We gracefully solicit your participation at our 4th Global Youth Conference 2009 tagged “Understanding Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation” scheduled to hold between the 3rd and the 4th of March 2009 at the British Council Abuja.

The 4th Edition is proudly being organized in conjunction with Young People We Care, Ghana. Young People We Care (YPWC) is a youth led and youth focused organization that is headquartered in Ghana and has satellite offices in the UK, USA and Canada. The organization is operated by young people (ages 15–30) and adult allies working on youth and development related issues worldwide. Further details on YPWC can be found on www.ypwc.org

Youth for Transparency International (YTI), the 2008 CIVICUS Nelson Mandela-Graca Machel innovation awards winner, is the major organizer of the event after three successful hosting of the previous editions. YTI is an international non-governmental, non – profit organization established in January 1998 by Theodore Ogbonna.

YTI is dedicated to contributing innovatively to the task of nation building through promoting democracy, good governance, rule of law, human rights, equitable sustainable development, ICT education, human capital development, and ethics in corporate governance. YTI hosted the 3rd Global Conference on Democracy & Political participation 20th -22nd Feb 2007 at the British Council Lagos, Theme: Accountability: Achieving participatory governance – From the foregoing we have moved ahead to consolidate on our Programmes on Democracy and Political Participation to further organize subsequent Programmes that seeks to bring out critical issues on good governance in Nigeria .

The 4th Edition is aimed at:
• Aacquainting participants with the elements of a good governance and civic responsibility
• Equipping participants with the understanding of the roles that governments, Non Governmental Organisations and citizens can play in good governance
• Building youth capacity as a means of preparing the youths to assume leadership roles as positive change agents in their community
• Equipping participants with alternative leadership programme in response to declining quality and content of our leadership culture in term of widening gap between the governed and the governors

Pedagogy

This conference will provide an opportunity for focal discussion on the critical issues of enhancing greater understanding of democracy and representation by the people themselves for better public policy and practice.
The conference will critical highlight key constraints faced by the citizens and civil society in engaging with government for effective participation and explore ways in which to overcome some of these challenges. By focusing on participatory governance at the local level we are more likely to achieve a better democracy.
It will be a public event based on open interactive sharing and learning through presentations

Expected result:

The first major impact we expect is that, participants will acquire a better understanding of legislation and new leadership culture based on pragmatic servant leadership, enhance participatory governance and civic responsibility, encourage local development driven through transparency, accountability, inclusion and collective responsibility.
It is also expected that participants will be inspired to become agents of change in fostering good governance, considering the new challenges that maybe thrown up in the intervening years with our emerging democracy and political trends development in Nigeria.


Speakers expected are:

1.Adam Giambrone - Former President New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP), Chair - Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), - International Guest Speaker.
2.Hon. ‘Femi Gbajabiamila- Minority Leader, Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, Nigeria.
3.Mr. Michael Boampong- Executive Director, Young People We Care Ghana
4.Representative of the Friends of Africa Foundation


…and a host of others

We look forward to your to having you.

Best regards
For: The Conference Organizing Committee


‘Kayode Ajayi-Smith
Youth Opportunities Coordinator
Young People We Care
www.ypwc.org