VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK: Making a difference in Cyberspace towards Youth Empowerment
May 19, 2005VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK:
Converging technological extremes - that is one way to describe the efforts of a group of young individuals dedicated in reaching out, serving and recharging what potentially is the most powerful force of the country, the Filipino Youth. Voice of the Youth (VOTY) Network, in its mission of empowering the youth makes a difference in cyberspace and even in the airwaves in the name of global and national youth service.
In 1996, a student and young voice talent, Pocholo “Choy” Gonzales formed a group of young radio and TV voice dubbers and called it Tinig Kabataan. That was the year when the Internet has not been as accessible, even to most students who, then barely know how (or would not even care to know how) to create an email account. But when Choy got hold of what was then the latest computer innovation, he instantly saw infinite and almost unimaginable opportunities.
As a young advocates, Choy and other VOTY founders like Morse Flores and Aldean Alonto, have always been involved with national youth events and activities but it was the Internet that made them global youth. For persons who came from humble beginnings to be able to travel to neighboring Asian countries to America, Europe and Australia as the nation’s representatives is not a small feat, which should be experienced as well by more young people. Such inspiration created the Voice of the Youth Network, which has now evolved to an organization that promotes positive social change and youth empowerment using ICT and media.
VOTY used www.kabataan.htmlplanet.com for its first website in 1998 followed by www.freewebs.com/tinigkabataan, until it’s official site was launched, www.voty.org in 2002, at the same time Voice of the Youth Network, in it’s present structure was formed. The website contains information on youth advocacy and participation; calendar of local, national and international events; newsletter; relevant links and issues. E-mail discussion groups also enable youth to share what they know and network with one another. Such use of the Internet makes a whole lot of difference compared to online gaming, inappropriate web browsing and the usual chat that young people are spending so much bandwidth, money and time with.
Among the breakthroughs of VOTY as a youth organization that primarily utilizes the Internet for information dissemination is its global affiliation. TakingITGlobal.org, International Youth Parliament, the British Council, UNICEF, Global Youth Action Network Inc. and Youth Service America are just a few of the international organizations VOTY has sustained partnership with in terms of advocacy. VOTY is the first youth organization that has been connected with around a hundred countries through it’s email groups, subscriptions and website. Such connections lead to the realization of how active the youth from other parts of the world are and how their collective efforts could create major impact.
From 2003 to 2005, VOTY has become a national coordinator and partner for the celebrations of the annual Global Youth Service Day which is being observed and documented by international organizations. Most VOTY members and founders have also participated in youth events all over the world.
VOTY has also been a recipient of international awards - the 2nd YouthActionNet Award of the International Youth Foundation in Washington DC in October 2003 and the Global Youth In Action Award in New York City, August 2004. The Director for ICT of VOTY, Angelicum Oda also created the websites www.unv-ph.org and www.youngmdg.com, the latter receiving London-based ChildnetAcademy award 2005 in Montegobay Jamaica giving glory to the organization and the country as well.
Several local projects of VOTY has also been featured in foreign-based online newsletters and e-groups. Once again, through the Internet, foreign bodies are first to recognize Filipino milestones.
For our own country’s youth, VOTY maximizes the Internet as it offer influential and creative means to inform, inspire, involve and ultimately, empower. A critical component of VOTY’s efforts is the use of the Internet to facilitate communication and information sharing that are once being dominated by certain international youth groups and organizations. VOTY believes that empowerment starts with awareness, and to be aware is to be informed first. Information could be worthwhile opportunities that truly inspire and involve the youth to eventually make a difference in the society. The activities of VOTY offline and in communities all over the country make the information all the more meaningful.
Through the Internet, VOTY has also been successful in creating partnership with local youth organizations and most importantly, in inspiring and reaching out to the Filipino Youth wherever they are in the archipelago from the Northern Luzon to Tawi-tawi in Mindanao. VOTY boasts of online members and active coordinators all over the country. VOTY has not only debunked the digital divide but bridged regional, cultural and religious gaps as well. VOTY continuously receives emails from young people who voices out, wanting to take part of nation building and share the organization’s pro-active vision. Also, through a massive email brigade, VOTY has never failed in gathering young volunteers and participants in worthwhile youth events and endeavors.
Even if there is 11.8 million Internet users in the country at present (2005) and the figure is expected to double in the coming years, still millions of young people in the country have not been introduced to computers. However, cellular phones have undeniably penetrated almost everyone from all walks of life, especially now that access is getting as cheap as it gets. Not to be left out, VOTY once again infuses youth empowerment to mobile technology. This is through the VOTY Power Groups using General Packet Radio Service. Simply by typing ENTER VOTY and sending to 2213 makes one already a cyber-member, receiving updates on youth events. Internet services even provide technically free SMS and MMS services through providers, which has been used ever so often by VOTY members to release information. But another first and innovation of VOTY is the utilization of Wireless Access Protocol (www.tagtag.com/voty) that enables the mobile phone user to access the VOTY website.
How about the young people without Internet access? This is where the radio program of VOTY comes in. Lakas-Kabataan, Tinig Kabataan: RECHARGED, airing over DZME 1530 kHz AM Radio every Saturday since July 2004. Truly, the version of www.voty.org in the airwaves that has inspired other radio programs in the provinces. More than one hundred guests, individuals and organizations in the radio program’s episodes would soon be featured in the website.
One cannot miss out on VOTY, whether online, on print, on the airwaves and even on television with the organization’s appearances. Next year, VOTY would launch the first National ICT and Media Youth Festival that would blow your cyber - minds away.
Voice of the Youth Network made media, participation, volunteerism, and empowerment in the Filipino Youth as inclusive and technologically driven – a feat that has never been done before and will never fail to evolve with the challenges of the modern age.
Peace Child E-Bulletin May 2005
Peace Child E-Bulletin May 2005
Editorial Letter
Dear Friends,
The White House’s carefully tended gardens are in full bloom this month, with beautiful peonies, pansies and tulips springing up from the ground en masse. In this season of growth, then, it is fitting that we celebrate World Fair Trade Day on the second Saturday of May, honouring the millions of farmers world-wide who make their living through raising crops.
Endorsed by the International Fair Trade Association (comprised of 256 organisations from 60 countries), World Fair Trade Day calls on consumers, activists, businesspeople and policy makers to promote just prices for marginalised small-scale producers in the developing world. Through campaigns, fashion shows and taste tests, shop displays, literature, seminars and more, supporters of Fair Trade will rally around this year’s theme – “Fair Trade is Peace” – to build peace through development and equitable trade. In addition to encouraging peaceful, mutually beneficial North-South co-operation and alleviating poverty, Fair Trade partnerships based on dialogue, respect and transparency often produce multiple knock-on effects that advance environmental sustainability, human health and gender relations as well.
We at Peace Child urge you to support local Fair Trade businesses and activities in your communities year-round, but especially on this important occasion. From coffee and tea to jam, chocolate, clothes and handicrafts, let’s vote with our wallets for equitable prices and partnerships to support production processes that we can be proud of – let’s pay fair.
For more information on this year’s events, please visit: www.wftday.org. For information on Fair Trade in general, visit: www.fairtradefederation.com; www.fairtrade.org.uk; and www.maketradefair.com.
Best wishes,
The Peace Child Editorial Team
Contents
1. Peace Child International: What’s going on?
2. BTC news:
3. 3rd World Youth Congress:
4. Calendar
5. Volunteer Opportunities
1. Peace Child International: What’s going on?
Berlin-bound with the BUNDjugend (PCI Interns meet the Young Friends of the Earth Germany)
BUNDjugend (Young Friends of the Earth Germany) organised a youth congress called “Eco’n'action” on globalisation and trade justice, which ran from April 14-17 in Berlin. PCI interns Nisrine, Jana and Caroline journeyed for more than 40 hours from London to Berlin and back BY BUS(!!) to learn what the young activists had to say.
The four day congress - themed “Time for Global Justice” - included a variety of workshops on the WTO, transnational corporations, biopiracy and action planning. As a part of citizen demonstrations during the Global Week for Action, congress participants staged an “unfair football game” between teams FC Free Trade and Suffering Hunger 05 in central Berlin. (You can find more detailed information on the congress and the workshop programme in
English on www.eco-n-action.de).
By the time they bid “auf wiedersehen to their new friends, all three interns were sorry to leave Berlin. But they anticipate building on the relationships and links they made during the congress, and hope to see more interaction between PCI and BUNDjugend members in the future!
Second Partnership Meeting
PCI HQ hosted the second meeting of UK, Irish, Austrian, Hungarian and Slovenian partners for the “Seeking Excellence in Youth Participation at a Local Level” project we are doing with the European Union. Some great ‘model projects’ have been developed, including: a rural IT centre in Slovenia; a forest restoration project in Austria; a youth centre in Hungary; and a variety of youth-led media and teaching projects in the UK, Ireland and Austria. The plan now is for each of the partners to send observers to each other’s projects and assess the success of the partnership – what worked and what didn’t. They will then write up a report that will eventually be synthesised onto a website and into a Youth Participation Action toolkit. The third meeting of the Partners will be held in October, so expect more news then!
2. BTC News:
Latin America
Lorena Gudiño, our co-ordinator in Rescue Mission Mexico, visited PCI HQ in April. She updated us on happenings and events in Mexico and the progress made since the 2003 World Youth Congress in Morocco. She and her colleagues at Rescue Mission Mexico have registered the name of Mision Rescate Planeta Tierra, Mexico legally and have also conducted training sessions and workshops in different states throughout the country.
During her stay at the White House, Lorena went on one of our school sustainable development presentations, which she liked and hopes to replicate in her country. She also told us about the World Youth Water forum that she is organising in Mexico for March 2006.
Peace Child India
Peace Child India has been invited to create an activity programme for children at a juvenile remand home in Bangalore. This grim place with bars on windows is more like a prison than a rehabilitation centre and houses the children of sex workers, young runaways, street children and child beggars and rag pickers. It also admits children with drug abuse problems, those involved in petty and more serious crimes and other disturbed youngsters. Although this over crowded shelter looks after their basic physical needs, nothing is done to deal with their emotional, psychological and creative needs. Peace Child India is currently looking for additional volunteers who they can train to work with these children. They intend to use puppets, create magic shows and develop life skills programmes with the children. Once they have built relationships with the children and gained their trust, they will work to create a musical theatre play starring and produced by the children themselves. This will culminate in a June 10 performance in the presence of important gathered guests, school children, policemen and the general public.
Jagan is wondering if other countries have similar programmes with children in difficulty (drugs, teen pregnancies, runaway children, children with abusive families, etc) that would like to interact through Peace Child International with the children in India.
3. 3rd World Youth Congress – Scotland
We have finally finished going through the second round of applications for the Congress, and invitation letters have now been sent to those who were successful. (We received over 4,500 applications in total.) The interactive, delegate and participant-only part of the WYC website is now up and running for attendees to discuss their ideas and network with others. We are still finalising cultural performances, workshops and the final programme schedule.
4. Calendar
Pacific Youth MDG Summit: May 09, 2005 - May 12, 2005. Tofamamao Centre, Apia Samoa
The Pacific Youth MDG Summit will bring 60 Pacific youth leaders together in May 2005 with the aim of increasing awareness of the role of youth in the UN MDG process. Together they will design projects for youth to implement towards the advancement of the goals.
Contact: Shasheen Jayaweera
E-mail: shishj85@hotmail.com
Global Forum On Sustainable Energy (GFSE 5): May 11, 2005 - May 13, 2005. Diplomatic Academy Vienna, Austria
The Fifth Meeting of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy will take place from the 11th to 13th May 2005 in Vienna, Austria. It will explore possibilities to enhance international co-operation on biomass issues, with special emphasis on building up the needed institutional capacity to promote South-South collaborations. Furthermore GFSE 5 will again provide a meeting platform for the various energy-partnerships announced at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg 2002 and promote exchange of information on their progress.
Contact: Christine Sprinzl
Website: http://www.gfse.at
E-mail: christine.sprinzl@energyagency.at
5. Opportunities
Volunteers needed urgently!
Clotilde (an ex-Peace Child intern) is currently working for an organisation called Solidarités Jeunesses in the Hautes Alpes region of South Eastern France. The group supports peace between nations by organising voluntary work and intercultural meetings. There are three different centres: La Faï; les Crots; and Vaunière, all of which are located in quite remote areas.
Volunteers from all over the world are invited to come and participate in *workcamps* (renovation, masonry, carpentry, joinery, painting) and activities for local development. Lodging and food will be provided by the hosting project - volunteers share a bedroom with four to five other volunteers and take turns cooking. No specific experience or skills are required besides the will to participate actively, have an enthusiasm for discovery, be adaptable and have a positive attitude to learn from others and work collectively. Volunteers should be personally motivated and ready to share in an intense, demanding and richly rewarding experience!
Contact: Marc or Charline
Website: www.solidaritesjeunesses.org
Email: workcamp@solidaritesjeunesses.org
Facing Sustainability Awards
Show us someone in your area that is active for a sustainable world. We’re looking for pictures of people in your life who are working towards human rights, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, development education, etc. – these could be your friends, neighbours, teachers and professors and even your local politician!
You can send in up to three photos. We are looking for portrait photos or
close-ups, and these can also be accompanied by photos of objects or landscapes that have a direct link to the person portrayed. But you can also choose to show various people and “give a face” to the different aspects of action towards sustainability and fairer future. Tell us about the person you have photographed, what is special about this person and why you have chosen them in particular. How are they active for sustainability in economic affairs, social concerns, or the environment?
Amateur and professional photographers of all ages are invited to submit
entries for this competition. You can present your photos and story directly on the web site www.facing-sustainability.de. Details can be found under the section entitled “Taking Part”. A prominent panel of judges will assess the entries in August 2005, and the public will also have the opportunity to choose their favourites by voting on the Internet. The winners and a selection of the best photos and stories will be displayed at the Annual Congress of the German Council for Sustainable Development on 6 September 2005. Winners and their subjects will invited to come to Berlin for an exciting programme of events, prizes and an awards ceremony at the Annual Congress. The “Facing Sustainability Award“ is a contribution to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and is organised in co-operation with the BLK Transfer 21 Programme.
Please e-mail any enquiries to: info@facing-sustainability.de
Check it out!
UNICEF have produced the 15th issue of “What Young People Are Saying,” Voices of Youth’s bimonthly newsletter. This issue deals with education, HIV/Aids, media, the MDG +5 Summit Review and more.
The objective of “What Young People Are Saying” is to further links between programming and the concerns of today’s youth. By providing easy to navigate summaries, relevant quotations, and suggested action points, “What Young People Are Saying” offers an additional means of connecting with young people globally and interweaving their concerns with UNICEF’s priorities and objectives. Readers are encouraged to circulate the newsletter among colleagues and friends.
Please find the issue online at: http://www.unicef.org/voy/news/
Arts and Social Change Initiatives around the world
The Next Generation Foundation has a website (www.nsg.org.uk/map) that lists creative projects from around the world in several categories for a variety of ages. You can add your own event or someone else’s, browse the whole map and check out specific categories. When you see an event you like, simply click and a window containing more information and contact details will appear.
Sample projects featured under Arts and Social Change include: the “Bat Center” by the Bartel Arts Trust (www.allaboard.co.za/bat); Art for Humanity in South Africa (www.afh.org.za); MADaboutART in South Africa and the UK (www.madaboutart.org); and the Chandana Art Foundation in India that uses the arts for empowering disenfranchised groups like women, youth, and people with disabilities (www.indev.nic.in).
