Tena Kebena Youth Feted at African Union
This year’s recipients of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Champion of the Earth Award in the new category “New Generation Champions”, the Tena Kebena and Ginfle Cleaned Association, were feted at the African Union courtyard on 11 June 2009. The AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Mme. Rhoda-Peace Tumusiime, graced and addressed the event organized by the UNEP Addis Ababa Office and attended by Ambassadors and representatives of Embassies accredited to the AU, a representative of Ethiopia’s Federal Environment Protection Authority, international and national NGOs and individuals and youth from various organizations. Among the first embassies to arrive were Liberia, Algeria, Libya, Malawi, and Namibia. The Tena Kebena youth group had received the award alongside other winning nominees at the annual ceremony in April 2009 in Paris, France, for making a big difference in protecting the planet. The event had a carnival atmosphere in the normally austere surroundings of the AU conference centre used for high-level inter-governmental meetings.
The Tena Kebena youth sang and gesticulated in their characteristic fashion, entertaining guests with messages on themes like environment and HIV/AIDS. The highpoint of the function were remarks from Mme Tumusiime, who applauded the youth for their achievement and example of what young people and communities can do for the environment. She said the youth had done both Ethiopia and Africa proud by their achievement, and said the AU is committed to promoting youth participation and leadership in environmental management and other fields. Speakers at the function included Strike Mkandla of UNEP who also served as master of ceremonies of the function, Mr. Biruk Gebremedh in representing the Board of Tena Kebena youth, and a founding member of the youth group Mr. Alemayehu Akalu. Ato Biruk congratulated the youth on behalf of the Board of the association and said they that they deserved the special award because it’s the result of their hard work. Ato Alemayehu made the last of the speeches and spoke on behalf of the youth. He thanked everyone, especially those who made it possible for the youth to achieve their goals. He said the award would open opportunities for the youth and for all those who are working on environment related issues. After the Commissioner’s address to the gathering, she led in signing the “Seal the Deal” campaign for a successful conclusion of the climate change negotiations to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009. As refreshments were served as the last item in the programme, the Commissioner mingled with youth and NGO leaders who engaged her in discussion about their work.
Contributed by: Alemayehu Aklilu and Desalegne Firew
Add comment November 12, 2009
Tena Kebena Youth Receive Global Award
An Addis Ababa youth group, Tena Kebena and Ginfle Cleaning Association, have been in the limelight at home and abroad in the space of one week. They were the first to be awarded the prize for “Next Generation Champions” in the UNEP Champions of the Earth Awards at the colorful global event in Paris on 22 April 2009. They followed this with their trademark field activity, hosting a clean-up event on 25 April in which youth from other parts of Ethiopia and a visiting group from the United Kingdom took part in the streets of the capital. They also inaugurated an information project on 24 April.
Next-Generation Champions
The Executive Director of UNEP Mr. Achim Steiner presented the award to representatives of the youth association Mr. Alemayehu Akalu and Ms. Tigist Tegaya. The Next-Generation Champions category was created to recognize individual youth and organizations that are making a difference in environmental management and conservation around the world. The name of the dynamic Ethiopian group is derived from a combination of two rivers called ‘Kebena’ and ‘Ginfle’ that flow in the centre of the capital and converge at the patch they were given by the Government to conduct their activities. Their motto is ‘Let us join hands in creating sustainable opportunity for youth’. Members of the group range from small boys and girls to teenagers and slightly older youths who say they have ‘decided to live with the resources we have and to do our best to survive urban poverty’. In addition to their daily struggles they are active in promoting public awareness on environmental issues and HIV/AIDS that has orphaned many of their members. They are almost a permanent feature in many celebrations such as World Water Day, World Environment Day, and Africa Environment Day organized by the UNEP Addis Ababa Office and civil society organizations. They are proud of their achievement in cleaning up what was virtually a huge dump site and turning it into a “Green Zone”: planting trees to create a lush foliage, opening space for children to play, re-using waste (including composting bio-degradable material), and growing organic vegetables and medicinal herbs that they use and also sell for income to finance learning activities.
Internet comes to the slum
The Tena Kebena and Ginfle youth are keeping up with the world in another area: communications. The UNEP Addis Ababa Office nominated them to receive computer equipment that was being phased out by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) which they installed in their modest offices on the project site. On 24 April 2009 they held a ceremony in which they inaugurated an Internet service through a project conceived by ENDA-Ethiopia and supported by the Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (EICTDA). Strike Mkandla of UNEP was the Guest of Honor and inaugurated the new facility with Mr. Tessema Geda the Project Manager of EICTDA. Guests at the function included ENDA-Ethiopia Director Dr. Azeb Girma, Forum for Environment Coordinator Mr. Negussu Aklilu, government leaders from the local administration, and an official from the UNDP Small Grants Programme.
Contributed by: Alemayehu Aklilu and Desalegne Firew
Add comment November 12, 2009
Youth Entrepreneurship
Written by: Niyomugaba Valentin
It has a wide range of meaning .on the one extreme an entrepreneur is a person of very high aptitude who pioneers change, possessing characteristics founding only a very small fraction of the population .on the other extreme of definitions, anyone who wants to work for himself or herself is considered to be entrepreneur. The word entrepreneur originates from the French word entreprendre which means to undertake but in business context, it means to start a business.
And also in some books, there is a definition of an entrepreneur as one who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of business or enterprise.
Youth unemployment with entrepreneurship
Youth unemployment rates are soaring worldwide. That rate is recently increasing where economic growth and opportunity have long failed to keep pace with the growing number of young people entering the labor force. However, youth unemployment rates don’t have to translate into catastrophe for that generation and those it sustains. The very victims of the situation might actually benefit from it if policymakers can incentivize them to follow their dreams .
Entrepreneur as a solution to police challenges
Promoting more private sector entrepreneurs in infrastructure systems can also yield significant opportunities for long term economic and social benefits, as well as for immediate job creation
The challenges facing youth entrepreneurship in worldwide
-start up /working capital
-youth attitude
-extended family and community responsibilities
-cultural expectation and conventions
-Government policies
Proven elements of successful programs for entrepreneurship development
*Giving youth the opportunity means that there are young people who have potential to become entrepreneurs but have no means
*believing in youth by:
- giving the youth his /her dreams
-helping them develop their business ideas
-availing funds
-allocating mentors to the youth
-visiting them
*youth should realize that nothing comes on a silver platter , least not funds
*tripping the local business support network means that youth issues are community issues and everybody who can should get involved.
Conclusion
If we want to see that high youth unemployment rate come down, we might be well served by supporting efforts to encourage young people like Adam to explore their entrepreneurial potential, offer support and simply get out of their way
It is up to you adult people to take responsibility of ensuring a good and sustainable future of youth so that they may be empowered economically and creating the sustainable and increasing entrepreneur group and spirit will be a continuous exercise which will help them to become youth entrepreneurs
Add comment November 1, 2009
Defining and Recognizing Human Rights
Countries from around the world deal with the issue of human rights violations, as we will explore in this section of the blog. Before we examine country case-studies, such as the genocide in Rwanda or the strife that occurs in the Darfur region, we should look closely at what precisely human rights are.
Human rights, as defined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are guaranteed to every living person from their time of birth, irrespective of distinction of any kind, ‘including race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status’. Whether a person lives in an impoverished nation or a developed country, they are granted these rights to an unobstructed life under international law.
Under the jurisdiction of the one hundred ninety-two nation member-states of the United Nations:
‘No distinction shall be made on the basis of political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of circumstances beyond his control.’
Although human rights are defined thoroughly in both social and legal perspectives, it is often difficult to ensure that human rights are not violated in countries with tumultuous or uncooperative governments, such as the often criticized leadership within the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the Sudan. When widespread human rights violations do occur, it is typically over an extended period of time in which a peaceful resolution is difficult to achieve due to the complex nature of the conflict.
Add comment October 19, 2009
Youth Leadership and Youth Development
October 2, 2009
Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship
From a lecture on Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Dr. David Finney, President, Champlain College August 3, 2009: MCW 12th Youth Leadership Retreat, Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont USA
Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship
Leading a group of people in the area of social entrepreneurship requires that you bring a level of organization to the vision.
Find 100 people who share your vision
Change.. Wikipedia definition: change the system, spread the change
The following sequence of events, actions and questions that should take place in order to lead effectively:
1. Define the vision.
2. Does the vision engage the passion of others…. Is it important to others?
3. Measure passion by the gift of TIME, talent and treasure that a person is willing to give you.
a. TIME is the most valuable
4. If you have a vision that engages others then you have a movement.
5. This requires Entrepreneurial Organization Leadership.
6. Let others contribute to the idea and feel ownership.
7. The job of a leader is to keep an eye on the direction of the vision and let others do the details that they want to do.
a. A Common Mission/Vision
8. Share the outcomes that you want not how to do it.
9. Make outcomes measurable.
10. If outcomes are not satisfying then practice Creative Destruction.
11. Be transparent.. Have more questions than answers.
12. You will get resistance from those who benefit from how it is today.
13. Revert to the Vision and convince those who resist that change is the best way to attain the Vision.
14. Passive resistance comes from a lack of passion. Make people feel more excited about the new Vision to create change in attitudes.
15. It is crucial to measure outcomes on a regular basis. How do you define success for the Vision?
16. Understand your own WEAKNESSES and strengths. Ask the people that you are working with what they would have you do better.
17. Let people get upset with YOU and NOT the Vision.
18. Read widely, it helps to articulate the Vision.
19. Manage your Vision
20. If you do not have failures then you are not working hard enough.
21. Be clear about what you learn from each failure.
22. Do your people understand the Vision in the same way that you do?
Notes by Dr. Nancy Scanlon, Professor & MCW Advisory Board Member
Add comment September 17, 2009
MCT-Songea IT Project Coordinator Receives “Spirit of MCW” Award
Maina Baina, MCT Songea’s IT Project Coordinator received the “Spirit of MCW” Award for his dedication to helping empower youth in Songea through information technology education.
Maina Baina with MCT Country Coordinator, Felix Nyakatale, Songea,Tanzania
Add comment September 10, 2009
First MCW Alumni Ventures Fund Winners Announced at Annual Open Doors Ceremony in New York
Over 50 Youth from Around the World Gather to Develop Plans for Social Change
NEW YORK, August 21, 2009 – Miracle Corners of the World (MCW), a non profit that empowers youth to be leaders of change locally and globally, announced the names of the first grant recipients of the new MCW Alumni Ventures Fund. The announcement was made by Sharon Kess, chair of the new fund, on August 5 at MCW’s Open Doors Ceremony, an event marking the end of MCW’s annual youth leadership retreat program.
“I was thrilled to give out our first award to two amazing young people,” Mrs. Kess said at the end of the ceremony. “We had such a tremendous response about the Ventures Fund from new youth leadership graduates, as well as from the volunteers who want to be involved with this worthwhile cause. I look forward to continuing to help young people make their dreams come true.”
The two recipients will each receive a year of mentoring and a start-up grant to help turn their vision plans into concrete projects. A hallmark of MCW’s youth leadership retreat program, vision plans enable youth delegates, 16 to 18, to identify challenges in their own communities, imagine a solution and map out a course of action.
Selected by a panel of MCW board members, staff and fellows, this year’s winners are:
Amma Agyapon, 27, Brooklyn, New York
Vision plan: Amma plans to organize a multi-media event in her community that will raise awareness of the Lukumi culture and religion, as well as its rites of passage program.
“I’m especially excited about receiving a year’s worth of mentorship. Since we’re all volunteers, we will definitely appreciate help with event planning,” she said.
Shawn Crosby, 19, Cleveland, Ohio
Vision plan: Shawn, who established the American Children’s Organization, a non profit that promotes post secondary education and professional career opportunities for teens, plans to launch two entrepreneurial programs at the center for teenagers.
"My vision is bigger than me, so I know I’m going to need some help to get it off the ground,” he said.
Dr. Augustine Mahiga, Ambassador to the Tanzanian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, delivered the keynote address at the event. “MCW links grassroots community-based initiatives to the larger peace-building process, helping youth understand the role that they, as individuals and as members of civil society, play in building global understanding and international cooperation,” he said.
Youth delegates from Lusaka, Zambia, Hebron, West Bank, and New Jersey, also shared their vision plans with the audience of more than 100 friends and supporters of MCW. Delegates also performed a range of music and dance from around the world.
“Open Doors not only let the young participants show their individual hopes and dreams, but it also let them show how they can unite toward the common goal of making a positive impact in their community, as well as the world,” said Yasmin Elachi, the retreat co-coordinator.
In his opening remarks, Edward Bergman, MCW co-founder, welcomed the retreat graduates into MCW’s global network and announced the formation of a new MCW Alumni Network, representing more than 400 retreat alumni worldwide. He also thanked the MCW community for supporting “a new generation of talented young entrepreneurs, who will surely develop projects that will make a difference in people’s lives.”
This year’s retreat, held again at New York University and at Champlain College in Vermont, brought together 35 youth delegates and 23 mentors from more than a dozen countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Palestine, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and the United States. After a series of team building exercises, as well as interactive discussions with leaders from the diplomatic, non profit and corporate worlds on leadership and social responsibility, the mentors helped the delegates develop their own vision plans.
(Left to right): Edward Bergman (MCW Co-founder and Executive Director), Alfred Hanssen (MCW Associate Executive Director), Shawn Crosby (MCW Alumni Ventures Fund recipient), Amma Agyapon (MCW Alumni Ventures Fund recipient) and Sharon Kess ((MCW Alumni Ventures Fund chair) at the 2009 Open Doors Ceremony at New York University
Add comment September 2, 2009
Prospective Sites for NEW MCW Community Centers
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- Hoyoyo, Tanzania, June 2009
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- Ghana, June 2009
Add comment September 1, 2009
Miracle Corners Zambia July 2009
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- The MCZ team registering MCZ!
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- MCZ stakeholders in Chanyanya near Kafue Town
Add comment September 1, 2009
