Kabataan Night 2: Ito Ang Kultura Mo!

December 24, 2005

YOUTH VOICES ON AIR: Walking the Talk on the MDGs

September 4, 2005

Youth and the MDG: Radio Program Launches

Voice of the Youth Network, Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development and DZME Radyo Uno 1530 kHz Release

Manila, August 13th 2005 - Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development together with “Lakas Kabataan - Tinig Kabataan Fully Charged!” a radio program of Voice of the Youth Network ( voty.org), launched today “YOUTH VOICES ON AIR: Walking the Talk on MDG.”

Starting with its first segment a day after the International Youth Day, the 2-month radio program, to be aired every Saturday, 12-1 pm, aims to build youth-led multi-stakeholder partnerships for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) by raising awareness on the Goals among Filipino youth through a multi-media platform.

In the march to raising awareness on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the Philippines , most notably through its extensive pool of non-government organizations (NGOs) and development-oriented institutions, is progressively gaining public support and continually reaching out to key stakeholders to do their share to achieve the Goals and targets.

Yet there is an evident lack of inclusive participation and active engagement of and by young people in this important process of building community consciousness of the MDG. It is unfortunate that avenues available for Filipino youth to participate in the campaign is either limited or simply not there.

By making use of ICTs, the project will involve key stakeholders and decision-makers from the Government, private sector, civil society, and, most importantly, young people in an interactive debate on pressing global and national issues related to the MDG; and nurture a vibrant community of Filipino youth advocating and working for the MDG

An introductory song capturing each weekly episode’s featured Goal will be played to enliven the discussions. These songs sung by Filipino artists were written in Tagalog and English and compiled as an MDG awareness album that will soon hit the airwaves. A first of its kind in the MDG Campaign circuit!

Tune into DZME RADYO UNO 1530 kHz

http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=190470&ct=1293811

YOUTH VOICES ON AIR:

Walking the Talk on the

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

“ON LINE VOICES ON THE MDGs” Episode 1

As presented by:

Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development (PRSD)

And

Voice of the Youth (VOTY) Network

On air at:

DZME 1530 kHz Ang Radyo Uno (The Radio One)

Saturdays 12 – 1pm

FULLY CHARGED!!!

Mabuhay! Greetings from the Filipino Youth!

“L akas – Kabataan ( Youth Power) - Tinig Kabataan (Voice of the Youth): RECHARGED!” enters its Second year on the Airwaves with a BANG!

VOTY Network is now ” FULLY CHARGED!” in Informing, Inspiring, Involving and Empowering the Filipino Youth as it welcomes a partnership with Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development (PRSD) in launching and airing YOUTH VOICES ON AIR: Walking the Talk on the MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS!

A re the young Filipinos aware of the MDGs? What’s the point? What’s the buzz? Where are we now? What’s in store for us? Who’s working on it? What can we do about it?

T hese are just some of the questions the Filipino Youth would aim to answer during the 9 – part DZME Radio Series of PRSD and VOTY dedicated to each of the MDGs.

“ON LINE VOICES ON THE MDGs” is a cyber newsletter based onthe weekly transcripts of each episodes of the radio program.

August 13, 2005

Take it from Lilo: “NOONE GETS LEFT BEHIND.”

What’s the point of these young people talking about the MDGs on-air on a typical Saturday noon? (When they could just hang out on a mall or watch a noontime TV Show or sleep).

It’s high time for young people who would inevitably inherit everything, to care about all the opportunities and of course, all the problems ahead and the actions to solve these problems.

As Bob Sagun, 25 years old and founder of PRSD puts it… “We should raise awareness among the Filipino youth on how important the MDGs are and how they could act on it” through “building multi-stakeholder partnerships towards its achievement in the country”.

For 18 yr. old Angelicum Oda , VOTY director for ICT and Volunteer for the UNV Philippines, “it’s a great opportunity to share what VOTY and other organizations has done to spread awareness onthe MDGs and how the youth can replicate these to their own communities.”

Still, not all Filipinos are aware of the MDGs and that the whole world is actually aiming for them since it’s formation as a result of the Millenium Declaration. This is despite the fact, that in June 2005, the Philippines already launched the second progress report of the MDGs for the first five years.

Our first guest resource speaker, Spanish Sandra Romero , program officer of the UN Volunteer – Philippines, believes that Filipino awareness onthe MDGs is still very low. “We have to share the information with everybody and make the media more educative.”

S o why should the youth care about the MDGs? Sandra stresses that the youth are often misconstrued as a generation in the midst of crisis in identity. That’s why, ” the MDGs are a very good excuse to tell everyone that the youth actually have something to fight for, like ending poverty, where young people can work all together”.

TO RECHARGE THE EFFORT

A Promise to the People

A gain, what’s the point of having the MDGs in the first place?

Of course, it’s every citizen’s and every country’s dream to end poverty, have gender equality, education for all, live a healthy life etc. even before the MDGs are conceived. So, now the UN has set a target date countries in the world to accomplish these dreams… 2015.

Angelicum explains that the UN has somehow reformatted these goals and actions into such blueprint to boost their efforts. VOTY chief operating officer, Ion Gonzaga, 22, believes that the target date on achieving the MDGs is necessary unlike other programs simply fail because they don’t have specific deadline.

A s for the Philippines, Sandra says that the entire government has agreed and signed for the MDGs and has committed itself to its achievement. VOTY founder Choy Gonzales, adds that the government has incorporated the MDGs to its Medium Term Development Plan or MTDP.

F or Bob, even if we can say that the MDGs in a sense, is just a paper… “What’s more important is that 200 governments signed this document and we can always refer to it when a country does not act on its commitments.”

“And that the Filipino youth should make the government know that we are aware of the promise they made and that they should keep it,” Angelicum adds.

M ore than anything else, the Philippines signing the MDG is a promise and commitment to the Filipino people. It’s not just a deal with the United Nations as an international agency.

I n other countries, Angelicum says that the young people in Vietnam especially the UNV, have been organizing events and projects and the monthly basis so as not to stop the cycle for the whole year. They are disseminating information by discussing the MDGs in all of the schools in one of the capitals, something worth duplicating here.

SPREAD THE NEWS

Resty Flores, 18, student of Polytechnic of the Philippines, inquires what the UNV and other organizations have been doing to spread the news about the MDGs. In fact, he testified that majority of the students in his university are not aware of it if not for VOTY, he wouldn’t know what the MDGs are all about.

S andra says that UNV has started several programs in other universities, like in De La Salle, Ateneo and University of the East and their response has been supportive. She says that a great start is for the Department of Education to include the MDGs in the curricula. Angelicum adds that partnership with universities is a project under the United Nations’ Information Technology Service, wherein volunteers are sent to help out for IT applications and the like.

U NV, PRSD and VOTY are more than willing to coordinate with universities and conduct forums to make students aware that they are actually helping out in accomplishing the MDGs through their community development works.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 2015?

W hat happens if the country fails to accomplish the MDGs after 2015? Is there a sanction? (Quite candid, yet a serious question.)

S andra explains that there are no sanctions for the government, but perhaps it’s a good proposal. The accountability is very much a question in all the countries. The MDGs are very general goals though they have specific targets. It is a design to link the government with the civil society and international communities. UN created the MDGs as a good resource and reference for agencies, local and national government.

It doesn’t have to end in 2015 and right now, we should work, assess and evaluate. 10 more years to go and the Filipino Youth, VOTY and PRSD are more than willing to take that challenge!

Stay Tuned for the next episodes of Youth Voices on Air: Walking the Talk on the MDGs as we randomly discuss, debate, talk and act on each of the goals.

PROFILES

Sandra Romero came first in the Philippines in 2003 and stayed for one and a half year as a representative of a Spanish NGO. She came back in the country January 2005, now as a program officer of the UN Volunteer Philippines. UNV tackles several advocacies focusing on the volunteerism, youth, gender issues, HIV/AIDS, peace and development and ICT. Sandra has traveled in the country and loves Sagada and Pagudpod.

Angelicum Oda is one of the most active UNV Philippines volunteer since 2002. He created its website, www.UNV-Ph.org. He’s been featured in several broadsheets, papers and television programs after receiving international recognition for creating www.youngmdg.com which awarded him travels to Jamaica and Los Angeles this year. He says that it’s an honor to work with the UNV because of its wider scope of beneficiaries.

HEAR IT FIRST: TAYO – TAYO SONG

The theme song and anthem of the Millennium Development Goals in the Philippines, entitle “TAYO – TAYO” was launched and first aired in Lakas Kabataan – Tinig Kabataan: FULLY CHARGED!!! The Philippines is the first country to have a song for the MDG, which would surely be a hit!

Several acclaimed Filipino Singers and Artists have collaborated for free to create such an inspiring and cool song that is truly fit for the Pinoy’s taste. Aside from the “Tayo-tayo” MDG theme, there are also singles dedicated to each of the goals.

Some of the artists featured in the song are: Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, Gary V., Ariel Rivera, Kitchie Nadal, MYMP, Rico Blanco, Aiza Siguerra, Christian Bautista, APO Hiking Society and Freddie Aguilar and a lot more. The song is available to download online for free at www.UNV-ph.org

Also in LKTK, the Youth Power 2005 Conference and Expo theme song was first played. “Youth Power” was interpreted by Brenan Espartinez. Songs of upcoming bands like Strawberry Experience was also first aired in LKTK.

“ON LINE VOICES ON THE MDGs” episode 1 – a cyber newsletter

Written by MR. DJ Emsie Reyes

VOTY Media Director, Co-host of LKTK: FULLY CHARGED!

Pictures courtesy of

Bob Sagun

Founder, Chairman PRSD

(more…)

MEDIA AND YOUTH

July 17, 2005

Interesting Resources:

Foreign based youth media (merging of radio, tv and internet) that could be emulated in the Philippines:

 Listen Up! Youth Media Network - connects young video producers and their allies to resources, support, and projects with the goals of developing the field and achieving an authentic youth voice in the mass media.
— (source) http://www.pbs.org/merrow/listenup/index.html

 The MAGIC Network - previously known as the Oslo Challenge Network - was set up for professionals and organizations working in the field of children and the media to share information and ideas.
The Oslo Challenge — goes out to everyone engaged in exploring, developing, monitoring and participating in the complex relationship between children and the media. This includes governments, organizations and individuals working for children, media professionals at all levels and in all media, the private sector including media owners, children and young people, parents, teachers and researchers
— (source) http://www.unicef.org/magic

 YO! Youth Outlook - is an award-winning literary journal of youth life in the Bay Area. Featuring in-depth reporting pieces and first-person essays, comic strips and poetry pages, YO! is the communication outlet for youth who feel their voice and visions need to be seen and heard. YO! is a bridge to the world of youth expression. YO! chronicles the world through the eyes and voice of young people - between the ages of 14 and 25. – (source) http://www.youthoutlook.org/

 World Radio Forum…an international group of national, community, and internet radio producers and broadcasters who make radio for, with, and by children and youth. WRF members work in broadcasting, education, entertainment, development, and social change. – (http://www.worldradioforum.org/) (where VOTY’s LKTKR and ECPAT’S Tingog sa Kabataan were featured)
(http://www.worldradioforum.org/programsproducers.shtml)

TV (SHOWS, EPISODES) TACKLING YOUTH

 Kabataan News Network (UNICEF) ABC5 sat 10 am
 Selda: Sulyap sa mga kabataang bilanggo sa Pilipinas - “Batang preso”, The CORRESPONDENTS, Lunes, 11:30 p.m. 04/18/2005
 I-witness; February 21, 2005 - Kara David reports on child drug use

Ion: This is a very interesting article that is pretty much the core of the talk. - emsie

WHEN YOUTH AND MEDIA COLLIDE
by amyline quien ching
(source) http://www.mb.com.ph/SCAU2005042633451.html
Manila bulletin Online

An invisible government… We live and breathe media. From the newspaper articles that we devour alongside our breakfast to the television shows that we argue about over coffee, media has become a staple that we just cannot do without. And in this age of information when being the last to get the latest on dit is akin to scoring way below mean average in a Binet-Simon Intelligence test, one just cannot be blamed if indigestion ensues.
An unharnessed force…
Despite its invisibility, media has succeeded in making their presence felt. The same cannot be said of the majority of Filipino youths, who despite their talents and their capabilities, still remain in the sidelines.
“The youth can do a lot for the country. The problem is, so many youth nowadays do not believe that they can make a difference while some do not care at all. Apathy, I’m afraid is prevalent. We have a voice and we certainly have a say on the current national issues. We should not let it go unheard,” says Angelo Porciuncula.
A collision of power
If media, in fact, wields such enormous power and the youth, when mobilized, can institute change in the country, why can’t both be utilized to build a nation and spark a moral and national revolution? Can these two potent forces work together?
Such is the question posed during the 2005 Universitas Youth Conference in UP Diliman. With the theme “Media and the youth for rebuilding the nation, the conference aimed to encourage these two sectors to come together and collaborate. Among those who lent their expertise are Luis Alejandro, president and COO of ABS-CBN; Eric Canoy, president of the Radio Mindanao Network; Marvin Tort, managing editor of Businessworld; Dr. Eugenia Duran-Apostol, award-winning journalist; and Laurice Guillen, head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
According to student convenor Angelo Porciuncula, an incoming Molecular Biology and Biotechnology senior, the influence of today’s media on the youth is a topic that should be discussed. Young people are the “biggest consumers of media” and it is but essential that they understand the effect of what they read, see and hear. Not everything should be taken at face value.
“The youth are very vulnerable for we are at the last stage of the “food chain” so to speak. There is a need to make young people understand that not everything they see should be copied or adapted. Media also has to be monitored. They have to be responsible for the power they wield,” he espouses.
Perhaps, former MTRCB Chair Manuel Morato could not have created a better term when he called today’s media the country’s invisible government. With its breadth of influence and reach, its (un)tarnished reputation for fairness and its reverent-next-to-godliness image, it can make and unmake the actual government with a single swoosh of the pen. From reporters of facts, media practitioners have become shapers of public opinion. The industry has in fact become the cul-de-sac from which Filipinos and the whole of the world base their perception of current issues and their reactions to them.
“Media dictates on us if we let it. It is more privileged than any or all of us put together. No laws can be passed to abridge press freedom. But is media accountable to the people?” Morato unflinchingly put in a speech he delivered in 1989. Media, he believes can be harnessed to attain its potential for national development if only the industry would “wake up from its imposed moral stupor.”
FORMING A DIALOGUE
Though he admits that there are a lot of things that media should correct, Businessworld managing editor Marvin Tort believes that for the wheels of change to turn, the public should also do their part by acting as watchdogs.
“Media also needs to be told that it needs to correct itself, otherwise how would they know? If you do not agree with something that a paper has written, react! Write a letter to the editor. Say your piece. Do not keep it locked up inside,” Tort urges.
Citing the example of Jun Jun, a student participant who reacted on the caption of a photo that featured children with guns, Tort continued, “The fact that you feel so strongly about it, how do you feel knowing that you have done nothing about it. It can be frustrating but it is not hopeless. Lahat tayo, we will be affected by something that we read or see, but the question is what do we do about it? Media can only go as far as correcting itself and exercising responsibility. Unfortunately, may nakalusot. So, who’s guarding the guardians? That should be you! The youth should be there to correct, to question. If the media organization is responsible enough, it will listen. It should listen.”
It all comes down to public discourse. Writing letters to the editor is not a waste of time. In fact, in Australia, what people considered as insignificant letters managed to save an FM station from being closed by the government. If most of the youth would write about something that stir them, their combined voices will make media organizations or any organization for that matter, including the government, stand up and take notice.
“It’s a dialogue, a two-way communication. I guess, this is one of the things that I learned from the conference. Media should exercise accountability. There should be limits. Young people should, in turn, take it upon themselves to voice out their opinions, to let media organizations know what they think. Each of us has a responsibility towards society, towards the country. We should do our share,” Porciuncula remarks.
Doreen de Leon, first year Economics students in UP Diliman, however believes that young people care. This can be seen from the number of participants who attended the conference and the questions that they have raised. “The youth, although seemingly apathetic, is actually participative and concerned about the welfare of the country. Relevant questions were raised and it made me realized a lot of things,” she relates.
PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT
Media, according to student-participants from Naga City, can do a lot for youth-spearheaded projects.
“Ang maganda talaga ay magtulungan tayo para sa ikabubuti ng bansa. Media has a responsibility to provide the right information, to uplift the values of the youth through the articles that they write and the shows that they produce. Malaki ang magagawa nito sa ating bansa pero siyempre kailangan din nila ang tulong natin,” second year Political Science student Allen Reandanga.
Faculty convenor Oliver Tuazon agrees saying that there is really no use attacking the media. “We seek to form a partnership with them because we know that media can make a lot of difference in youth development.”
And as mentioned by Jesus Estanislao, chairman and CEO of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia, the antidotes of selfishness and sinfulness lies in solidarity. If people work together, if all sectors of the country, from the government to the youth groups, make a collective effort to rebuild the nation, we can make it happen.

Ion: This is the conclusion of an essay or study about the THE EFFECT OF MASS MEDIA IN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE related to (character and youth development) but the examples cited before the conclusion is particular on the effect of mass media (tv) on the young people.. like violence etc. It’s just interesting.

SOURCE: http://www.geocities.com/bigmike_75/essays/civilLiberties/MassMedia.html

Conclusion
In closing, there are perceived to be constantly changing views on the influence that is exerted by the mass media. At first there was the attitude that the media was forcing itself upon us in such a way as to exert its influence and shape our beliefs, actions and values. Now though as time has moved on, theorists are thinking about this area of research in other ways and through diverse approaches. There was a shift in the perspective of researchers within audience reception in the seventies and is evident none more so than in the statement made by James Halloran (1970):

“We must get away from the habit of thinking in terms of what the media do to people and substitute for it the idea of what people do with the media.”

The technological determinist view, which states an overemphasis on the part of the mass media as the major, if not solitary cause of societal and cultural changes, which have effected actions and beliefs, is not the view that I personally would concur with. In my opinion the mass media is an incredible tool of persuasion and could influence somebody undoubtedly. Mass media audiences are arguably on the whole not passive, and so the amount of influence that is exerted upon the recipient depends entirely on the individual

POCHOLO D. GONZALES and the Voice Of The Youth Network

POCHOLO D. GONZALES and the Voice Of The Youth Network
How do you empower apathetic and ignorant young people to make a difference? How do you maximize the efforts of youth leaders who are actively promoting social change and environmental awareness? Where will you get the information that is necessary for the real youth development and environmental preservation? Such questions have long motivated me on my work as a youth advocate. I see great promise for engaging the active participation of Philippine youth in helping to revolutionize a range of critical environmental and social problems.

“With young people – ages 15 to 30 – making up one-third of the Filipino population, we play an increasing large role in the development of Philippine society,” “Their attitudes, values, mindset, and priorities have a critical role to play in shaping the future of our country.”

In December 2002, through my founded organization TINIG KABATAAN, I started the VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK’s! YOUTHINK AND LINK. I believe that the media – radio, TV, newspaper, mobile phones and the Internet offers an influential means to inspire, inform, empower and involve youth. A critical component of VOTY’s effort is the use of the Internet to facilitate communication and information-sharing of the resources and opportunities to make a difference.
Our website (www.voty.org) contains information on youth participation; a 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.

The PHILIPPINES has firmly established its reputation as the “texting” capital of the world, with this technology and “pay-it-forward” strategic plan VOTY had informed and reached more than 100,000 youth through email, 5,000 through SMS and continuously collecting more emails and mobile phone numbers.
I also educate countless newspaper readers and VOTY radio program “VOICE OF THE YOUTH” and “LAKAS KABATAAN, TINIG KABATAAN! RECHARGED! ” (YOUTH POWER, VOICE OF THE YOUTH!! RECHARGE!! aired every Saturday at DZME 1530 khz. 12-1 P.M. where part of it is promoting gender equality and empower women and the youth and raising their voices on policies that have an impact on them. We’ve also harnessed the potential of the youth engagement for the environment, raised awareness about environmental issues that affects our lives.

I utilized today’s communications technologies by strengthening youth participation, leadership and empowerment. VOTY’s flagship program the LOCAL YOUTH ACTION FORUMS has already created a big impact to its members and its communities. VOTY dream of creating a national youth centre in the Philippines and has given numerous Filipino youth the opportunity to understand organizational issues, develop their own advocacy skills and actively engaged in identifying their needs, capabilities and talents allowing them to be empowered to change the cycle of their lives and make a difference.

VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK: Making a difference in Cyberspace towards Youth Empowerment

May 19, 2005

VOICE 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).