Stand Up and Speak out

On October 16th and 17th , millions all over the world will once again Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty and inequality and in support of the Millennium Development Goals. The Stand Up Speak Out initiative is planned to coincide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. On this day last year, 23.5 million people stood up against poverty in a 24 hour period setting a new Guinness World Record.

This year the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the United Nations Millennium Campaign plan to mobilize people all over the world to break this record, urging millions more to join this growing global movement. They will demand that their governments keep their promises to achieve the Millennium Goals to end extreme poverty by 2015. From workers to students, women’s groups to community groups, people will call on political leaders to deliver more and better aid to the poorest nations, implement fairer trade conditions, cancel debt, ensure gender equality as well as greater transparency and accountability from their governments.

They will stand up and challenge the world record
Events are being planned in over 100 countries. These will range from major rallies and concerts to gatherings in school assemblies, town halls and refugee camps. Participants will be asked to register for the Guinness challenge in the 24-hour period from 9pm GMT on October 16th to 9pm GMT on October 17th.
For more information on Stand Up and Speak Out events and a video reel from last year visit www.standagainstpoverty.org

They will speak through music, political meetings and using banners
A new piece of choral music, The Poverty Requiem, will be performed in a global chain of performances in over 25 countries. Delegations will meet politicians to present their demands to end poverty and on four continents International Women’s Tribunals on Poverty will be held to raise awareness of gender issues. Elsewhere, groups are making giant Banners Against Poverty with messages for leaders and later linking these on key global mobilization dates.

KIVA – Loans that change lives

Much too often reality of the world looks dark. We are watching the news and looking at the world, feeling that our arms are tied. As if the events on this planet are out of our control. Our planet is just too big and the problems far too irresolvable.

There are those however, who KNOW that they can make a difference, who know that it´s possible, who know that change is just beyond our reach. Some of these individuals started the organization Kiva. Kiva lets you connect with and lend money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can “sponsor a business” and help the world’s working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you’ve sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back. Thanks to the life changing technological progress we have made, also known as the Internet, Kiva can make, what used to be expensive and complicated, very simple and inexpensive.

People do want to make their own money and create their own life, their own happiness. And there are capable. Only in certain cases, just wanting it and being capable isn’t really enough. This is the reason I have fallen in love with this organisation. It is so simple. So easy. It’s actually so easy that I feel people could do it every day. I don’t how much the loans can affect people’s lives and their businesses in the long run, no one can guarantee that a business will continue to be successful. But without these loans a lot of them might never even have a chance to be.

The other day I got in to a discussion about the meaning of life…Just a simple lunch conversation. Those conversations often lead to more anxiety than anything else, however they get you thinking…And we do need to think about our world. Often. Life flies by and no one can really guaranty what happens next. But don’t we want to feel like we made a difference and made something good in our lifetime? This I guarantee: You CAN change the life for at least one person somewhere in the world. You could be the difference between happiness and misery. You could give love and support, which will lead to someone’s happiness. That, if nothing else, gives a major meaning to your life.

There is just enough happiness, food, money and much else…for each and every one of us. If only we make some efforts. There is absolutely nothing more worth it.

Quotes from loan givers:

“I loan because I can. Kiva makes possible and easy what was not, and I hope this can encourage more humanity in the world.”

“I loan because I want you to have the same opportunities as I do. Opportunities to build a future for my family in a way that will also benefit the community I live in.”

Mia Masnic

More information at http://www.kiva.org.

Event: International Youth Symposium 29 October – 2 November

Entitled, “Youth Participation and Empowerment – Getting Beyond the Rhetoric and Slogans”, this international symposium seeks to bring together young people and youth policy and programme designers to share experiences, ideas and aspirations and to identify what motivates and sustains successful youth-designed and youth-led actions.

This Symposium seeks a balance of 75% youth activists (ages 15-30) and 25% youth policy and programme makers. The focus of the Symposium is to listen to the experiences and ideas of young people who have stepped up and have made a significant impact on their societies through their actions.

For more information on the symposium, please visit http://www.bankofideas.com.au/Goa

Being an empowered and inspired leader

My name is Lina Eggemar and I am 31 years old and live in Stockholm, Sweden. Since my teenage years I have been interested in and trained myself in personal growth and leadership. My passion is exploring new possibilities and ways to grow and contribute to the world around me. I started my own business app 10 years ago and work as a coach, empowering and inspiring young people in realizing their dreams and ideas, www.tuffaungdomar.se
I have engaged in questions for personal and global growth together with lots of people from various backgrounds, ages, countries etc.

In the end it seems to me that all roads lead to Rome; that we are here to wake up, to enjoy life and to make a difference. We are living in a challenging and exiting time and it is up to us to co-create the life and future that we want. I see young people as a great resource for the society and the world. We are the natural leaders for the future – now! Therefore I want to contribute what I have learned so far about being an empowered and inspired leader.

Cornerstones for being an empowered and inspired leader

1. Building physical and practical workability
2. Being emotionally sensitive
3. Creating an inspiring vision
4. Making empowering connections

Building physical and practical workability
The reality we live in is made of matter. Our own body is the physical vehicle that makes it possible to experience life. The body is a complex system that requires specific care and conditions to function well. To be able to build a sustainable development for the planet it is necessary to build a sustainable development for our own bodies. The better we take care of our own bodies, our personal physical system, the better we can take care of the world around us. When our basic needs of shelter, food, sleep, exercise, clothing, relaxation, safety etc. are met we can also give our attention beyond ourselves. To pay attention, listen and adjust to what the body wants and needs is the foundation for physical and practical workability.
Our lives and societies are built up by practicalities. Loose ends and unresolved practical issues take energy. Being well organized is not an end in itself but a prerequisite for being efficient in making a difference. Building physical and practical workability is an ongoing work that often requires focus, time and patience. But it also pays off immediately, through an increased sense of security, clarity and ease.
Questions for physical and practical workability:
How does my body feel right now? What does my body need and want right now? How can I organize my life in a way that empowers and inspires me?
What support do I need in doing that?

Being emotionally sensitive
Emotions are an essential part of being human. As small children we expressed our emotions directly, spontaneously and freely. We cried when we felt sad, laughed when we felt happy and shouted when we felt angry. Emotions are soft and sensitive in their nature. As we grew up in a sometimes cold and hard world we started to hide our emotions as a way to protect them and to feel safe. In the end we ended up showing less of our emotions not only for others but also for ourselves. As a result we are often not fully connected with what we really feel. Still, the emotions are there underneath the surface and affect us. We might have learned that our feelings are wrong and in the way of getting on with things in life. But on the contrary, they are a vital force in us and when leaving them behind we also leave a big part of ourselves behind. Reconnecting with this essential and vital part of our self is necessary for real health, happiness and growth. First step is to acknowledge ones emotions and consciously connect with them. Since they are soft and sensitive in their nature our emotions require gentle care and respect to be understood and to function well. The better we learn to understand and deal with our own emotions the better we can understand and deal with other people and their emotions. Having compassion for ourselves and others makes a great difference. Our emotions can also be a valuable guide in making decisions, when we learn to know our gut feeling and allow it to show the way.
Questions for being emotionally sensitive:
How do I feel right now? What do I need to feel good? What does my gut feeling tell me?

To be continued. For questions and comments lina.eggemar@tuffaungdomar.se

Lina Eggemar

Young women taking over the reign

They say, “Today’s children are tomorrow’s future.” Simply meaning that if empowered and well nurtured at a tender age, people we consider as young today, tomorrow will be leaders of the nation in different aspects of life. To ensure that women take their rightful leadership role, there is a need to nurture today’s young women, now.

Across Africa, many young women are not being sufficiently empowered to realise their potential to contribute effectively to women’s movements and national developments. Women and men in decision-making and leadership positions today, at some point in their lives, will undoubtedly pass the torch to the younger generation.

Women are usually socialised to believe that their place is the kitchen and not public domain. We are brought up not to speak out, but let men speak on our behalf even on issues that directly affect us.

One just needs to look back at the recent elections in Zambia to see that there is a great need to develop tomorrow’s women leaders, if we are going to see a change in the decision-making landscape of the country to one of gender equity. Just 14 % of the 150 parliamentary seats contested went to women. At the local government level the situation is even worse – just 9.5 %.

Zambia failed to reach the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) target of 30% representation of women in politics and decision-making positions by the end of 2005, and is even further from the newly set target of 50 %.

It is for this reason that a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Zambia, known as the Young Women in Action (YWA), has come up with an initiative to empower young women, to help create tomorrow’s women leaders.

YWA Publicity Secretary, Precious Mooze said in an interview that young women still face a lot of difficulties in being accorded opportunities to fully participate in decision-making at the community, organisational, family and national levels.

She said the reason often given as an excuse is that young women do not have the desired leadership skills and experience to take up higher positions or adequate knowledge and information to articulate issues properly.

“It is a fact that a number of programmes have been tailor made for adults, particularly older women. This has led to an intergenerational gap and often manifests itself through problems of continuity in organisations when older women leave their positions,” said Mooze.

Even when it comes to voting day, women are often over burdened with social responsibilities such as cooking, looking after the sick especially with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, selling markets, looking after children. Traditionally, women, especially those in rural areas, believe that voting is a man’s issue and it is a sheer waste of time to them.

22-year-old Sanana Isiteketo participated in a training programme conducted by YWA. Isiteketo said that adults dominate most NGOs, but she wants to see a situation where young women are more involved. She said it is a challenge for young women to access opportunities to participate in decision-making positions, but through advocacy and lobbying relevant authorities, this can change.

“I feel great that I was given the opportunity to train as a young woman. They are a lot of things that I learnt which I did not know such as power relations and how young women can exercise power in their own right. We also learnt about NEPAD and the Africa Peer Review Mechanism, and how youth can participate, thereby contributing towards Africa’s development. This information was appreciated by most young women including myself because a lot of us did not know about it.”

Mooze added, “YWA also works with young men aged 15-35 as associate members. YWA believes that today, it has been difficult for men the world over, to support women’s cause because of their different believes and the lack of knowledge on what gender is as regards development.”

She said the organisation hopes to produce a team of young women as trainers, construct a training centre and resources centre for young women’s entrepreneurship skills and a well-established YWA Secretariat where young women will be able to source knowledge.

By training young women in Zambia, and in all African countries, we are equipping a new generation with the knowledge and skills to bring their countries forward. After all, once we are gone, who else is there?

Perpertual Sichikwenkwe

(Perpertual Sichikwenkwe is a journalist in Zambia. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service that provides fresh views on everyday news.)