The Commonwealth Youth Council, in its efforts to broaden the scope for partnerships, opportunities, and advancement of youth development agenda, had a productive meeting with senior officials of the Commonwealth Foundation.
The meeting which was facilitated by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, provided the opportunity for both organizations to share their activities and programmes, with a view to exploring potentials for joint-collaboration, in support of young people in the Commonwealth.
The meeting was attended by the Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Vijay Krishnarayan, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council, Ahmed Adamu, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Myn Garcia, Director of Youth Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Katherine Ellis, Programme Manager of the Commonwealth Foundation, Diana Atungire-Ocaya (the order is presented as in the picture below). Messeh Leone from the CYC Secretariat was also present.
The meeting focused on Commonwealth Youth Council’s potentials in helping to enhance youth-led projects, awareness and capacities of youth organisations to access funding from the Commonwealth Foundation’s grant programme; the promotion of national and regional youth participation in policy and decision makings; and the effective participation of youth in tracking the post-2015 consultations and recommendations from Commonwealth member states and institutions.
The Commonwealth Foundation welcomed CYC’s Youth Campaign Again Election Violence (Y-CAEV) project to be launched across Commonwealth countries and applauded it as good model for youth engagement in participatory governance, being a key focus of the Commonwealth Foundation. Y-CAEV is been identified as one of the areas for collaboration. The Commonwealth Foundation looks forward to receiving CYC’s strategic plan to identify areas for partnership.
Tuesday 14 January 2014
THE POWER OF YOUTH
Youth are the most active organ of every society, they make and shape every societal change, and they are the hopes for the future. It is obvious that youth have unyielding potentials, and everyone talks about it, but we rarely see how these potentials are tapped or transformed to a realistic level that will make young people independent and active citizens in their communities. It is time for young people to realize their power, and how they can change the world they live. In most nations, especially the Commonwealth nations, Youth constitute the largest population segment, which means they can determine who sit on the seat of power, what economic policy to adopt, and choose their rightful position in political and economic aspect of their countries.
Governance is critical in fulfilling and optimizing youth potentials, the people at the helm of governance play significant role in choosing the fate and status of young people, unfortunately very few of them recognize the potentials of young people. For young people to demonstrate their power, and retrieve their rightful positions, we have to come together and participate actively in democratic and leadership processes. However, this can only be guaranteed by having some among us at the helm of leadership and governance. Let there be global leaders at youthful ages that connect, engage and prioritize on the youth development issues. We can make this difference by putting our colleagues on leadership positions, and yes we can do it. Let me take Nigeria as a case study where general elections are imminent. Nigerian Youth have the power to determine who becomes the next country’s president.
According to the country’s population census, Nigerian Youth between the age of 15 and 39 constitute 41% of the country’s population, and 70% of the country’s potential and eligible electorate. This means that minority 30% of eligible voters are the adults between the age of 40 and 85 who also constitute 17% of the country’s population. The remaining 42% are the children between the age of 0 and 14. From this statistics, youth who are the majority voters in the country have the power to decide who wins elections at every level. If the Nigerian youth will support an intelligent young person at the age of 40, and overwhelmingly support that candidate, definitely, that person must win. Similarly, the predominantly feared electoral malpractice would not have been possible because no youth will be at disposal to be used for such crime. This will put the young people at the centre stage of every decision making, and give them the voice and willpower to demand any level of political representation and participation. It will also help in curbing political and economic corruptions. The level of societal crimes and youth unemployment will reduce drastically as the government priorities will be for youth empowerment.
Finally, I urge young people across the Commonwealth Nations to be united and seek their rightful political positions. This is one of the easiest ways we can guarantee a safer and better future, and a way of ensuring proper youth representation and empowerment.
Governance is critical in fulfilling and optimizing youth potentials, the people at the helm of governance play significant role in choosing the fate and status of young people, unfortunately very few of them recognize the potentials of young people. For young people to demonstrate their power, and retrieve their rightful positions, we have to come together and participate actively in democratic and leadership processes. However, this can only be guaranteed by having some among us at the helm of leadership and governance. Let there be global leaders at youthful ages that connect, engage and prioritize on the youth development issues. We can make this difference by putting our colleagues on leadership positions, and yes we can do it. Let me take Nigeria as a case study where general elections are imminent. Nigerian Youth have the power to determine who becomes the next country’s president.
According to the country’s population census, Nigerian Youth between the age of 15 and 39 constitute 41% of the country’s population, and 70% of the country’s potential and eligible electorate. This means that minority 30% of eligible voters are the adults between the age of 40 and 85 who also constitute 17% of the country’s population. The remaining 42% are the children between the age of 0 and 14. From this statistics, youth who are the majority voters in the country have the power to decide who wins elections at every level. If the Nigerian youth will support an intelligent young person at the age of 40, and overwhelmingly support that candidate, definitely, that person must win. Similarly, the predominantly feared electoral malpractice would not have been possible because no youth will be at disposal to be used for such crime. This will put the young people at the centre stage of every decision making, and give them the voice and willpower to demand any level of political representation and participation. It will also help in curbing political and economic corruptions. The level of societal crimes and youth unemployment will reduce drastically as the government priorities will be for youth empowerment.
Finally, I urge young people across the Commonwealth Nations to be united and seek their rightful political positions. This is one of the easiest ways we can guarantee a safer and better future, and a way of ensuring proper youth representation and empowerment.
Friday 3 January 2014
COMMONWEALTH YOUTH COUNCIL ESTABLISHED STANDING COMMITTEES:
Reference to article 17, item number 1 of the Commonwealth Youth Council’s constitution, the executives of the council established the following committees and subsequently appointed members for the committees.
1. PROJECT AND BUDGET COMMITTEE:
Committee’s terms of reference: The Committee shall:
1. Be responsible for compiling and designing the CYC strategic plans and budget.
2. Come up with a monetary estimate for each project/programme.
3. Allocate time/period for each activity
4. Advice the executives for strict implementation of the strategic plans
5. Assist in executing the CYC projects where necessary
6. The CYC shall appoint implementation team for each project/programme
7. Collect reports and progress on every project/programme
8. Compile details of all CYC activities and achievements
9. Consult other youth organizations and advice the executives on new proposed programmes.
10. Explore partnership and collaboration potentials with other relevant stakeholders through the vice chair: Partnership and resources
11. Categorise and organize line of actions base on Policy, Advocacy, project, and programmes.
12. Initiate and introduce new line actions and recommend to the executives.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE:
1. Jerome Marlon Cowans (Jamaica): cowan_jerome@hotmail.com (Head of the committee)
2. Rashid Sylvester (Greneda): rashidsylvester@gmail.com (secretary of the committee)
3. Mr. Atemo Dishon Opulu (Kenya): atemodfo@gmail.com (deputy head of committee)
4. Mr. HASNUL HANIFF BIN HARUN (Malaysia): hanifuia@gmail.com
5. Ali Ehtsham (Pakistan): ali.e.ehtsham@gmail.com
6. Hamza Yunusa Jibiya (Nigeria): al_hamzat@yahoo.com
7. David Aoneka Rupa (Paupau New guinea): davidaoneka.rupa@yahoo.com.au
8. Lola Mustapha (UK): lola.mustapha@live.co.uk
9. Amila Wensiri Rajapakshe (Sri Lanka) amilawensiri@yahoo.com
2. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
Reference to Article 9 item no. 2 of the CYC constitution, the CYC Executives approved the creation of Membership Committee.
Committee's Terms of reference:
1. The committee is responsible for approving Members and Affiliate Observers of the Council.
2. The membership Committee shall review applications and submit recommended applicants to the executives for considerations.
3. It should provide clear process of registering with the CYC to all interested organizations.
4. The committee should call and explain the benefits of registering with the CYC to all interested youth organizations.
5. The committee shall liaise with the regional representatives to establish the CYC’s regional and national memberships and affiliations.
6. It is responsible for ensuring that CYC established its focal point at regional and national levels and seek the approval of the executives.
7. It shall support the regional representatives to ensure proper and democratic youth structures by all members and affiliate organizations.
8. The committee should receive and recommend to the executives all requests and concerns from member organizations and affiliates.
9. The committee should also have a database of all CYC members and affiliate organizations.
10. The committee can come up with initiatives to ensure wide coverage and support to the CYC membership.
11. The committee is responsible for outlining the rules and regulations for electing regional and country delegations to the commonwealth youth general assemblies in-line with the CYC constitution.
12. The committee is responsible for wide spread of the CYC membership across the commonwealth.
MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE:
1. Komezusenge Daniel (Rwanda) komezada@yahoo.fr (committee head)
2. Vanessa Picker (Australia) Vanessa.picker@gmail.com (committee secretary)
3. Ella Wairiu (Solomon Island) ewairiu64@gmail.com
4. Nathan Chanda Bawalya (Zambia) nathan.fmcba@gmail.com
5. Wendell Bertrane (St. Lucia) bertrande007@hotmail.com
6. Christina J K Giwe (Papua New Guinea) gchristinajk@yahoo.com
7. Senel Wanniarachchi (Sri Lanka) senelwanniarachchi@gmail.com
8. Karl Bugeja (Malta) bugejakarl@gmail.com
9. Hussen Riyas (Maldives) riyaaz2020@gmail.com
3. COMMITTEE ON MEDIA, PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Committee’s terms of reference:
1. The Publicity & Public Relations Committee will design a communication plan that will ensure information is effectively disseminated to Commonwealth Countries and surrounding communities about the activities and events of the CYC.
2. Issues press releases in collaboration with and on behalf of the CYC.
3. Liaise with relevant media outlets to insure media coverage of all CYC activities within the Commonwealth and wider audience.
4. Be responsible for maintaining and updating the Official CYC Website, Facebook Page, Twitter account and any other social media outlet.
5. Assist with arranging and managing media meetings and conferences for the CYC.
6. Assist in the development of a social calendar for all activities and international events and celebrations relevant to the CYC.
7. Design and publish a quarterly CYC Newsletter
8. Design CYC promotional materials
9. With the recommendation by the executives, assign media contact in every country within commonwealth
10. Any other function assign to the committee by the CYC executive.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
1. Rahatul Ashekin (Bangladesh) ashekinratul@gmail.com (Head of the Committee)
2. Mridul Upadhyay (India) engineer.mridul@gmail.com (Deputy Head of the committee)
3. Ziggy Steven Adam (Seychelles) ziggyadam@ftc.sc
4. Koziba Malibala (Botswana) kazibam@gmail.com
5. Alicia Swinamer (Canada) mycnational@gmail.com
6. Triffany Daniels (Guyana) tiffanyd_89@hotmail.com
7. Hanan Ali Abbasi (Pakistan) nyapak1@gmail.com (member and Chief Media Adviser)
8. Popoola Isiaka Olamilekan (Nigeria) popoolaio@gmail.com (Secretary of the committee)
Media Practitioners:
9. Oba Olasunkanmi John (Blue print Newspaper), member of the committee and special assistant to the Chair on Media and Publicity.
10. Abdulhamid Yunusa (Daily Trust Newspapers), member of the committee and Media consultant to the CYC.
More standing committees to be established.
see more @: http://
1. PROJECT AND BUDGET COMMITTEE:
Committee’s terms of reference: The Committee shall:
1. Be responsible for compiling and designing the CYC strategic plans and budget.
2. Come up with a monetary estimate for each project/programme.
3. Allocate time/period for each activity
4. Advice the executives for strict implementation of the strategic plans
5. Assist in executing the CYC projects where necessary
6. The CYC shall appoint implementation team for each project/programme
7. Collect reports and progress on every project/programme
8. Compile details of all CYC activities and achievements
9. Consult other youth organizations and advice the executives on new proposed programmes.
10. Explore partnership and collaboration potentials with other relevant stakeholders through the vice chair: Partnership and resources
11. Categorise and organize line of actions base on Policy, Advocacy, project, and programmes.
12. Initiate and introduce new line actions and recommend to the executives.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE:
1. Jerome Marlon Cowans (Jamaica): cowan_jerome@hotmail.com (Head of the committee)
2. Rashid Sylvester (Greneda): rashidsylvester@gmail.com (secretary of the committee)
3. Mr. Atemo Dishon Opulu (Kenya): atemodfo@gmail.com (deputy head of committee)
4. Mr. HASNUL HANIFF BIN HARUN (Malaysia): hanifuia@gmail.com
5. Ali Ehtsham (Pakistan): ali.e.ehtsham@gmail.com
6. Hamza Yunusa Jibiya (Nigeria): al_hamzat@yahoo.com
7. David Aoneka Rupa (Paupau New guinea): davidaoneka.rupa@yahoo.com.au
8. Lola Mustapha (UK): lola.mustapha@live.co.uk
9. Amila Wensiri Rajapakshe (Sri Lanka) amilawensiri@yahoo.com
2. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
Reference to Article 9 item no. 2 of the CYC constitution, the CYC Executives approved the creation of Membership Committee.
Committee's Terms of reference:
1. The committee is responsible for approving Members and Affiliate Observers of the Council.
2. The membership Committee shall review applications and submit recommended applicants to the executives for considerations.
3. It should provide clear process of registering with the CYC to all interested organizations.
4. The committee should call and explain the benefits of registering with the CYC to all interested youth organizations.
5. The committee shall liaise with the regional representatives to establish the CYC’s regional and national memberships and affiliations.
6. It is responsible for ensuring that CYC established its focal point at regional and national levels and seek the approval of the executives.
7. It shall support the regional representatives to ensure proper and democratic youth structures by all members and affiliate organizations.
8. The committee should receive and recommend to the executives all requests and concerns from member organizations and affiliates.
9. The committee should also have a database of all CYC members and affiliate organizations.
10. The committee can come up with initiatives to ensure wide coverage and support to the CYC membership.
11. The committee is responsible for outlining the rules and regulations for electing regional and country delegations to the commonwealth youth general assemblies in-line with the CYC constitution.
12. The committee is responsible for wide spread of the CYC membership across the commonwealth.
MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE:
1. Komezusenge Daniel (Rwanda) komezada@yahoo.fr (committee head)
2. Vanessa Picker (Australia) Vanessa.picker@gmail.com (committee secretary)
3. Ella Wairiu (Solomon Island) ewairiu64@gmail.com
4. Nathan Chanda Bawalya (Zambia) nathan.fmcba@gmail.com
5. Wendell Bertrane (St. Lucia) bertrande007@hotmail.com
6. Christina J K Giwe (Papua New Guinea) gchristinajk@yahoo.com
7. Senel Wanniarachchi (Sri Lanka) senelwanniarachchi@gmail.com
8. Karl Bugeja (Malta) bugejakarl@gmail.com
9. Hussen Riyas (Maldives) riyaaz2020@gmail.com
3. COMMITTEE ON MEDIA, PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Committee’s terms of reference:
1. The Publicity & Public Relations Committee will design a communication plan that will ensure information is effectively disseminated to Commonwealth Countries and surrounding communities about the activities and events of the CYC.
2. Issues press releases in collaboration with and on behalf of the CYC.
3. Liaise with relevant media outlets to insure media coverage of all CYC activities within the Commonwealth and wider audience.
4. Be responsible for maintaining and updating the Official CYC Website, Facebook Page, Twitter account and any other social media outlet.
5. Assist with arranging and managing media meetings and conferences for the CYC.
6. Assist in the development of a social calendar for all activities and international events and celebrations relevant to the CYC.
7. Design and publish a quarterly CYC Newsletter
8. Design CYC promotional materials
9. With the recommendation by the executives, assign media contact in every country within commonwealth
10. Any other function assign to the committee by the CYC executive.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
1. Rahatul Ashekin (Bangladesh) ashekinratul@gmail.com (Head of the Committee)
2. Mridul Upadhyay (India) engineer.mridul@gmail.com (Deputy Head of the committee)
3. Ziggy Steven Adam (Seychelles) ziggyadam@ftc.sc
4. Koziba Malibala (Botswana) kazibam@gmail.com
5. Alicia Swinamer (Canada) mycnational@gmail.com
6. Triffany Daniels (Guyana) tiffanyd_89@hotmail.com
7. Hanan Ali Abbasi (Pakistan) nyapak1@gmail.com (member and Chief Media Adviser)
8. Popoola Isiaka Olamilekan (Nigeria) popoolaio@gmail.com (Secretary of the committee)
Media Practitioners:
9. Oba Olasunkanmi John (Blue print Newspaper), member of the committee and special assistant to the Chair on Media and Publicity.
10. Abdulhamid Yunusa (Daily Trust Newspapers), member of the committee and Media consultant to the CYC.
More standing committees to be established.
see more @: http://
Wednesday 1 January 2014
NEW YEAR MESSAGE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMONWEALTH YOUTH COUNCIL (CYC)
Dear Young people of the Commonwealth and across the world,
As we are blessed to witness yet another new year, I want to congratulate all of you and wish you a happy and healthy new year. This is usually the time we celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of another, it is a season of rising hopes and new expectations. The year 2014 is a year for peace and unity, it is a year young people will renew ...our commitments towards advancing youth development agenda. 2013 had been with so many challenges and opportunities, let us learn from those challenges and build on the opportunities presented, the year 2013 was very historical as it was the year that young people of the Commonwealth came together to chart a new beginning by constituting and electing the inaugural executives of the Commonwealth Youth Council. This has given the youth more hopes and confidence that, with this powerful platform, the young people’s interest and voice will be effectively represented and amplified respectively in the years ahead.
As we are blessed to witness yet another new year, I want to congratulate all of you and wish you a happy and healthy new year. This is usually the time we celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of another, it is a season of rising hopes and new expectations. The year 2014 is a year for peace and unity, it is a year young people will renew ...our commitments towards advancing youth development agenda. 2013 had been with so many challenges and opportunities, let us learn from those challenges and build on the opportunities presented, the year 2013 was very historical as it was the year that young people of the Commonwealth came together to chart a new beginning by constituting and electing the inaugural executives of the Commonwealth Youth Council. This has given the youth more hopes and confidence that, with this powerful platform, the young people’s interest and voice will be effectively represented and amplified respectively in the years ahead.
The year 2014 is the year for Youth; it is the year young people will rise to play an integral role of rebuilding economies and nations. Young people are agents for progressive development and major assets of every society. With our vigour, creativity and intelligence, young people are central in every positive change. In this year, young people will seek for proper inclusion in governance, and adequate support in Education and Entrepreneurship. The present and future prosperity of the world lies on the youth, and empowering us is a way of ensuring a safer and a more prosperous world.
I would like to use this opportunity to call on young people to be more united and become active citizens in our societies. I equally urge youth to embrace entrepreneurship, as it is one of the ways of tackling youth un-employment. We will continue to advocate for support and sponsorship to young entrepreneurs. I will encourage young people to venture in business that meet market demands. Similarly, youth shall use this New Year to renew our perceptions about Agriculture, as it is one of the major employment provider and way of earning a decent living.
As representatives of young people in the Commonwealth, we will always listen to you and involve you actively in everything we do, and we hope you will support us in achieving our shared vision for empowering and engaging young people in the Commonwealth. The CYC will partner and engage all youth development stakeholders and initiatives that aimed to empower young people in the Commonwealth and beyond. I wish you a very fruitful and blessed new year.
Thank you,
Ahmed Adamu,
Chairman.
I would like to use this opportunity to call on young people to be more united and become active citizens in our societies. I equally urge youth to embrace entrepreneurship, as it is one of the ways of tackling youth un-employment. We will continue to advocate for support and sponsorship to young entrepreneurs. I will encourage young people to venture in business that meet market demands. Similarly, youth shall use this New Year to renew our perceptions about Agriculture, as it is one of the major employment provider and way of earning a decent living.
As representatives of young people in the Commonwealth, we will always listen to you and involve you actively in everything we do, and we hope you will support us in achieving our shared vision for empowering and engaging young people in the Commonwealth. The CYC will partner and engage all youth development stakeholders and initiatives that aimed to empower young people in the Commonwealth and beyond. I wish you a very fruitful and blessed new year.
Thank you,
Ahmed Adamu,
Chairman.
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