announced the creation of several youth-based programs funded by his Yele Haiti charity... More here.

GYAN submits statement to the Commission for Social Development
The Commission for Social Development will take place in February 2008 and consider the theme: "Promoting full employment and decent work for all." GYAN conducted an e-consultation, in English and French, to collect the views and opinions from its member organizations on this issue, and has submitted a statement for the Commission to consider. The statement will be circulated among participating governments as an official document and translated into all six UN languages. Read the English statement here.

GYAN Mexico in new book about water
Carlos Garcia-Robles from GYAN Mexico, wrote an article and contributed to the book "Water Voices Around the World," and includes contributions from personalities like Mijail Gorbachev, Kofi Annan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Maude Barlow. Carlos talks about his experience with water and development strategies. You can read more about the book here!

Spring internships available in New York
We are once again looking for outstanding young people that are willing to spend some of their time and energy with us. We usually look for people that share our vision, are flexible and reliable, and have a good sense of humor. All internships are based in New York City and are unpaid. For a full listing if internships and volunteer opportunities and information on how to apply, please check out our page on Idealist.org.

GYCA members organize events in 34 Countries for World AIDS Day, December 1
This World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2007, members of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) are organization 104 events in 34 countries to highlight the pressing need to build youth leadership and to listen to the voices of young leaders fighting HIV and AIDS in their communities. GYCA events, organized in partnership with the World AIDS Campaign's "Take the Lead" World AIDS Day initiative, include concerts, workshops, and rallies. For more details, including the locations and times of events, please click here.

Global Campaign for Education
In 2008, Global Campaign for Education will build on the theme of the right to education, calling for an end to all forms of exclusion from quality education. Presently, campaigners across the world are preparing for Global Action Week which will take place from April 21 to April 27, 2008. A Planning Pack is available for interested organizations. In the mean time, you can keep reminding your government to fulfill the promises they made for Education for All.

A World Fit for Children 2007
Young people are convinced that our world has to be a World Fit for Children. From 9 to 12 of December 2007, children and young people's voices will be heard among world leaders, in the review of progress towards the goals of the Special Session for Children during the last 5 years. In the meantime you can take action and get involved by tellings us what has been done in your communities to guarantee children and young people better lives! Read the report here and take action.

Student Congress discusses problems of Latin America youth
11/13/2007, Granma International - Cuba
Student leaders from some 20 nations today discusses the problems and challenges of youth in the 15th Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Students. More here.

Teens Rewarded for Innovative Social Ventures to Help Latinos Stay in School
11/13/2007, Hispanic PR Wire - Virginia, USA
In response to the staggering Hispanic dropout rate, 50 teams of students across the country developed action plans for sustainable social ventures to motivate their peers to stay in school. More here.

Youth Awards to Encourage Community Growth
11/14/2007, BuaNews - South Africa
The North West Premier's Youth Awards will go a long way to encourage this vibrant sector to participate in developing their communities. More here.

Youth want to be involved in integration movement
11/15/2007, Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation - Barbados
Regional governments will soon be challenged to involve young people more in issues relating to regional integration and the Caribbean community. More here.

NACP launches HIV/AIDS Campaign
11/16/2007, Daily Times of Pakistan - Islamabad
The Health Ministry's National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) launched a month long campaign to commemorate World AIDS Day to be held on Dec. 1 at a media conference... More here.

A Youth Climate Coalition
11/18/2007, Green Left - Australia
The Australian Youth Climate Coalition aims to bring together existing social justice and environment groups to work cooperatively on climate-change activism. More here.

FG to establish six new national youths centres nationwide
11/19/2007, Vanguard - Nigeria
The Federal Government had approved the establishment of six new National Youths Centres across the six geo-political zones in the country... More here.

Workshop to teach Bahraini youth protection against AIDS
11/19/2007, Gulf Daily News - Bahrain
Bahrain's youngsters are being taught how to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS at a week-long workshop that began yesterday. More here.

IOC picks four finalists in bidding for first Youth Olympics
11/19/2007, International Herald Tribune - Switzerland
Five cities - three from Europe and two from Asia - were selected as finalists in the bidding to host the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010. More here.

:: PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

TakingITGlobal receives 2007 Tech Museum of Innovation Award
The Tech Museum Awards: Technology Benefiting Humanity, presented by Applied Materials, Inc., awarded $250,000 at a black-tie gala to five technologists, educators, scientists and social entrepreneurs who are using technology to improve our world. TakingITGlobal received the Microsoft Education Award, in the amount of $50,000, for its work to foster awareness of social, economic and environmental issues. For more information, click here.

:: EVENT SPOTLIGHT [Full Calendar]

2008 CIVICUS Youth Assembly
Date: 16-21 June, 2008
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Building on the success of last year's CIVICUS Youth Assembly, the 2008 event will offer young delegates a program and a space to develop and commit to action internationally. The theme of participation in civil society will be explored over the course of the event. There are several ways to attend and delegate places are available to successful applicants aged 18 to 25 years old. The closing date for applications is March 31, 2008. For more information, click here or send an email.

Delta Youth Awards
Date: 20 December,2007
Location: Asaba Delta, Nigeria
The Delta Youth Awards is an annual initiative of Delta Change Network established to highlight and celebrate individual and/or corporate best practices and contributions that positively impact the youths of Delta State. The main goal is to identify positive role models for youths while recognizing the contributions of Deltans. For more information, click here or send an email.

Mundos de Mujeres/Women's Worlds 08
Date: 3-9 July, 2008
Location: Madrid, Spain
Women's Worlds is an international congress on academic research on gender, women and feminist social movements. Participants have the opportunity to reflect on important contemporary issues that affect women in specific ways. Special emphasis will be placed on paper submissions with the themes of violence and migrations. For more information, click here.

First National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference
Date: 14-16 April, 2008
Location: Newcastle, Australia
The Family Action Centre and the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care have joined together to provide an opportunity for Indigenous communities from Australia to share their stories of success in their 3-day event. Attendees will share valuable information and resources that can be implemented and adjusted to suit their communities. Early registration ends January 25. For more information, click here or send an email.

SWA-Institute of Management Sciences 2008 International Convention
Date: Late March/Early April 2008
Location: Peshawar, Pakistan
Student World Assembly-Institute of Management Sciences was founded in May of 2007 and during the past few months the chapter has hosted events addressing issues such as human trafficking and corporate social responsibility. The global themes for their 2008 convention will be voted on shortly. For more information, click here or send an email.

:: 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.

• World Youth Organization for Human Welfare "Global Youths Combined Conference" taking place the 3rd-5th of December in California, USA, and the 8th-11th of December in Dakar, Senegal.
• Jacobson Foundation "2nd International NGO/CBO Annual Meeting" from the 27th to the 30th of December in Albany, New York, USA.
• Women and Child Abuse in the UK "International Conference on Women and Child Abuse" on the 5th to the 15th of December, in London, UK.