Voice Newsletter

June 2006 Edition

To read past editions please visit the archive - click here.

Oxfam's International Youth Parliament (OIYP) Voice Newsletter showcases the positive social change accomplished by Action Partners worldwide.   Distributed to over 4500 OIYP Network members in 150 countries, Voice also features relevant news from external partners and organizations for the benefit of our readership.  Also Published at www.iyp.oxfam.org/news/

Email us at: iypvoice@oxfam.org.au

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Focus

What changes have we achieved over the last few years since OIYP2004 or IYP 2000?  Has our capacity to effect positive change been increased?  What difficult experiences have we had?  What have we learnt?  These were the questions that have underpinned OIYP’s Global Review.  Discussions on these questions with action partners are now defining the future for the IYP network and its partnership with Oxfam.

The aim of the global review is to involve OIYP Action Partners in reflecting upon their experiences and contributing to the design and development of the next cycle of action for OIYP.  We received around 100 contributions – an amazing collection of stories and reflections. 

The contributions include stories of changes that action partners have contributed to in their communities, of renewed commitment and the building of skills and networks.  The contributions highlight challenges and obstacles faced.  Importantly, these contributions are a record of the lessons that have been learnt by action partners and by the IYP network as a whole.

For a week in June a group of 24 action partners – selected at random from those who contributed from every region in the IYP network – met with Oxfam staff to consider together the past and future of IYP. The group examined the global review contributions to consider the impact of the IYP network.  They contributed new ideas to the future vision and values of IYP.  Action partners then worked on practical ways of achieving the visions created.  As with all meetings of OIYP action partners it was full of commitment, laughter, sharing and learning.

This edition of Voice shares some stories from the global review.  Enjoy, reflect and continue to send in your stories, updates or reflections to Voice!

May for the Oxfam team

Action Partner News

 Here are four stories that action partners contributed to the global review.  Here, they talk about their successes, challenges and lessons. 

Olusegun Olowu, 2004 Action partner, Nigeria

OIYP 2004 Action Partner

The greatest lesson I have learnt is that different people face very different challenges regardless of the nearness or homogeneity of location. And that what works for a community would not work for another.

I have been on National Service in Northern Nigeria over the last 6 months. It’s a mandatory scheme for all graduates in Nigeria to spend a year in a community different from their’s working under the government scheme with local organisations and firms and learning about the culture. There is also a community development programme built into the scheme and corps members are expected to do community work and help develop the communities where they live.

Going north of Nigeria was a big challenge to me. First was the distance, second the frequent ethnic clashes that have claimed a lot of lives (for instance, the recent Islamic cartoon upheaval claimed almost 200 lives). However, it has been a big learning experience for me.

I have experienced literary levels below what I would have ever thought existed at this age. Children who do not go to school but get Islamic education from a cleric who can’t feed them and sends them out to beg for food and alms to feed called Almajiris. This was my first culture shock. Hundreds of these kids exist in every community but it is considered culturally and religiously okay for things to be this way. They like it that way and don’t want things to change.

My community is a desert community where we experience weather extremes and very severe sandstorms. It is surprising to see how people survive in this environment. I strongly feel that some of these factors and the general interest of the people in farming, herding and trade have greatly influenced the low level of education in the area. There is limited reach, if any, of HIV intervention programmes in these areas and sometimes I ask myself if I’m still in my country. Many students haven’t even seen a computer and wouldn’t understand what Internet meant.  There are however some affluent people who derive pleasure from giving alms to the poor rather than making some effort to empower them. I see this as a problem, but even the poor accept it as a normal way of life.

For me, it has been a big eye-opener seeing the challenges people face. We advocate basic education for all in the light of the MDGs, but they don’t think it is important. Now government “begs” students to attend food. Some states in Northern Nigeria actually give bursaries to students who otherwise would not attend school. It’s a big difference because in my part of the country, we pay to attend even government owned schools.

My experiences cannot be summarised. However, my greatest lesson is that the problem is really what the local people think it is. But how do goals and targets like the MDGs fare in such situations.  

Mary Jionisi, 2004 action partner, Solomon Islands

OIYP 2004 Action Partner

Situated in the outskirts of Honiara town there are number of rural settlements, from these settlements people regard those youths that live in it, as those who often break the law, who are vulnerable to high risk behaviours and reproductive health problems. This is because the government does not prioritise its services to meet the population of these settlements and this result in low living standards, also other basic services that is provided for the citizens living in the main town, the latter have no access to it. In all social issues that affect the young population of the country we would say that those youths living in these areas are most affected.

The ‘Honik Youth Skills for Income Generation’, has been including youths from these less privilege communities to involve in the project activities. From these youths I have come to learn and understand how they view their surroundings, they always base their opinions on life experiences and less focus on theory. As implementing this project I have come to meet and involve with such interesting individuals, I have met one young person that is actually living in these communities and is currently working with me to find ways to help change some situations in her community.

 Linfer Malefo lives in one of the settlements in Honiara that have a lot of aggressive youths; this is due to the fact that in this settlement, there is a lot of crime and violence that exists. Fishing village is well known to everyone in town as the area that has a lot of school dropouts, has a high number of youths being involved in the recent ethnic tension, this has lead them to be still involved in crime and violence. The other issue that Linfer wants to address is prostitution (sex workers) amongst the young women in the village. Since the settlement is located in the coastal area, these young ladies have easy access to the foreign ships that come to shore in Honiara. All though responsible authorities have banned this, the young girls are still in the business. This is not an easy task to take, due to the fact that some girls are selling their bodies for the survival of their families.

Since Linfer is a youth living in the community she is well aware of the situations, community background and other essential information about the village. She is a volunteer peer educator, for the Save the Children Fund Australia, she mostly plan and does awareness programs on youth issues for the youths in her village, but these youths are yet to grip these messages. She has openly told me that, through collaboration with the Ministry of Health and her experience she was selected to assist in a survey done in Honiara of teenage sex workers. In doing this survey she has come to know all village girls who are involved in selling their body in exchange for heavy cash. Already Linfer has tried to sensitively put across some talks to these girls on risks, but to her disappointment they come up with reasons as to why they cannot stop – they often tell her that if they stop going to the foreign boats who will give them money for basic needs.

 Linfer joined the trainings that were conducted by the ‘Honik Youth Skills for Income Generations’ she thought that afterwards she was going to ask if there was a possibility that OIYP would fund such project based on the issue that she is trying to address. I told her it was possible, through action partners’ action plans and based on action area groups. She was interested to be an action partner and asked more information about OIYP’s network and the procedures to be an action partner; I filled her in on all details of OIYP’s information, this I see was a great opportunity for the promotion of the network. Through direct involvement in an OIYP funded project, she has found an opportunity to try and address issues that affect her community. She is very keen to apply for the next sitting of OIYP.

Editor’s Note:Mary and the young people have set up an ongoing network to provide support to building alternative livelihoods.  Watch this space for an update of what they have done in future editions of Voice.

Rawan Natsheh, 2004 Action partner, Palestine

OIYP2004 Action Partner

During the past two years I did a lot of travelling.  No country left a strong impression on me as Japan did. There, I learned how to look at culture and people from a different perspective; I also learned how to admire others' social and believe systems as Japan is very alien to my culture and context. As a Muslim, even a non-practicing Muslim, I always took my religion for granted. I always thought that Muslims are superior because they are the holders of the absolute truth; they are the third and last in the chain of the monolithic religions, Qur'an, the main scripture of Islam, is Allah (God) last words to human beings, Qur'an is inerrant!   

The myth of superiority I hold about the religion I love and I don’t follow collapsed soon after clashing with the crucial truth that others have religions which they think absolute and correct, other also think that every one else is wrong and they are right, what exception to this, Islam and Muslims make? God maybe our own creation, an absolute truth that we all long to and deeply desire but never reach, sometimes we create this God as small as our local communities, and the other times we create him as wild as the universe.

 I learned about my country and my people more when I was outside, I learned about the stereotypes others have, its not only important who you see yourself and your people, it’s also important who others receive you and think about you. I always feel that the image of me, my people, and my country is associated with killing, blood and bombings; rarely any one knows that my people invented the first alphabet in the world, or that (Jericho), a Palestinian City to the north of the Dead Sea, was the first human 'urban' city in  history.    

 I still have the hope that this will change some day, and others will look at my country and people in a different way, I felt I manage to change a lot of my attitudes and ideas about people and their cultures, I hope the same will happen to other people around the world.

Someone said: open your windows and doors, open your house to all the winds and storms, but before that, be sure your house is strong enough! I am not frightened any more from opening my mind to any thing, I know from where I come, and to where I am going!

Some day I will make a good scholar, some day I will invite others minds' and hearts' to see my culture and my "Palestine" through my eyes. Others will understand, what it means to be born in Jerusalem the city with no city alike, what does it mean to grow  up under occupation, and why, Justice should be done to me and to my people. That what I did in the last two years and that what I will do for the rest of my life.    

 IYP was the first step, there, I learned to be open to listen, to see the wonderful mosaic of human diversity though amazing cultures, I learned to admire others and their identities and cultures, and to feel how different we are, yet, how much alike. No one is ' negative others' any more; they are all my equals and peers.  

 

Nadia Mazur, 2000 Action partner, Moldova

IYP2000 Action Partner

I believe that the most significant success in social change could be my teaching experience at High School of Anthropology. While leading lectures and seminars on Essentials of Law and Human Rights, Language and Culture for first, second and third year students and elaboration of new courses (Introduction to Legal Anthropology, Contemporary European Institutions) for these four years I could reach a wide audience of young people and could share all accumulated experience I have with the main goal: to provide young people with the information they need and that is of significant importance to them as human beings and future inhabitants of our planet. I’ve seen through my supervision of student essays and term papers, organization and presentation of public lectures, seminars on human rights and sustainable development the willingness and strong intention of students to understand and improve existing situation that inspired me to work further in this direction. There is no better award for the teacher than the words of the students: “your lectures helped us in our life” or “now we see a bit more and we believe we can change something”. I think that through my teaching work I’ve not only changed many students attitude towards social life but also empowered them with the knowledge and skills and gave them confidence in creation opportunities for themselves and others.

I’ve learned many things since IYP2000 - the event that  inspired me for the new activities in the chosen field – education, human rights and sustainable development. IYP2000 gave me confidence in my strengths. At the same time, there is one thing I could outline, it is the thing that if you want to  achieve something, no matter how difficult it could be, in case it is something good not only for yourself but also for others than you can achieve it no matter how much time would pass, how many efforts would be spent. It is really possible. For me the examples could be the unique possibility to attend IYP2000 or the scholarship award to study abroad, or the respect of my students- it is not that easy as it could have seemed.

STORy OF THE MONTH

OIYP African Regional Workshop – April 2006

The first OIYP African Regional Workshop was held in Lusaka, Zambia during April, 2006. This workshop is a part of a series of regional and global workshops, the first was held in the Pacific last September.

Held over 4 days in Lusaka, Zambia, the workshop brought together 24 OIYP action partners from 2000 and 2004 from 13 countries across Africa. The focus of the workshop was on skills development; strengthening the network; reflecting on action plans and planning for future action together.

As with all OIYP events, there was a lot of learning, energy, fun and commitment to action. Here are the stories from some of the action partners who were at the Workshop: 

Bongani Simelane, Swaziland

The workshop was informative, interactive, participatory and enlightening. It was a once off opportunity of a life time which brought us together as young African leaders to share our experiences, identifying gaps and further filling the gaps by emphasizing on networking and partnership building as critical areas in achieving a peaceful, equitable and sustainable Africa.

I really appreciate the opportunity given to us by the OIYP secretariat and encourage them to go a step further by training us African leaders on the African processes including gender and HIV/AIDS which have always been referred to as cross-cutting issues.

Konan Yao Maxime, Ivory Coast

African action partners from 2000 and 2004 gathered from the 24th to the 28th of April in Lusaka, Zambia, for the first African regional workshop of Oxfam International Youth Parliament.

Out of the 30 action partners invited to the forum, 28 participated in the workshop's meetings. I was happy and touched to see again Lamin, Patrick, Maria, to meet Rosine, Samantha, Vimla, Mary, Adaeze, Bongani, Nishal, Hadson...and all the others without forgetting of course Anna, Nicole and Kelly.

Throughout the numerous discussions, we first had to share our experiences, our knowledge and our expertise regarding each participant's action plan. The result of these dialogues was that fighting the HIV virus is a major concern for the African youth. It is necessary. It is necessary to unite and share each others experiences to combat it efficiently. 

Secondly, we all agreed that increasing our leadership competences and skills thanks to Oxfam's teaching aids and tools was crucial. We cogitated about the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's development (NEPAD) and our rights to be represented in the governing authorities of the African organisation.

Finally we all gave our opinion during the political dialogue we had with each action partner. This was a fulfilling experience for all of us. Personally I was quite marvelled by the speeches of all speakers. My friends could take part in the political debate but there still remain restrictions for their participation. This acknowledgment does not need to be an obstacle but rather the impressive willingness of an unshakeable courage to say aloud what others can't and to champion the cause of the oppressed, the bullied, the indoctrinated...

We should act as fast as possible to keep a clear conscience. Our generation cannot afford to claim a colossal shortage and scarcity of knowledge and capacities regarding the emergence and need for sustainable development.

Partners of our beautiful continent! It is time to take our responsibilities, to continue blowing the wind of democracy and just governance. I urge you all to get involved right now for a fair social change.

I have always affirmed and supported: "We are the New Generation of the African Youth who will change mentalities and behaviours."
 

Adaeze Nnanta, Nigeria

First, it was a great opportunity to reconnect with our sisters and brothers on the continent. Next, we reaffirmed that the work we are doing is important – from the immediately practical ones (like Mary is doing providing computer training and skills to young girls in south-eastern Nigeria) to the more mental or emancipation ones (like Myra is doing with her work that targets change in attitude towards drugs among the youths in Seychelles). We see the results in small, significant steps. And we take pride in the work we have done.

The skills sessions were enlightening. I am particularly struck about how much of monitoring and evaluation of our work we tend to take for granted. The role plays where we were made to account for our work before “donors” brought reality into sharper focus.

Interestingly, we devoted time to issues on the continent and how African youths can be better integrated into governance. I find that Patrick did a nice job of filling us in on the AU-Nepad mechanism. I wonder how many of us has gotten on yet, but a line sure has been offered.

There were quite some interesting side attractions. I remember we had a rule regarding latecomers. If you were late, you danced! I guess it was something to do with the weather … I became sick anyway… or the 3? hours time difference, because I never seemed to leave my room on time the first few days. And boy, did I dance!

Nishal Anuth, Mauritius

It was a real pleasure to be among so many action partners from Africa and to learn from the success and failures of each. at first, I thought I was the only one facing problems with one of my projects, but when I met the other action partners, I saw I was not alone and what gave me hope and inspiration to further continue my work was to see the unflinching belief of the OIYP action partners in bringing positive change in their environment, community or their country at large.

I'll also add that this meeting gave more momentum to some collective action plans, for example, the "OPPC" (One People Peace Campaign). Sometimes we don’t get to discuss enough on certain issues or projects thru mail and events like the Lusaka Meeting provided a good platform for everyone to give their views and bring their contribution and take concrete actions.

Leonard Boniface, Tanzania

The Oxfam International Youth Parliament African Regional Workshop held in April 2006 in Lusaka was a brilliant opportunities for OIYP Action Partners to get together, discuss on their projects, the situation in Africa through various issues youth are facing through their involvement or not and get back with the strategies how to make things under the control through the real youth participating on decision making and effectively way of making sustainable projects for social change.

It was amazing opportunity to share and learn to reach goals on our work for the communities. Every Action Partner was so interested with the way the workshop was conducted, all participated fully to contribute, as well as to show various skills in presentations and even cultural performances was terrific, and it show how the richness of culture we have in Africa can be used perfectly to give the message to the community since all the performances made on the cultural night was based in edutainment in a wide range.

Hadson Kargbo, Sierra Leone - the Cultural Day Dance

I never that Young people could know and come to appreciate their cultural heritage in Africa I taught we have assimilated completely but no the regional gave us a reminder to that issues. Indeed in is like coming home in Lusaka. I was so shock to see energetic young people gathered on that faithful night to dance in a delighted full manner to the cultural songs and music of their respective countries.

Indeed I was left lofty with a scare of memories lingering through eyes mixed with smiles on that night when I saw with my eyes delighted young people dancing in grand style. What was more interesting is that I have never come to appreciate my music from my country not until when I saw galaxy of young people dancing to my country music.

I saw Hadson and James, Evans, Mary, Adaeze, Patrick and other dancing to” too too party” what a party. I can still remember the song by Nicole and Anna about united Australia. What an amazing cultural dress put forward Bongani from Swaziland and from Hadson from Sierra Leone. Hadson are you wearing that cultural dress in Sierra Leone? I DO HOPE SO. I never knew Duncan was great Zulu Dance; he stills the show wonderful and marvelous. I do one day he can teach the Zulu Style. I admire you for your great dance. Patrick I want to learnt how you able to dance so much. Any you are great.

Any way that night was a great cultural night and talent explosion. I trust that as young are united in exposing their cultural practices so also I want us to still the show in putting into practice what was learnt at our regional workshop so that we can change Africa.

Indeed, the regional workshop has come and had gone but the funs coupled with the teaching and the experience sharing has taught us a great lesson that Young people in Africa can change situation if only they prepare for it. The session on the monitoring and Evaluation has taught me that with effective and reliable monitoring we can get the best out in our social task and duties.

So long a go Africa Youths has been traumatized as one seems to cheer us so that we put up defense to work for social change but the regional workshop is a great one as it tapped our potential greeted it with seriously and help us realized that we are force to reckon with the development of Africa. Indeed OIYP has played it part to make us reach that point. I do hope what we get from OIYP regional workshop we can utilize the skills and knowledge acquire from this event to further our dream.

A great cultural explosion. Wonderful regional workshop

Long live Africa Youths

Long Live OIYP

Long live out host – Zambian

 Letters to Voice

 

Dear Voice,

"The Asian Development Bank held its recently concluded 39th Annual General Meeting from 3-6 of May in Hyderabad, India at the Hyderabad International Convention Center. The ADB, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is the third largest source of development finance in the Asia-Pacific region, next to the World Bank Group and the Japanese Government. The ADB, which was started in the year 1966, has individual countries as shareholders, with Japan and US being the largest, followed by China and India. On account of being the largest single donor, the head of ADB is always Japanese, with the current President being Hirohuko Kuroda. The ADB’s largest borrowers in 2004 were China and India, each receiving US $ 1.3 billion, about 24 per cent of the total lending. India is the fourth largest shareholder in the ADB overall.

 The ADB has been accused of being extremely secretive, non-transparent and unaccountable institution and of following a non consultative public implementation. Its founding Charter of Principles provides the bank and its staff with immunity from local and national laws. The ADB is thus not legally liable to communities, governments or individuals for any wrongdoing, material harm or violation of rights. Projects financed by the ADB range from energy and power sector reform and restructuring to road transport, water, irrigation, flood control, tourism, urban development and administrative and fiscal reform. These are usually accompanied by severe conditionalities like adopting legislations and regulations that favour private sector involvement in key sectors, corporatisation and privatisation of public enterprises and utilities, commercialization of agriculture and trade and investment liberalization.

 Over the past week, there has been severe opposition to several of the ADB's financing policies from several national and international groups. The Peoples Forum Against the ADB, a forum of NGO's and CSO's protesting against unsustainable economic policies adopted by the ADB, has organized several demonstrations and events. The PFAADB is chiefly concerned about ADB financing irrigation and water management projects which lead to flooding and drought, poverty and agriculture projects, roadways projects, energy sector reforms ets. Greenpeace International has also been strongly protesting against the ADB funding coal fired power stations, such as the BLIC and Mae Moh Thermal Power Stations in Thailand and Masinloc-Zambales in Phillipines, resulting in carbon emmissions and climate change.

 I have participated in several of the demostrations, especially in the Greenpeace activities in the city. Some of these include a 'welcome' protest party for the delegates of the ADB, a climate change slide show which involved projecting images of coal impacted communities in Thailand and Phillipines in front of the AGM venue and in the preperation of a youth declaration on the ADB funding climate change, code named 'Y-RED' or 'The Red Paper'. The massive pressure from the peoples groups seems to have yielded partial success, as on the last day of the meeting, the ADB announced the creation of a carbon fund, which would involve increase in funding to renewable energy projects and phasewise reduction in financing coal fired power stations."

Vikram aditya, OIYP2004 action partner, India

 

Endnote

 

A closing thought to inspire you this month.

The greatest lesson I have learnt is that different people face very different challenges regardless of the nearness or homogeneity of location. And that what works for a community would not work for another.

Olusegun Olowu, 2004 Action partner, Nigeria, Global review contribution

The contents of this newsletter do not reflect the views of its subscribers or Oxfam Australia.