Global Peacebuilders Newsletter on International Youth Day - 12 August 08
• INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 12 AUGUST 2008 International Youth Day takes place on 12 August each year, and was created by the United Nations in 1999 to give the world an opportunity to recognise the potential of youth, to celebrate their achievements, and plan for ways to better engage young people to successfully take action in the development of their societies. This International Youth Day, Global Peacebuilders is focusing on young people in areas affected by conflict and their role within peacebuilding. • 5TH ANNUAL YOUTH ASSEMBLY 11-14 AUGUST 2008 For youth aged 18-26, the Youth Assembly at the United Nations is a gathering of hundreds of young people from across the world seeking future involvement with the United Nations, civil society and ways to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. To register for the Assembly, click here. • DOSSIER TO UN DETAILS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE OF UK YOUTH This summer, the four Commissioners for children and young people in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England submitted a series of complaints to a United Nations review of children’s rights in the UK. Their report details widespread infringements of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and can be viewed online here.				News Youth & Peacebuilding Springboard Featured database groups Featured database groups Featured database groups Free Downloads Register Now
YOUTH & PEACEBUILDING One of the major challenges for peacebuilding in areas emerging from conflict is how to effectively engage young people in the kinds of activity that build the trust, reconciliation, stability and structures necessary for sustainable peace. By embracing youth as an integral part of the rebuilding and reconstruction process, societies emerging from conflict can promote participation for their young people. In Sierra Leone, where youth represent 60% of the population, and where many young people were involved as child soldiers in the 11-year civil war, the government has put into place a strategy to reintegrate young people and involve them in post-conflict activities. Through its Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework, the Sierra Leonean government has defined youth to be between the ages of 18-35, recognising that current 35-year-olds would have been around 18 when the conflict began, and should therefore benefit from the kinds of reintegration activities planned. Alongside such reintegration and engagement, there is also a need for income-generating initiatives involving young people. This not only improves family finances, but also enhances self-esteem, and enables youth to gain a place in the community and increased respect. Although in some countries young people make up the majority of the population, few funding initiatives in post-conflict areas focus on income-generation for youth, and their majority is not reflected in the political or economic make-up of the area. Indeed, a 2006 United Nations Development Programme report recognised the need not just for youth employment, but also for the government regulations and financial incentives that build an environment that is favourable to the employment of young people.
YOUTH & PEACEBUILDING IN NORTHERN IRELAND FEATURED GROUP: SPRINGBOARD Springboard believes in building people, building communities, building peace and a better society for all. Springboard believes in the young people of Northern Ireland, in working with others and actively engaging in the world around us. Specifically, Springboard endorses the following strategic objectives: • To promote an appreciation of diversity within a local and global context, so contributing to the development of civic leadership within society • To develop citizenship among young people and the capacity to become stakeholders in their communities through personal and professional development leading to employment and community involvement. This in turn will be responsive to the needs, potential and 'dynamic' within our communities • To facilitate the positive development, portrayal, and promotion of local communities through assisting global exchange between citizens and the sharing of international best practice Through its Wider Horizons initiative, young adults from disadvantaged communities in Ireland, north and south, continue to come together and engage in highly interactive development programmes. With programme time spent on locations at home and overseas in countries such as Canada, America, Europe and South Africa, participants are not only challenged but also supported throughout their journey self discovery. Many leave to embark on the next stage in their journey, as a world citizen with greater confidence, skills and appreciation of diversity. Springboard has just launched its new website at www.springboard-opps.org and if you want to find out more information or get involved, you can do so in a number of ways: Springboard is seeking families to become paid home stays; you can also volunteer to help in their work. You can also sign up for Springboard’s Peace Day Campaign. Or you may know a young person interested in a life changing experience on one of Springboard’s Wider Horizons programmes!
AFRICAN CHILD PEACE INITIATIVE, LIBERIA The African Child Peace Initiative (ACPI), is a youth-led secular, non-tribal, non-political, non-governmental, peace and community development organisation dedicated to creating a better future for the children and young people in post-war Liberia and Africa through its youth friendly community development and peace building programmes. View database profile here	FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE, ISRAEL The “Friendship Village” is an International Centre for educating young people to live in a multi-cultural environment. The essence of its mission is - respecting the “other” and learning about him or her, the same time to recognise and to build what is in common between people coming from different cultural, national, religious or ethnic background, especially those who share common social frameworks or live within the boundaries of the same country. View database profile here	GLOBAL YOUTH CONNECT, GUATEMALA GYC's mission is to build and support a community of youth who are actively promoting and protecting human rights, and to educate and inspire the next generation to work for peaceful change. We believe educated, compassionate and empowered youth are the key to achieving tolerance, peace and justice. GYC practices a holistic approach to youth education and action which is grounded in a commitment to the principles of human rights, community-building, reconciliation and peaceful resolution of conflicts. View database profile here
FREE DOWNLOADS • Download peacebuilding training workshop on the principles and practice of the peace guerrilla, delivered by Ben Hoffman at the Global Peacebuilders international conference • Download technology for peace training, delivered by Sanjana Hattotuwa • Download Global Peacebuilders tool for learning and updating of practice: Catalogue of Approaches to Peacebuilding
REGISTER NOW The Global Peacebuilders online database is a useful online tool for accessing swift and user-friendly information about individuals and groups involved in building the conditions for sustainable peace in areas of conflict across the world. The database is designed to shine a spotlight on the important work being done to build peace, and to create opportunities for groups to share news and build partnerships.			If you or your colleagues are not yet registered within the database, we encourage you to list your peacebuilding work and join the Global Peacebuilders online community. Click here to go straight to the registration page now.
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