WYMD Newsletter - June 2007

1) Commonwealth Open Forum (Uganda) June 17, 2007
This year the Commonwealth heads of government meeting is to take place in Uganda. The Open Forum gives young people an opportunity to discuss and present to these leaders the issues that affect them. The organisers of the Open Forum hope the Forum will help the world leaders and governments to recognise that youth want development regardless of their religious, political and educational backgrounds, through the presentation of pertinent issues both for Ugandan young people, and for young people representing the other commonwealth countries.
Visit TakingITGlobal

2) International Student Week (Serbia) June 28 - July 5, 2007
The second International Student Week in Belgrade, ISWiB 2007, in the capital of Serbia. The motto of this year's meeting is "Update Local to Get Global". More than 130 students and young people from all around Europe will gather in order to take part in various interactive workshops and discussions, and also to hear interesting lectures on some of the current issues. Applications started through the Internet and participants are offered to join one of the following workshops: Society, Economics, Ecology, Culture & Arts, Media, Education, Psychology, Photo art, and Video Art. Workshop leaders will be postgraduate students, experienced trainers, international experts, and university professors. The project was developed and is led by a student and youth organization "World Youth Wave - Serbia" from Belgrade. Partners in ISWiB 2007 are also students and youth organizations - Students Union of Serbia and Green Youth of Serbia. Official support comes from The People's Office of the President of Serbia and National Bank of Serbia.
Visit the website

3) World Camp Central Europe 2007 (Central Europe) June 29 - July 15, 2007
The World Camp will take place across several central European countries: Slovakia, Poland and Austria. The camp focuses on leadership principles that prepare our young leaders for the challenges that lay ahead in an ever-converging world. We offer a cross-cultural leadership experience. Students will have the opportunity to examine different leadership styles, develop long term relationships with international students and use what they have discovered to initiate change in their own communities. World Camp will be comprised of 18-24 international students of age 15-18. This year World Camp Central Europe is also under the umbrella of Outward Bound Slovakia.
Visit the website

4) One Degree Asia (Singapore) July 4 - July 8, 2007
One Degree Asia (ODA) is a leadership festival in Asia that challenges and connects young leaders from diverse fields to be the region’s social changemakers. ODA is where the continent’s young changemakers begin and enrich the dialogue to co-create history. ODA envisions a collaborative community of Asia’s young citizens who are exposed, equipped and empowered as actors on a global stage while deeply connected to the local expressions of our globalised world. The intensive five-day festival is the culmination and starting point of many initiatives across Asia weaving themselves together through the personal relationships forged by like-minded young leaders. ODA is an interactively designed process to facilitate learning and exchange between Asian young people.
Visit the website

5) 14th International Youth Leadership Conference (Czech Republic) July 22 - July 27, 2007
The 14th International Youth Leadership Conference is a week-long youth forum on world politics, international relations and international law. The Most recent conferences welcomed 150 students from an average of 50 different countries worldwide, with a strong emphasis on cross-cultural, international youth empowerment, and an open-minded exchange of different perspectives on global issues. Participants play active roles in simulations of important world organizations: UN Security Council Crisis Meeting; International Criminal Court Trial; Model European Parliament Proceeding. The theme of the conference: "A cross-cultural exchange of ideas concerning the future of world leadership." Other conference activities include visits to foreign embassies, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senate, group debates, banquet dinners, and free time to explore the beautiful streets of Prague.
- here

6) Reach Out! Speak Up! Ignite Change Now: Global Youth Assembly 2007 (Canada) July 30 - August 4, 2007
The Assembly will explore global issues facing the world today, and educate participants on becoming effective agents of change in their local and global communities. This is also an exciting opportunity for youth from all over the world to come together and discover their potential as leaders who can make a difference!
Visit TakingITGlobal

7) International Conference on Youth and Democracy in South Asia (India) August 12 - August 15, 2007
The role of young people is immense and vitally important in any democracy. As India celebrates sixty years of independence on 15th August, the Center for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA) in association with like-minded organizations will launch a 3-day international conference on "Youth & Democracy in South Asia". The objective of this program is to bring together, young people, youth activists and academics from different walks of life and deliberate on concerns and issues of democracy in the context of young people. Today there is an urgent need for young people to participate in the processes of development in all South Asian Countries. Although there are youth initiatives everywhere, it is important to bring young people together on a common platform to share their views and ideas about democracy as future leaders. The expected outcome is increased involvement of youth in decision-making roles in the democracies they represent. In a fully functioning democracy youth should become participants and a participant youth should understand the meaning of citizenship, polices and governance and have the acquired skills to voice their concerns and ability to make the system accountable. The Conference will aim to discuss that youth can and must participate not only in issues that concern them but also in the formulation of policies that affect them. Youth from South Asian countries as well as a few Asia Pacific regions will be invited to participate in the conference planned from 12 - 14 August 2007 in Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Abstract submission: Every participant is expected to present a paper on any of a number of topics. Abstract of the same has to be submitted on or before April 30th 2007. The confirmed participants list will be announced on 5th May 2007.
- here

8) International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP) International Symposium (India) October 29 - November 2, 2007
'Youth Participation and Empowerment - Getting beyond the Rhetoric and Slogans' Central to the building of strong, healthy and inclusive communities and nations is the active participation of young men and women. So often this participation is adult defined, lead and structured. In reality, it is quite tokenistic in terms of the scope and level of youth responsibility and leadership. ICNYP recognises that across the globe there are many exciting examples of where young people are designing and leading initiatives which are making a difference in terms of community and national life. This International Symposium seeks to bring together such young people with youth policy and program makers to share experiences, ideas and aspirations and to identify what motivates and sustains successful youth designed and lead actions. This Symposium is limited to 125 participants. It seeks a balance of 75% youth activists (15 - 30 years old) and 25% youth policy and program makers (all ages). The focus of the Symposium is listening to the experiences and ideas of young people who 'stepped up' and have made a significant impact on their societies through their actions. The critical outcome of the Symposium is a clear understanding of the type of policy and practice environment that supports and sustains young men and women to design, implement and monitor initiatives that make a real difference at both the community and nation building levels.
More details on the symposium, and the application form: - here

June 2007 Newsletter
WYMD Updates 1) VOICE YOUR IDEAS - World Youth Movement for Democracy Essay Contest regional finalists announced DEMOCRACY ALERTS/APPEALS from the World Movement for Democracy (WMD) 1) Indian Human Rights Defender Arrested 2) Former Heads of State Call on Burmese Junta to Release Aung San Suu Kyi 3) Somali Government Shuts Down Three Independent Radio Stations in Mogadishu HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLES, NEWS AND REPORTS FROM PARTICIPANTS 1) Article: Fifty Years of Ghana's Multi-Party Democracy (1957-2007): Lessons for the Youth and the Way Forward (Ghana) 2) Article: La Démocratie dans mon pays (DR Congo) en français 3) Bulletin: Democracywatch (Bangladesh) 4) MAAPSI International launches website (Bangladesh) HIGHLIGHTED NEWS FROM INTERNATIONAL PRESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS 1) Guantanamo: Ruling Renews The Debate Over Detainees 2) Pakistan: Musharraf closes TV stations as democracy calls grow 3) Africa: AIDS poses new threat to African democracy HIGHLIGHTED FORTHCOMING EVENTS 1) Commonwealth Open Forum (Uganda) June 17, 2007 2) International Student Week (Serbia) June 28 - July 5 3) World Camp Central Europe 2007 (Central Europe) June 29 - July 15 4) One Degree Asia (Singapore) July 4 - July 8, 2007 5) 14th International Youth Leadership Conference (Czech Republic) July 22-27, 2007 6) Reach Out! Speak Up! Ignite Change Now: Global Youth Assembly 2007 (Canada) July 30 - August 4, 2007 7) International Conference on Youth and Democracy in South Asia (India) August 12 - August 15 8) International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP) International Symposium (India) October 29 - November 2, 2007 OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS, FUNDING AND PARTICIPATION 1) A Grand Idea (United Kingdom) 2) Kurdish Human Rights Project Summer Internship (United Kingdom) 3) Human rights research internship (India) 4) Development Gateway Foundation Photo Contest (International)
WYMD Updates
1) VOICE YOUR IDEAS - World Youth Movement for Democracy International Essay Contest The regional finalists for the World Youth Movement for Democracy (WYMD)' s International Essay Contest have been chosen! The essay contest has been a great opportunity for young people to share their perspectives on democracy. Young activists, students, and citizens from around the world submitted essays reflecting on their experiences with the ideals, the realities, and the future of democracy in their communities and countries. You can now view the regional winner's essays and share in these experiences. Visit the website to find out who won, and read the essays. - here more about the contest
Democracy Alerts/Appeals (from the World Movement for Democracy)
1) India: Indian Human Rights Defender Arrested On May 14, Dr. Binayak Sen, a pediatrician, public health specialist, and national vice president of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PULC) in Chhattisgarh state, India, was arrested for his alleged links to India's left-wing extremist movement, commonly known as the Naxals. Dr. Sen is noted for extending health care to the people of Chhattisgarh, regardless of their political affiliation. He had visited members of the Naxals in prison and provided them with health care, and he advocated for the maintenance of their human rights. The Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and the Unlawful Activities Act, under which Dr. Sen was arrested, do not provide for bail or appeal. Aidindia, an NGO that supports grassroots organizations in India and initiates efforts in education, natural resources, health, women's empowerment, social justice, etc., has launched a petition demanding his release. PULC To sign the petition 2) Burma: Former Heads of State Call on Burmese Junta to Release Aung San Suu Kyi On May 15, 59 former heads of state made public a letter that calls on the leader of the Burmese junta to abide by the repeated requests made by various entities to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma. The initiative is supported by the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights (OCPHR) and by former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, founder and President of OCPHR. Ms. Suu Kyi is a democracy and human rights activist who has been under house arrest in Burma for 11 of the past 17 years. In 1998, she founded the National League for Democracy (NLD) political party, which won the Burmese elections in 1990. The Burmese junta never accepted the results of the election, and instead put Ms. Suu Kyi under house arrest. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her peaceful and non-violent struggle under a military dictatorship, and is the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The term of her most recent house arrest, which has been effective since 2003, expired on May 27, and the letter was intended to put pressure on the junta to respect that date. It urged the junta leader to respond to various appeals from the UN and many countries and regional organizations for Ms. Suu Kyi's unconditional and immediate release. Nonetheless, the Burmese junta renewed her house arrest for another year. More information from the Oslo Center 3) Somalia: Somali Government Shuts Down Three Independent Radio Stations in Mogadishu The Somali Government closed down three of Mogadishu's main radio stations on June 6, silencing independent community voices in the country. The stations, HornAfrik radio and television, Shabelle Media Network, and Radio Voice of Holy Koran, were shut down for allegedly supporting anti-government elements, such as terrorism. The letter ordering their closings stated that they are "famous for creating tension, supporting terrorism, violating the freedom of the press, and opposing the government." HornAfrik and Shabelle Media Network are the biggest stations in Mogadishu and have the largest audience. All three stations, and the local office of Al Jazeera TV, were previously shut down in January 2007, when the Somali government accused them of exaggerating the government's military operations in Mogadishu, but were allowed to reopen. Journalists from the stations have repeatedly been arrested for criticizing the government's activities. More information from IRIN News
Highlighted Contributions from Youth and Democracy Groups
News on projects, issues and experiences; articles and reports; news of events and information on groups and organizations, from people working on youth activism and democracy issues. Please remember, we do not monitor groups, and do not wish to censor material. We hope the information here is truthful, but we also hope that participants reading this information will try to gather as much information as they can about these groups and current affairs. 1) Article: Fifty Years of Ghana's Multi-Party Democracy (1957-2007): Lessons for the Youth and the Way Forward (Ghana) (by Ibrahim Sumaila Muhammed) This article discusses the development of Ghana's current model of democracy in the context of colonialism and Ghana's relatively recent past - charting the history of Ghana's democracy since the late 1950s, including a brief discussion of the dictatorships of the mid to late twentieth century, and the legacies of those brutal years. The essay charts Ghana's chaotic burgeoning democracy, and compares it to the relative stability of recent years. Read more - here 2) Article: La Démocratie dans mon pays (DR Congo) (Jean Mwabantu) - en français The author discusses democracy in the Congo and the transition from dictatorship to democracy. He also discusses the philosophical side of democracy, and the notion of personal and collective responsibility. Critical of the state, the article calls for full independence, in the sense of a fully democratic nation, and looks to the youth as protagonists in this change, and in what comes afterwards. Read the full article - here 3) Bulletin: Democracywatch (Bangladesh) Democracywatch is a development and educational institution working to promote and strengthen democracy and good governance by creating awareness about rights and values through research, training for leadership, advocacy and mobilization of media to fight against injustice and human rights violation. They provide different kinds of training specially to the youths to build up their career and leadership quality. Democracywatch's May bulletin presents results of a recent study undertaken on political participation in Bangladesh: Democracywatch's People's Reporting Center Project aims to decrease the gap between the general public and their union Parashad and to function as a channel between the two. It is hoped a monitoring system will be produced from this project. Read the results of the survey - here 4) Website: MAAPSI International launches website (Bangladesh) MAAPSI is a non-government social and development organization established in 2001 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A group of young and educated people from different educational background came under one platform to bring some positive changes in the society in 2001. MAAPSI's vision is a sustainable democracy in which people can freely exercise their rights. MAAPSI wants to mobilize the people to demand their rights and good governance at all levels and enables service providers to serve the people sincerely through different programs. MAAPSI also working to combat wildlife crimes and conducting massive awareness campaign. The successful program strategies of MAAPSI is building networking with local NGOs and motivate them to implement different programs with local resources successfully. Visit the MAAPSI website - here Check out WYMD's Resource Page for toolkits, guides, and more articles.
Highlighted News from the International Press and Human Rights Groups
1) Guantanamo: Ruling Renews The Debate Over Detainees (Washington Post) June 6, 2007 A debate has been reignited over how to try those accused of terrorism following the decision by U.S. military judges to dismiss the war crimes charges against two of the Guantanamo detainees. Members of congress have been prompted to challenge the Bush administration over a legal system that they say denies proper rights to detainees and has yet to bring a single case to trial. In dismissing the charges against detainees from Canada and Yemen, the judges ruled that the Military Commissions Act of 2006 lacked jurisdiction because that law limits cases to those who are deemed "unlawful enemy combatants." The judges decided that since a tribunal had officially deemed both men "enemy combatants," the letter of the law does not allow the detainees to go to trial. Prosecutors say they hope to try about 80 of the 380 detainees at Guantanamo, however in another setback in the five-year effort to bring a single case to trial, all such cases are now on hold. Read the full report 2) Pakistan: Musharraf closes TV stations as democracy calls grow (The Guardian) June 5, 2007 President Pervez Musharraf has cracked down on Pakistan's television networks in a move which goes against growing calls for a return to democracy. Several stations have been taken off the air and emergency legislation providing for stiff fines and the closure of channels deemed to have broken the law have been introduced by Gen Musharraf. The military-dominated government has reacted angrily to what it calls "sensationalist" coverage of the crisis surrounding the suspended chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. The largest channel, Geo News, which claims 30 million viewers, was taken off air following warnings not to broadcast a popular current affairs show. The item in question was an interview with Imran Khan. The network earlier received a letter urging it not to air programmes that promote an "anti-state attitude" or "cast aspersions against the judiciary and the integrity of the armed forces". Meanwhile rival station Aaj Television found its broadcasts were being redirected to obscure frequencies that most viewers could not find. "They have practically shut us down in most parts of Pakistan," said Talat Hussain, director of news and current affairs. The television war is a measure of the seriousness of Pakistan's burgeoning political crisis. Gen Musharraf has assured his government that "nobody will be allowed to bring instability to the country". Read the report 3) Africa: AIDS poses new threat to African democracy (Reuters) June 4, 2007 AIDS may be killing elected officials in some Southern African countries faster than they can be replaced, creating a new threat to democracy and governance in the region, according to a new study. The Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) said a study of mortality patterns in South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Senegal indicated Africa's HIV/AIDS crisis was reaching deep into elected governments. "Our findings have shown there has been a sharp rise in the number of elected leaders that have died prematurely of illness,", the head of governance and AIDS program Kondwani Chirambo, head of IDASA's governance and AIDS program said at a recent conference in Cape Town. "If you compare the trends before the onset of the pandemic and after, we do see that patterns of death mimic the mortality pattern of the general population," he said. Read the report
Highlighted Forthcoming Events
1) Commonwealth Open Forum (Uganda) June 17, 2007 This year the Commonwealth heads of government meeting is to take place in Uganda. The Open Forum gives young people an opportunity to discuss and present to these leaders the issues that affect them. The organisers of the Open Forum hope the Forum will help the world leaders and governments to recognise that youth want development regardless of their religious, political and educational backgrounds, through the presentation of pertinent issues both for Ugandan young people, and for young people representing the other commonwealth countries. Visit TakingITGlobal 2) International Student Week (Serbia) June 28 - July 5, 2007 The second International Student Week in Belgrade, ISWiB 2007, in the capital of Serbia. The motto of this year's meeting is "Update Local to Get Global". More than 130 students and young people from all around Europe will gather in order to take part in various interactive workshops and discussions, and also to hear interesting lectures on some of the current issues. Applications started through the Internet and participants are offered to join one of the following workshops: Society, Economics, Ecology, Culture & Arts, Media, Education, Psychology, Photo art, and Video Art. Workshop leaders will be postgraduate students, experienced trainers, international experts, and university professors. The project was developed and is led by a student and youth organization "World Youth Wave - Serbia" from Belgrade. Partners in ISWiB 2007 are also students and youth organizations - Students Union of Serbia and Green Youth of Serbia. Official support comes from The People's Office of the President of Serbia and National Bank of Serbia. Visit the website 3) World Camp Central Europe 2007 (Central Europe) June 29 - July 15, 2007 The World Camp will take place across several central European countries: Slovakia, Poland and Austria. The camp focuses on leadership principles that prepare our young leaders for the challenges that lay ahead in an ever-converging world. We offer a cross-cultural leadership experience. Students will have the opportunity to examine different leadership styles, develop long term relationships with international students and use what they have discovered to initiate change in their own communities. World Camp will be comprised of 18-24 international students of age 15-18. This year World Camp Central Europe is also under the umbrella of Outward Bound Slovakia. Visit the website 4) One Degree Asia (Singapore) July 4 - July 8, 2007 One Degree Asia (ODA) is a leadership festival in Asia that challenges and connects young leaders from diverse fields to be the region’s social changemakers. ODA is where the continent’s young changemakers begin and enrich the dialogue to co-create history. ODA envisions a collaborative community of Asia’s young citizens who are exposed, equipped and empowered as actors on a global stage while deeply connected to the local expressions of our globalised world. The intensive five-day festival is the culmination and starting point of many initiatives across Asia weaving themselves together through the personal relationships forged by like-minded young leaders. ODA is an interactively designed process to facilitate learning and exchange between Asian young people. Visit the website 5) 14th International Youth Leadership Conference (Czech Republic) July 22 - July 27, 2007 The 14th International Youth Leadership Conference is a week-long youth forum on world politics, international relations and international law. The Most recent conferences welcomed 150 students from an average of 50 different countries worldwide, with a strong emphasis on cross-cultural, international youth empowerment, and an open-minded exchange of different perspectives on global issues. Participants play active roles in simulations of important world organizations: UN Security Council Crisis Meeting; International Criminal Court Trial; Model European Parliament Proceeding. The theme of the conference: "A cross-cultural exchange of ideas concerning the future of world leadership." Other conference activities include visits to foreign embassies, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Senate, group debates, banquet dinners, and free time to explore the beautiful streets of Prague. - here 6) Reach Out! Speak Up! Ignite Change Now: Global Youth Assembly 2007 (Canada) July 30 - August 4, 2007 The Assembly will explore global issues facing the world today, and educate participants on becoming effective agents of change in their local and global communities. This is also an exciting opportunity for youth from all over the world to come together and discover their potential as leaders who can make a difference! Visit TakingITGlobal 7) International Conference on Youth and Democracy in South Asia (India) August 12 - August 15, 2007 The role of young people is immense and vitally important in any democracy. As India celebrates sixty years of independence on 15th August, the Center for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA) in association with like-minded organizations will launch a 3-day international conference on "Youth & Democracy in South Asia". The objective of this program is to bring together, young people, youth activists and academics from different walks of life and deliberate on concerns and issues of democracy in the context of young people. Today there is an urgent need for young people to participate in the processes of development in all South Asian Countries. Although there are youth initiatives everywhere, it is important to bring young people together on a common platform to share their views and ideas about democracy as future leaders. The expected outcome is increased involvement of youth in decision-making roles in the democracies they represent. In a fully functioning democracy youth should become participants and a participant youth should understand the meaning of citizenship, polices and governance and have the acquired skills to voice their concerns and ability to make the system accountable. The Conference will aim to discuss that youth can and must participate not only in issues that concern them but also in the formulation of policies that affect them. Youth from South Asian countries as well as a few Asia Pacific regions will be invited to participate in the conference planned from 12 - 14 August 2007 in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Abstract submission: Every participant is expected to present a paper on any of a number of topics. Abstract of the same has to be submitted on or before April 30th 2007. The confirmed participants list will be announced on 5th May 2007. - here 8) International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP) International Symposium (India) October 29 - November 2, 2007 'Youth Participation and Empowerment - Getting beyond the Rhetoric and Slogans' Central to the building of strong, healthy and inclusive communities and nations is the active participation of young men and women. So often this participation is adult defined, lead and structured. In reality, it is quite tokenistic in terms of the scope and level of youth responsibility and leadership. ICNYP recognises that across the globe there are many exciting examples of where young people are designing and leading initiatives which are making a difference in terms of community and national life. This International Symposium seeks to bring together such young people with youth policy and program makers to share experiences, ideas and aspirations and to identify what motivates and sustains successful youth designed and lead actions. This Symposium is limited to 125 participants. It seeks a balance of 75% youth activists (15 - 30 years old) and 25% youth policy and program makers (all ages). The focus of the Symposium is listening to the experiences and ideas of young people who 'stepped up' and have made a significant impact on their societies through their actions. The critical outcome of the Symposium is a clear understanding of the type of policy and practice environment that supports and sustains young men and women to design, implement and monitor initiatives that make a real difference at both the community and nation building levels. More details on the symposium, and the application form: - here
Opportunities for Grants, Funding and Participation
1) A Grand Idea (United Kingdom) Submit your grand idea (and your 5 easy steps to turn it into a reality) to win £1000, with no strings attached. Your idea can be about ANYTHING - the environment, business, social good or just for fun. Several high-profile musicians, authors, athletes and entrepreneurs have already signed up! (they're all found on the website) Grand Idea to Make Your Mark is a national competition aimed at encouraging young people to have ideas and make them happen. The competition is run by the Make Your Mark Campaign in partnership with MTV and Fopp. (Open to 16-25 year olds inclusive) 2) Kurdish Human Rights Project Summer Internship (United Kingdom) KHRP is an independent, non-political human rights organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of all persons in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and the Caucasus. Founded in London in 1992, its supporters include both Kurds and non-Kurds. KHRP is currently seeking interns for the following positions: Development Internship; Legal Internship; Research Internship; Resources and Communications Internship. 3) Human rights research internship (India) FFDA seeks an intern for the period of at least three to six months who will be given practical opportunities and training on documenting, researching and reporting violations of human rights in South Asia. The candidate should possess strong documenting, researching, writing and reporting skills and be able to work well both independently and in teams. This position is unpaid, and any interested person can mail their CVs describing why their suitability for the internship. As this is a cross-cultural centre, internship holders are requested to respect each other's culture, ideology and opinion. Our internships are voluntary (unpaid): interns must arrange their own funding for the costs associated with their internships (travel, accommodation, living expenses). It costs USD 250 per month. Position open until filled 4) Development Gateway Foundation Photo Contest (International) The Development Gateway Foundation photo competition is open to ALL photographers at least 18 years of age. We are looking for compelling photographs of socio-economic development in developing countries. Four types of photographs will be accepted. 1) The images may show information and communications technologies helping ordinary people. 2) The images may show people making something, selling wares, working in a field, constructing a building or type of infrastructure, or acquiring knowledge. 3) The images could be abstract images representing hope, the future, or capacity building. 4) The photographs may also include images of original artwork from a developing country. Please do not include photographs of groups of people posing. Each entry must include a written statement explaining how that image is representative of development. Images will be judged on technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit. The top 10 photographs will be posted on the Development Gateway Foundation Web site. All visitors to the site will be able to vote once. The voting will begin at 12:01 a.m. on October 1 and end at 11:59 on October 8. The winner will be announced on October 9. Prize: $500.00. See the website for more details. Deadline for submitting entries is September 21, 2007
Your voice
Contribute to WYMD's Newsletter! We would love to hear more from WYMD members, and develop this newsletter as a forum for you to share stories, experiences, news of events etc. So please, if you have any stories to share, know of any events that might be of interest (international or national), or just want to share an experience of activism or participation, please send us an update so we can share this information with the other members! Please send any news, articles etc to wymd[at]youthlink.org or using our online feedback form