this whole gist has got me thinking you know. have been asking myself if we really have structures in place to support adolecent parents in the country to go on with their lifes regardless of what has happened to them. shit happens you know. if we dont do something for the teen mum believe me the child we grow up to fight the community. i just think they deserve support to move on with their lives, i feel for teen parents.
som guys no dey try sha!

ANNOUNCING YOUTH & GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAM - DESPLAY 2007/2008 COURSE

Youngstars Foundation, Jos, Nigeria with support from the National Endowment for Democracy, NED USA, is glad to announce the call for application from young people across African for our youth and good governance project beginning in January 2008 called DESPLAY. Democracy Series: Participation - Learning and Active Youths (DESPLAY) is a knowledge based and activity oriented youth program that brings together youths from different places to deepen their democracy knowledge and foster active youth participation in good governance processes. Since 2005, DESPLAY has directly trained over 150 youths from Nigeria and Ghana, and over 1000 youths indirectly through her peer education component called Passing it On.

As Africa strides to become the continent of our dream, governance and leadership remains one of the critical vehicles for achieving a better Africa. Different arguments continue on the subject of the continents growth and development, many questions continue to be asked on who will deliver the continent? Even as democracy slowly takes roots in Africa, her people are yet to enjoy average dividends from democratic actors. Increasingly, young people who remain the bulk of the African population and the emerging leaders are also concerned about the questions of governance, leadership and development in the continent. It is not farfetched to cite that from Liberia to Lagos, Abuja to Accra, Younde to Swaziland, Senegal to S. Africa, and Nairobi to Niger Republic, etc, young Africans are faced with many challenges that could be easily solved if government works. We are of the opinion that the land of Africa is not cursed, neither are our abundant natural resources reasons for wars, Africa is a great continent and great Africans are in demand to make it great! Transformational leaderships, genuine people based development programs and home grown reforms and governance are keys to the new Africa.

It is this view that fosters a new trend where youth activism is growing by the day all over Africa, young people are saying that we care, we are strategic stakeholders, we have some roles to play not in the future, but today, right now. And if you look all over Africa, you will see the promise of a new generation by the quality of initiative emanating from young people to improve the continent. DESPLAY is one of such program, it is our own way of saying, young people are working to become more active in making democracy grow, development more sustainable, leadership more responsive and accountable, human dignity and the rule of law more appreciated. This is what DESPLAY is about, over a 10 months period, 3 different semesters shall be conducted in different Nigerian cities where young people are empowered with practical skills required to engage the democratic process and the leadership question of our continent. DESPLAY is one program every emerging African leader needs to attend, maybe you are over the age bracket but you feel strongly about this issues, you can attend as an observer. Facilitators are drawn from the Academia, Civil society, Government and Social entrepreneurs. Yes, you may also wish to donate or support any aspect of this project, what is true to our heart is that Africa will work because you and I shall make it work! And yes we can!

DESPLAY semesters:
A DESPLAY semesters comprises (3) semesters of training schedule to take place every 3 or 4 months. That is, three (3) semesters in a year. Each semester last four (4) days and has two (2) phases. Phase one (1) is the 4 days in-house training, while phase two (2) is called PiO/MPiO (Passing it On/Mobile Passing it On) a very integral component of the project which allows participant to transfer knowledge gained into action.

Semester 1: Thematic focus is on “Understanding Democracy and Good Governance”. Where concepts of democracy, regime types, issues of democratization in Nigeria and other Africa countries are meticulously engaged.
Semester 2: Thematic focus is on “Participation”. Exploring what participation means to young people, what are our best strategic points of entry or getting involved, what are available tools of engagement among others.

Semester 3: Thematic focus is on “Leadership and Aspiration”, with special emphasis on how leadership impacts modern governance, vis-à-vis values hinged on character, ethics, vision, stewardship, followership, and model examples among others.

During DESPLAY 2007/8 program:
1. Participants shall attend 3 different semesters of 4 days each on democracy in different cities in Nigeria.

2. Participants shall also participate in the first Nigeria Youth Week on Democracy, which is designed to be the last Semester in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.

3. Selected participants shall intern at the National Assembly and other selected social institutions.

4. For participants who can afford it, there shall also be opportunity to participate in a learning visit to an Africa country practicing democracy.

5. DESPLAY offers unique opportunity to interact and network with youths from within and outside Nigeria, who are sure to assume leadership position across the continent over the next 15-25 years.

6. Certificate shall be awarded to successful participants at the end of the 3rd Semester among others.
Eligibility:
Young people interested in & active in democracy building, resident in any state in Nigeria and any African country, are eligible to apply. Age bracket 20 – 30 years only.

Participants Cost:
The National Endowment for Democracy – NED USA covers 90% of the program cost, covering accommodation, feeding, conference tools, transport subsidy, internship subsidy, among others. However, selected participants shall be expected to pay a token fee of only N4, 000:00 per semester or 12,000:00 for the 3 semesters to augment other component.

For foreign participants, accommodation, feeding and local transportation in Nigeria is covered by NED. However, foreign participants are responsible for their airfare to and from Nigeria. For those who would require a support letter to enable them fundraise, Youngstars Foundation is glad to provide such letters to ease fundraising process.

To apply:
Download application forms from www.youngstarsfoundation.org Entries closes December 20th 2007.

For Further Details:

Phone:
Bola +234 80 654 798 17
Edwin +234 80 359 648 95
Toyin +234 80 275 88686

Youngstars Foundation: building young people.
Int Office:
Chief Botmang House, A.M. Dung Str. Sparkling Junction, Dadin Kowa
P.O. Box 515, Jos Plateau State Nigeria
www.youngstarsfoundation.org
info@youngstarsfoundation.org

anyone disatisfied with current happenings in the country and ready to affect change in your own little way instead of just complaining? then here is a unique oppurunity to learn how Democracy works and how you can participate actively to build the nation of our dream. [i]if its got to work, its up to us to make it work.[/i]cheers!

have been wondering about the kind of Student Representation we have in this country, funny you know. looks like we dont have a say in how education is delivered, we are at the mercy of the school management. what has happended to the SUGs? something needs to be done. ABU crisis is still fresh, learnt students of Yola are at home and the experience of students who wrote the post UME exam for University of Jos wasnt funny at all.  in other countires student representation plays a key role in making positive changes for students, sadly the same cannot be said of our supposedly student Reps! is there nothing we can do about this as young people? how many more crisis will we allow to happen before we begin to take action? someone talk to me

Just recently the  National Congress of the National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN) was aborted due to unresolved crisis between rival factions in the Council with the new date for next congress fixed for 10th -13th January 2008.

This is not the first time the council has disgraced Nigerians. For instance it is on record that all youth forums organised by the Federal Ministry of Youths has witnessed poor organization. The just concluded World youth day celebration held in August 2007 at Abuja , comes to mind as participants at the event have continued to express their disastisfaction at the manner in which the council conducted itself. Participants Queued for long hours (like Refugees) to eat, camped at NYSC camp( not lodged) and the great "President Ben" , didnt deem it fit to have session  with Youth representatives at the event instead he paid courtesy calls! it was so bad that some participants had to fight to get transport reimbursement, it was a show of shame and we are told millions of naira was spent for the event. 

Maybe we need a National Youth Parliament instead of an epileptic Youth council.

Just recently the the National Congress of the National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN) was aborted due to unresolved crisis between rival factions in the Council. the new date for next congress has been fixed for 10th -13th January 2008. This is not the first time the council has disgraced Nigerians. For instance it is on recprd that all youth forums organised by the Federal Ministry of Youths has been poorly organised. The just concluded World youth day celebration held in August 2007, comes to mind as participants at the event have continued to express their disastisfaction at the manner in which the council conducted itself. Participants Queued for long hours (like Refugees to eat), camped at NYSC camp( not lodged) some participants had to fight to get transport reimbursement and so on. Maybe we need a National Youth Parliament instead of an epileptic Youth council.

Guess it is yet another oppurunity to test the intergrity of the new house i.e National Assembly. Senator Jubril Aminu should bow in shame for making the list of "Dishonourables". the whole world is waiting and watching,