World Youth Movement for Democracy

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World Youth Day for Democracy - October 18th Get ready for this year's World Youth Day for Democracy! Last year, young democracy and human rights activists around the world rallied on October 18th,WORLD YOUTH DAY FOR DEMOCRACY of the Global Youth Democracy Campaign, to mobilize, educate and raise awareness around issues of youth empowerment, political participation, democracy and human rights. This year, we want to invite all participants of the WYMD to contribute by planning an event on this day! We will soon have a website with ideas for action and a form for you to register your event, but we encourage you to start thinking now about what sort of activity your group has the capacity to organise. Some potential activities include: - A discussion or forum promoting the political particiaption of youth - A rally, peaceful demonstration or vigil in support of democracy activists suffering persecution. - Media outreach on the issue of human rights, press freedom etc. - Cultural activities, such as music concerts, art exhibits, theatre etc that promote non-violent and pro-democratic messages. Check out the World Youth Day for Democracy page for ideas and inspiration! Share your ideas with other members through WYMD Chat. Join WYMD Chat - Join our e-forum for exchanging news, resources, ideas and experiences. Share knowledge gain information and ideas, or just meet other WYMD members online. Get started by sending an email to ymdchat-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org Check out WYMD's new and updated information! NEW - Events - Check out this new page containing news of major international youth and democracy events all over the world. This page will be updated frequently, so keep checking for new events in your country or region! Updated Resources Page - Our resources page has been updated with new information and links to essential toolkits and interesting articles. Includes new articles on fundraising, community projects, mobilizing at school, and social justice to give you fresh perspectives, inspiration and ideas on how to mobilize and what can be achieved.

Upcoming Events

World Festival of Peace, Brazil - September 9, 2006 The World Festival of peace would like to gather people and institutions that are in synchronicity with the culture of peace and to offer the planet the alternative of choosing a new road towards the creation of new realities. In our understanding, the celebration that a festival invites, is the best way of summoning hearts and minds to rethink the chosen models and the relationships at all levels of ecology, be it personal, social or environmental. World Youth Peace Summit, Jordan - September 11, 2006 From September 11 to 15, 2006, youth leaders from all the nations of the world will assemble at the Dead Sea in Jordan for the World Youth Peace Summit. The Historic gathering - under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II will recognize the importance of this date, and in partnership with Chat the Planet will include a live link between 'ground zero' in New York City and the Summit in Jordan. Chat the Planet is a new vision of how television, the Internet, and a network of global partnerships can create compelling television programming, and a vibrant global community of youth conversation and a culture of civic engagement. Attendance is strictly by invitation only. Apply online at www.application.wyps.org To Speak, Participate and Decide: A Day of General Discussion on Children's Right to be Heard UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Switzerland - 15 September, 2006 The Committee on the Rights of the Child is devoting a Day of General Discussion on the theme of the child's right to be heard particularly in areas of justice and in school and social structures. The meeting is open to NGOs, children's organizations/networks, UN agencies, governments and other interested individuals (no funding is available to assist in participation). To find out how to participate and for more information, visit the event website or contact CRCgeneraldiscussion@ohchr.org. International Day of Peace - September 21st, 2006 The International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of Peace on a shared date. International day of peace website has more information on the day of peace, as well as events around the world and ideas for celebrating. People To People International Global Youth Forum, 2006, United States, November 11, 2006 PTPI's Global Youth Forum (GYF) returns to America's Heartland, Kansas City, Missouri, the home of PTPI World Headquarters. Students between the ages of 13-18 will learn skills to enhance international understanding, humanitarianism, education and leadership. Confirmed participants/speakers include, actor Gary Sinise; Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill; and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Craig Kielburger. For more information, contact ptpi@ptpi.org. Check out the WYMD website Events page for more events around the world

Highlighted Articles and Stories

These articles on youth activism and democracy include accounts of personal experiences of activism, issues and challenges involved in organising, and suggestions on how these challenges can be overcome. Also included in this section are interesting articles or stories on issues related to activism and democracy.

Grassroots Activism - Ordinary People Making an Extraordinary Difference - English - From CIVICUS By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary-General and chair of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) Describes one person's experience of a township's attempts to organise in post-apartheid South Africa for Human Rights Day - a day of remembrance. The article also discusses difficulties of organising under apartheid, and is an account of how people with limited means, and even in the face of severe adversity are able to organise and participate in positive activism.

Forum Focus: Countering Structural Racism - English - From The Forum for Youth Investment A series of short thought-provoking articles on racism in movement building, and how racism can easily be overlooked or ignored. The articles also contain ideas on how to combat problems, steps that can be taken, and suggestions to make members more aware of racial issues. Contains models, and advice on how to incorporate anti-racism into a movements' structure without detracting from the main focus of the movement. Check out WYMD's Resources Page for toolkits, guides, and more articles.

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@youthlink.org.