Next stops on the Road to Rio!

WYA-Europe Celebrates Being Part of A Community and the World on the Road to Rio!

WYA-Europe successfully celebrated the “Self in connection with Sustainable Development” last March and showed love to their families by celebrating “Family in connection with Sustainable Development” last April. The two events have established the necessity of a healthy self and appreciation for the role of the family in authentic sustainable development. Having understood that authentic sustainability must be holistic, with the human person at the forefront, we are set to celebrate two more cornerstones of sustainable development this month of May!

Rio + 20: Sustainable Development and my Community

After the success of celebrating the “Self” and “Family” in connection with Sustainable Development, WYA-Europe is set to celebrate Sustainable Development and being part of a “Community” on Saturday, 19^th of May 2012!  As part of a community, we believe that everyone has a role to play in creating an environment conducive to personal growth and societal well-being. Therefore, in cooperation with Serve the City (www.servethecity.be) and their wonderful volunteers, we plan to do a spring-cleaning of Brussels City in order to interact with people in the community and prepare for a lovely summer ahead!

Everyone is invited to join! Hit Suzy an email at wyae.suzy@gmail.com for more details.

How do you get involved in your community? Share with us how you plan to show appreciation for you neighbours and celebrate being part of your own community!

 

Rio + 20: Sustainable Development and the World

As citizens of the world, WYA-E is also set to celebrate being part of the “World”! We encourage everyone to organise an international dinner with their friends. Everyone can bring their national dish, something exotic if they’re Belgian, or even their favorite international dish! What better way to explore the world than through its various cuisines? Besides, a simple get-together with friends is always more fun with good food!

What are your thoughts on being a global citizen? Share with us by hitting reply!

A European perspective on the UN's 45th Commission on Population and Development

Last week saw the 45^th Commission on Population and Development focus on adolescents and youth and was undoubtedly the highlight of my dabbling in political life to date.

Having travelled from Europe to attend the International Solidarity Forum the week before, I felt suitably acclimatised to talk on social development and all the issues that go with increasingly public concerns that some consider the world to be over-populated. (Click here for WYA's Declaration on Sustainable Development.)

Little did I know that the population of young people across the globe is actually in decline. Yet despite this notable fact, a large part of the Commission was given to discussing sexual and reproductive health in what seemed like a bid to further curb population growth.

Should this come as a surprise? Well, yes and no. Firstly, yes, because of all the issues that face us young people in the 21^st century, I would have placed employment and education at the top of my priorities for adolescents and young people.

Yet on the other hand, it did not come as a surprise to me because many countries, particularly in the West, seem keen to push an agenda of sexual education that presides over other pressing issues such as improving general health amongst adolescents and young people and the employability potential of the ever increasing number of young people who are facing a bleak, jobless future.

Yet despite the powerful grip that certain delegates held on the floor, I felt that an undercurrent of developing nations were holding fast onto their petition for better access to education that is both quality and gender balanced, better maternal healthcare and the creation of a better economic environment for the next generation.

So, after listening to delegates present their outlook on the challenges facing young people from their individual countries, I felt both pained at the daily struggles that so many young people face in trying to access a decent education, find a job or simply maintain a healthy standard of living, and yet privileged at the opportunities I have had so far in life.

One thing is for sure though, that every time the words “youth participation” floated to my ears, I felt honoured and proud to represent the World Youth Alliance in defending a future for young people that does not exist solely in the freedom to choose their future, but further still, enables them to do so in a truly supportive and caring environment that seeks to invest in their every need; physical, social, spiritual and intellectual.

Little remains than to hope that the Commission works towards enabling the best economic and social environment for every young person to ensure that each and every person is given the capacity to strive to reach their potential as a unique and resourceful human being in a world that increasingly treats people as statistics.

Suzy Holloway, Intern at the European Office

CPD 2012, Esperanza #3: The Essential Role of the Family in Education, by 2 of our European delegates!

As European delegates for the World Youth Alliance that represents 1 million young people worldwide, we would like to reaffirm the family as the fundamental unit of society and its role in educating adolescents and young people.

We have noted that discussions have resided predominantly in the areas sexuality and health. Sexual education is just one part of a more rounded, holistic education that should respond to the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of the young people.

We believe that the family is best placed to educate adolescents and young people, taking into account all of their needs. It is from within the family that young people are taught how to be responsible, to commit and to relate to one another and to build their social and employability skills as they progress on the path to adulthood. We therefore ask for a greater focus of the role of the family in supporting the attainment of these needs and skills.

We believe that education flourishes first and foremost in an environment that nurtures the family. We therefore ask the Commission to recognize the role of the family in education and consider the necessary mechanisms required to empower parents and young people to work in collaboration to support young people to achieve their full potential.

Suzy (London, England; age 27) and Caroline (Brussels, Belgium; age 25)

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“Family is the most basic unit of society and the place where free and responsible citizens are best formed. In order to develop free and just societies, the family must be cultivated and protected in culture and law.”

It is within the family that the person first acknowledges his or her own dignity and potential. It is the role of the parents in particular to support the young person in his or her growth towards the fulfillment of that potential, by ensuring the person´s spiritual, mental, physical and emotional development.

It is through family that the person experiences the first type of social interaction; therefore it is where the young person learns the meaning of true freedom by understanding the gift of self and by living in solidarity. Thus it is the role of the family to form the basis for responsible citizenship by teaching the young person to contribute toward the well-being of society. We believe that to ensure today´s and future generations´ well-being, particular attention should be given to the protection of the family. The outcome document of the 45th session of the Commission on Population and Development should emphasize the importance of family as the central institution for the formation of the person, and so, the central institution for the development of a sustainable society.

As a young delegate from Mexico, together with the more than one million young members of the World Youth Alliance, I want to see the Commission focus on the role of the parents to ensure the development of young persons and on the protection of the family as the main unit of society.

Jessica (Mexico City, Mexico; Age 26)

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Youth Voices at the UN!

On 25 April 2012, the World Youth Alliance hosted a live chat via Twitter on

Youth Employment: How to Unleash the Potential. Young people from around the world joined the conversation to discuss the real needs of young people. Here’s what some of them had to say:

“Youth Development means to prepare young people to live a full and active life: Self, Family, Spiritual, Work, Society etc.”

“Education is a cornerstone for employment. The greatest need in emerging markets is for qualified & motivated mid-management.”

“Don't see work as a "chore." See it as something to take pride in. doing a good job is a way to express your dignity.”

“Comprehensive sexual education does not constitute adequate training for achieving employment access”

“I think employment access begins with education access.. also for girls!”

“It starts with education, but there also needs to be room for educated people to make use of what they've learned”

“90% of employees in prosperous countries work for small and medium enterprises, yet they are missing in emerging markets. Make starting new companies easier”

“Anything that doesn't impede competition is a good idea.”

“Need to involve men and boys in efforts to fight gender-based discrimination and violence.”

Note from the staff: This Esperanza is also available on www.wya.net, on WYA Europe Facebook page and twitter account @WYAEurope.

CPD 2012, Esperanza #2: Young People = Drivers of Economic Growth, and Face of the Future!

Young People = Drivers of Economic Growth

As a young person from the Philippines, I know I play a crucial role in driving economic growth and social prosperity. I recognize that the creativity of the human person is the country’s greatest resource. To maximize this potential, an emphasis should be placed on providing youth with access to education and skills training. This equips us with proper tools to face the challenges that come our way and allows us to be globally competitive.

Presently, some youth face difficulties accessing proper employment opportunities. Exposure to situations of abuse, discrimination, or exploitation is also a problem. Neglecting youth needs not only increases vulnerability, but also poses a threat to a country’s productivity. We cannot afford to waste the potential of the youth by not prioritizing their education and training.

With proper employment opportunities in place, young people may excel in various fields. We should focus on the things that drive excellence and not on the points that limit us as people. This should be central in the negotiations and provisions on the outcome document of the 45^th session of the Commission on Population and Development. As it is, the current outcome document lacks an emphasis on the value of employment for youth.

Coming from a developing country, I look forward to solutions that will increase my capacity as an integral part of the workforce. It is crucial for governments and civil society to provide policies and programs that will ensure an environment conducive for human flourishing.  We are all excited to contribute our skills and talents. You just have to give us the opportunities and you’ll be surprised with the results.

Christine,

Manila, Philippines

Age 25

Youth are the Face of the Future

With the world’s growing population there has been an increase in the number of youth, especially in developing nations.  This growing youth population should not be seen as a threat, but as an opportunity.  Because the human person is a profound source of creativity, the energy of young people can be channeled into entrepreneurship and innovation.

Work is one means of expressing the dignity of the person.  Work offers an opportunity to prove individual worth, contribute to society, develop personal skills, and to provide for self and family.  Youth are in the privileged position of beginning this journey towards realizing their full potential.

Creating jobs and encouraging youth innovation are necessary to building a better world.  To ensure employment opportunities, youth must be provided with education, vocational training and skills training.  We call upon world leaders to harness the tremendous human capital of youth to grow and develop economies.

Leah,

United States

Age 24


Note from the staff: This Esperanza is also available on www.wya.net, on WYA Europe Facebook page and twitter account @WYAEurope.

First Esperanza at the CPD 2012: Sexual Education is not Enough!

Sexual Education is not Enough!

We recognize the critical importance of healthcare, education, and sexual education for youth; however, we want to highlight that there are a multitude of matters, and often more urgent matters, that youth face. While sexual education may enable youth to make informed decisions with regard to their reproductive health, it is imperative that we invest the same energy and vigor in promoting education and vocational training that can give youth, especially from the developing world, the tools with which to fight poverty and unemployment.

Youth are the economic base and the future of every country. Consequently, the outcome document of the 45^th session of the Commission on Population and Development should give balanced attention to the many pressing issues that face youth such as unemployment, underemployment and the ways in which we may utilize the tremendous human capital of youth for job creation and economic development.

As youth, we have a great need to contribute meaningfully in our societies. We are a vibrant force for social transformation and change, and we want to work to foster free and just societies. We believe that this should be emphasized at this Commission. Moreover, we advocate for policies that promote the family in society, and we object to calls for a separation between adolescents and the rights of their parents. 

As a youth delegate from Nairobi, Kenya, I want to see the Commission focus on more than sexual and reproductive health, and together with the members of the World Youth Alliance from around the world, I call the attention of the Commission to the many and diverse issues that are important to us as youth.

Hezbon

Age 26


Note from the staff: This Esperanza is also available on www.wya.net, on WYA Europe Facebook page and twitter account @WYAEurope.

Bringing the International Solidarity Forum to Europe!

It’s New York and it’s 29 degrees outside. A group of young people sit hunched around the table, negotiating the final tweaks to WYA’s latest
declaration on sustainable development.

Over the last four days, we’ve listened, debated and absorbed numerous issues relating to the three pillars of sustainable development; economic, social and environmental. From scientific explanations, to economic and environmental statistics and personal experience, we’ve heard the experts give their professional arguments that place the person at the centre of this topical debate.

As European representatives to WYA's International Solidarity Forum (ISF) delegation, we’ve realised just how much our European identity influences our perspective on sustainable development. We view it as a concept, as opposed to a day-to-day reality in other parts of the world and we’ve learnt just how much our world’s greatest resource is the human person.

So thank you to all the exceptional speakers and the incredible young delegates who joined us on this journey, sharing their enthusiasm, convictions and ability to compromise in order to produce a comprehensive one-page declaration.

Who would have realised just how much an group of 30 young people can achieve in four days when united in  solidarity and a shared conviction that truly represents WYA’ stance that promotes the flourishing of the human person in building a sustainable world.

We look forward to sharing this fantastic experience with you young Europeans at the upcoming Emerging Leader’s Conference in May which will explain the importance and role of a person-centred approach to sustainable development. WYA's newly officialized Declaration on Sustainable Developmeny will be published soon on our wbsite, please check out this page!

Cookie & Suzy
WYA Europe interns

Road to Rio: Family Focus month

In the run up to the Rio +20 Conference on sustainable development, WYA Europe is running the second in its series of events to get young people thinking about where and how we can promote a person-centred approach to sustainable development.

This month’s theme is My FAMILY.

My FAMILY will help you to understand better your relationship with your family. The WYA declaration on the family states that “The family sustains society as it gives life to the next generation. It also has the privilege of forming free and responsible citizens, thus securing democracy. As the fundamental unit of society the family ensures the sustainability of civilization and culture.” As such this month will be a period of action for you to engage in the ideas of WYA with your entire family!

How does your family contribute to the environment? Do you recycle? Do you use public transport where possible? How long does your average shower take?

Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday (30^th March- 1^st April), we’re inviting you to challenge your family by getting involved in accomplishing some sustainable goals as a family.

This could be :

- Cooking up an organic meal for family members you haven’t seen for a long time

- Creating a family compost pile

- Asking the whole family to take shorter showers

- Taking the whole family to go on a bike ride at the weekend

- Buying your weekend’s ingredients from the local market or farm

- Challenging your family to take no longer than 5 minutes each in the shower

- Spending an afternoon making crafts out of old materials/items that are lying around your house i.e. old clothes, buttons, furniture, unwanted books etc

Present your outcomes in the form of a family tree, but instead of people, put sustainable development deeds as the fruits of the tree. Submit us your "Sustainable Family Tree" for publication! In general, we want to hear about your sustainable family weekend! Take photos and/or write to us with your experiences. Please email these to wyae.suzy@gmail.com.

If you have no family around you, you can still take part in any of the above initiatives, just replace your family with friends or new people you’d like to get to know better!

WYA launches World Youth Alliance’s chapter in Pamplona

On the 12^th of March, the World Youth Alliance in Europe launched its first chapter at the University of Navarra.

To start the chapter, José Ramón Ayllón, a renowned philosopher, writer and a teacher of anthropology in the University of Navarra, delivered an introductory lecture titled “Read, and you will learn to think” where he encouraged a crowd of almost 22 young people “to learn how to think by reading in order to respect the dignity of the person.” Krisztina Szalachy, Male Sierra and Pedro Pallares, World Youth Alliance’s committed members in Pamplona led this fantastic introductory event.

If you want to know more about World Youth Alliance’s chapter in Pamplona please contact Male at wyala.alexs@gmail.com.

Brussels chapter kicks off in style!

Last Monday Brussels' brand new WYA Chapter started, right at the heart of the European Union.

With representatives spanning 6 nationalities, the conversation was bound to be a lively, and sure enough, the first 'soiree debat' launched with a kick and the discussion lasted well beyond closing time.

The first Chapter meeting began with the sometimes challenging, but fundamental subject of human dignity.

"What is human dignity?!" began Nacho, our European Director of Advocacy. A brief moment of silence and awkward looks left the question in the air. But soon, after a presentation on some key Track A authors, including Buber, Malik and Lewis, the audience had got to grip with the notion of human dignity and was throwing ideas around.

Following the presentation (and some brain food in the form of sandwiches), the group reajourned in the lounge area of the WYA Flat, ready to start the most fun part of the evening... 'le grand debat!'

After a few opening statements reaffirming the definition of human dignity, it soon became evident that not everyone was on the same wavelength. "Does our appreciation of dignity depend on the group to which we align ourselves?" someone asked. "Can you truly believe in the dignity of the person without aspiring to some form of transcendence?" another asked...

... And from then on in, the debate flowed in from all sides, exploring the expression of dignity from a person with severe disabilities to the dignity of the unborn child. And the one theme that kept cropping up time and time again, was the fact that for so many of us, dignity is considered in relation to others. Would we retain our dignity as humans if we were the last one alive on the earth? Or would we resort to animal instincts? And again, the debate descended into a whirlwind of opinions.

Finally, a couple of hours later, the evening finally wound down as we broached the topic of choice and human freedom, at which point we decided we'd best hold off until the next session.

So, with many thanks to those who attended the evening, with or without their contribution to the debate, we hope that the presentation and discussion unnerved your convictions just enough to return to the next session that will take place on Monday 19th March on human freedom. More info will follow on the facebook group.

If you would like to come to our next session, please drop Priscila an email on: wyae.priscila@gmail.com.

Et pour ceux qui ne sentent pas a laise en parlant en anglais, ne vous inquietez pas, nous sommes un group bilingue, et le debat aussi prend place en francais et en anglais!

Merci encore and we look forward to picking up where we left off next week!

The Road to Rio has started in Brussels

Indeed, RIO + 20 is coming up very soon and

WYA wants to play an active role in what some

call "the greatest international conference

of our time" !

In the lead up to this huge event, WYA Europe has run its first of 4 events over the coming months that focus on

Self, Family, Community and World.

For this month's event, we attempted to connect Myself and sustainable development. How did we do it? We feel that the first step each of us has to make, in order to be active and committed to the defense of sustainable development, is to be (or become) healthier, happier and more confident ! This is why we asked our members and friends to take part to a Rock'n'Roll dancing evening, in the WYA Europe Flat.

We have to say afterwards that this event has been a real success, the music was good, the lighting incredible, and the atmosphere was excellent ! We changed the flat into a true dance floor !

Thank you all for your participation ! Other parties of this kind will be organized !

Over the course of the evening, Suzy and I gave a presentation on sustainable development and the person. If you have any questions or remarks, or would like more information on what was discussed, please feel free to send you questions to wyae.vincent@gmail.com

Some pictures are available below ! We hope to see you again very soon and for all those who couldn't make the evening, watch this space for our next event in March!

Rock this WYA in Brussels!

Welcome to the first of our European Road to Rio events in Brussels, next Tuesday 28th February!

Join us for an evening of rock'n'roll to discover how you fit in with the themes of economic, environmental and social sustainability while also learning how to rock'n'roll, have fun and stay healthy!

We hope that this event will be a fun introduction to WYA and WYA's stance on sustainable development in the lead up to the Rio +20 UN conference in June 2012.

To reserve a place or for more information, please email wyae.suzy@gmail.com. Feel free to invite friends, we look forward to meeting you there!

WYA team, Brussels

Un nouveau chapitre de la WYA va être mis en place à Bruxelles !

En tant que nouvelles stagiaires, nous sommes en train de préparer de passionnantes soirées-débats pour les jeunes sur les principales valeures et missions de la WYA (dignité humaine, liberté, solidarité...)! Six soirées-débats (qui seront données en billingue fr-en) auront lieu plus ou moins un lundi sur deux et commencent ce lundi 5 mars !!

Si vous êtes interessés, envoyez un mail à l'adresse wyae.caroline@gmail.com! Les places sont malheureusement limitées, donc dépêchez-vous de vous inscrire !!! N'hésitez pas également à nous contacter pour plus d'informations et à vous rajouter sur le groupe Facebook 'World Youth Alliance Brussels'!

Suzy, Priscila et Cookie