Dear Friends,

Looking back at the events and activities that took place during Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) this weekend, I am incredibly inspired by the energy and creativity demonstrated by young people around the world. This is the third year I have been helping to coordinate the program, and every year there are so many examples of courageous young people that organize events despite of limited resources and political unrest.

The interest in participating in GYSD in Kenya has been especially remarkable. In a time where the country, and especially its youth, has faced massive challenges, youth organizations all over Kenya have signed up to participate and mobilized their peers for GYSD. While the media brought us images and stories of angry young men, I witnessed youth organizations in Kenya planning events on peace and reconciliation, environment clean-ups and HIV/AIDS awareness.

One of the main purposes of GYSD is to recognize all these positive contributions young people are making, and to fight stereotypes of youth as apathetic, irresponsible or violent. By building global momentum and awareness around youth volunteerism, GYSD is also an opportunity for organizations to start new partnerships and programs, reach new members and audiences, and engage their communities in a dialogue about the role of young people.

As reports and pictures are starting to come in, I find myself hoping and believing that participants feel inspired and empowered to start their own projects; that organizations are able to build on the events to scale up their year-round work, and that leaders and decision-makers are more aware of the leadership capabilities of young people. Thanks to everyone who contributed their time and energy to GYSD year!

In solidarity,

Vidar Ekehaug
Programs Director

Youth forum nurtures confidence and potential
4/17/08, Montenegro Times - Montenegro
Pinned to the door of a youth center in Muo, near Kotor, is a large poster with a small logo, Forum MNE, asking young people to enter an art competition ... More here.

National Youth Council needed
4/19/08, Fiji Times - Fiji
Youths of Fiji should start lobbying for a national youth council, the Young People's Concerned Network said. More here.

The British Council and Young Arab Leaders welcome 120 young ...
4/23/08, AME Info - United Arab Emirates
... public sector and civil society leaders in the Middle East and the British Council which aims to develop young people from partner youth organisations ... More here.

Applications Open for Mexico Youth Force Pre-Conference!
The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS is part of the Mexico Youth Force that will help ensure young people are present and prepared for the XVII Aids Conference in Mexico City The Pre-Conference will take place from July 31 - August 2 and will consist of informative and skills-building workshops around HIV/AIDS issues, ranging from scientific knowledge to effective political advocacy. For more information, click here.

Global Youth Service Day celebrated worldwide!
On April 25-27, millions of young volunteers in over 100 countries celebrated Global Youth Service Day. Check out the GYSD press release for more information and for highlights from participating countries. We thank all Local Organizers and National Lead Agencies for all their outstanding efforts!

GYAN Ghana partners with SISS for UK youth exchange program
A group of 10 young Ghanaian students have been selected to participate in the Belongings program, organized by the British Counsel in partnership with GYAN Ghana and Self-Help Initiative Support Services (SISS). They will spend time studying and living in the UK, and will bring their experiences and lessons back to share with their communities. For more information, please contact Kwame Frempong.

Queen Rania and International Youth Day
Queen Rania is associating with the video-sharing site YouTube to respond to questions about the Arab region until International Youth Day on August 12, 2008. Be sure to watch her clip to hear her message to YouTubers everywhere, and then join in the conversation.

Youth Media Exchange (ymex.org) launched on May 1st!
Ymex.org is a space for youth interested in using digital media like video, audio, games, blogs, and mashups, to focus on major global issues! Join us and showcase your passion for social change by participating in contests, collaborating with other youth on media projects, and finding resources to sharpen your skills! To get started, just log-in to with your TakingITGlobal username and password.

A global environmental effort
4/22/08, The Daily Journal - USA
Students donned matching blue T-shirts that read “Global Youth Service Day.” The volunteers in China had the same shirts. Locally, the students and teachers... More here.

Children's heroes awarded 17 million children's prize for the rights of the child
4/18/08, WCPRC - Sweden
Champion of slave girls' rights, Somaly Mam, Cambodia, receives double award from children. More here.

Young people set the agenda for 2020
4/14/08, ABC Online - Australia
“...these young people have very different experiences, have very different perspectives to the generations that have gone before them...” More here.

Youth Policy White Paper symposium held in Taipei City
4/12/08, China Post - Taiwan
The "2008 Symposium on the Results of the Youth Policy White Paper Guidelines" was held Saturday, with government leaders, scholars and youth representatives... More here.

Gambia: The Youth and the Nation
4/11/08, AllAfrica.com - Gambia
As the able bodied age group, the youth are entrusted with the much needed physical might vital to catapult a nation's development processes... More here.

Blair calls upon young to help UN meet millennium goals
4/3/08, guardian.co.uk - United Kingdom
Tony Blair will tonight urge young people to "awaken the world's conscience" over its failure to make sufficient progress towards meeting the UN's Millennium Development Goals. More here.

Major focus on the youth this year
3/28/08, Jamaica Observer - Jamaica
The country's youth, especially males in the 14 to 29 age group, are to come up for special treatment in the first budget of a Jamaica Labour Party... More here.

Local teen joins up to combat youth violence
3/27/08, Edmonton Sun - Canada
Pamela Echeverria may be just 14, but she's wise beyond her years when it comes to youth violence. More here.

Turkey needs to act before the “window of opportunity” closes
3/21/08, UNDP - Turkey
Turkey must now focus on developing comprehensive policies for youth in order to ensure that the country has a healthy, educated, and skilled society to face the challenges of next 15 years and beyond... More here.

:: PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

International Youth Crime Prevention and Cities Summit 2008
The provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal and UN-HABITAT will host the International Youth Crime Prevention and Cities Summit 2008, in the city of Durban 17-21 June 2008. The objective is to prevent and reduce crime and violence in our cities, towns and villages. Designed for young people and local authorities who work with them, this four-day event will enable all participants to mobilize, to learn, to experience, to speak, and to act. For more information, click here.

:: EVENT SPOTLIGHT [Full Calendar]

Open Society Institute Youth Initiative BarCamp 2008
Date: June 21-22nd, 2008
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
The Open Society Institute (OSI) Youth Initiative seeks to empower youth to become active citizens willing and able to influence public life and to promote open society ideals. A BarCamp is a gathering of people to share and learn in an open environment through discussions, demonstrations, and interaction with attendees. Representatives of youth-driven initiatives whose experience may help inspire others are encouraged to attend. Deadline for registration is May 20, 2008. For more information, click here or send an email.

Be the Change: 14th International Summer University
Date: July 21-30th, 2008
Location: Tamera, Portugal
“Be the Change - Youth for a Future without War” will be held in Tamera, Portugal, to bring together the experience of peace workers and specialists from around the world. The program will provide concrete education perspectives in the social-human, ecological, and technological areas, as well as preparation and networking for a model of the world without war. For more information, click here.

16th International Youth Leadership Conference
Date: July 20-25th, 2008
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
The 16th International Youth Leadership Conference is a week-long youth forum on world politics, international relations, law, business and global economy. The theme of the conference is a "cross-cultural exchange of young ideas concerning the future of world leadership". For more information, click here or send an email.

ISFiT 2009
Date: ISFiT 2009
Location: Trondheim, Norway
The International Student Festival in Trondheim is the world's largest student festival with a thematic focus. This year's theme, Peacebuilding, will be discussed by over 450 students from around the world, in a festival filled with debates, concerts, ceremonies and a wide cultural program. 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 Coalition 2008 Conference UNICEF/Global Youth Coalition Association on Religion and Human Rights conference taking place June 16-19 in Guinea-Bissau.

International Youth Conference Youth Conference taking place May 18-21, 2008, in Oklahoma, USA, and May 25-28, 2008, in Africa.

FCPNDI Conference “Le changement climatique: un changement de développement” taking place from May 5-16, 2008, in California, U.S.A.