JUST FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS:My 2009 Fellowship with Dekeyser & Friends Foundation....Schlierseer, Germany

Life offers a multitude of exciting and wonderful possibilities– yet to find one‘s own way and belief in oneself is a lifelong endeavour. Especially young people are searching for meaning and are often left alone with it. On the other hand, experienced people would like to pass on their energy. What is often missing is a platform, which brings young people from all around the
world together with experienced and competent individuals to jointly engage in inspiring activities.

The Dekeyser&Friends Foundation aims to spread courage and optimism by becoming a central platform – offering unique experiences to young people, bringing them in contact with peers from different cultures and social backgrounds and fostering exchange between
them and distinguished personalities. Whilst the Dekeyser&Friends projects have very different
content – ranging from cultural to social issues, sports and start-ups – they all foster the same encounters and thereby trust, courage, respect, tolerance, optimism and
team spirit.

The goal is not only to inspire those young people but also to help them to become active personalities – changemakers – in their respective social environments.

Construct and restore a 17th century farmhouse at Lake Schliersee in the German Alps with 15 Fellows from all over the world starting in September 2009.

What did 17th century life in the Bavarian mountains look like? You can find out together with other Fellows from around the world. Together with Markus Wasmeier, I will restore a 17th century farmhouse with materials, tools and techniques originally used in these times. Together with the team I will rebuild the farmhouse from scratch and learn unique wood-crafting techniques and handicraft skills that are almost forgotten.

The Dekeyse r&Friends Foundation strives to create a platform, which allows young people from different cultures and social strata to have unique experiences, influential encounters and thus gain inspiration, optimism and courage for their own life journey.

Inspiration – Exchange of experiences – Courage

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NIGERIAN ROAD TO COPENHAGEN: Youth Voices

Dear Colleagues, friends and visitors,

Sequel to the on-going efforts of the Special Climate Change Unit of the Federal Ministry of Environment to seek stakeholders inputs into the Nigeria’s position, to engage the international negotiation process in Copenhagen. NYCC is seeking youths inputs on broad-based assessment of Nigeria’s current negotiation position in each of the Bali Plan of Actions at the UNFCCC as well as identify strategic gaps, and opportunities that can form an additional inputs into the on going negotiation positions for Nigeria and the Africa group.



MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD NOW! Remember that Our Climate is Our Future!

How has climate change affected you?

Do you think that the government can cutt down emissions by 2050?

What do you want Nigerian Government to do in Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change?

Please send your inputs to nigycc@gmail.com or post it on the NYCC facebook. page


These inputs will be shared at a forum organised by the Ministry of Environment in Abuja from August 20th - 22nd. The forum also provides an avenue for Nigerians to ask questions about issues of climate change and Nigeria contributions to the negotiation processes.




Sincerely

Esther Agbarakwe
Regional Coordinator, Africa.
UN Youth and Children Major Group

2009 Dekeyser & Friends foundation fellow

National Coordinator
Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition
NYCC

Induction into Actionaid Nigeria General Assembly: Youth Membership

Esther Agbarakwe was selected into Actionaid Nigeria General Assembly as a YOUTH member to work on area of Youth Leadership and Advocacy. This is a great honor.

Actionaid Nigeria is one of the Actionaid Country Programmmes around the World. Actionaid is an International Non-governmental organization registered in the Netherlands and Headquartered in Johannesburg South Africa.

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide. Formed in 1972, for over 30 years we have been growing and expanding to where we are today - helping over 13 million of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people in 42 countries worldwide.

The Induction of Nigerian Actionaid General Assembly members was held on July 9th at at Ibrahim Hall , Vines Hotel Abuja.

According to Dede Amanor-Wilks,A member of Actionaid International, The General Assembly is the most important part of Actionaid International with focus on accountability and decision making.

The members were drowned from Women group, youth and community development activist representing the six geo-political zone of the country,Among them is Esther Agbarakwe representing the youths.

Esther had also served as a volunteer to actionaid Nigeria under the Activista/HungerFREE Project.

Earth Charter Youth "Dialogue with the Elders Forum" on Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability in Nigeria

Sustainable development cannot be achieved in Africa without the establishment of an effective intergeneration partnership for sustainability among the young people and the other generation. If Africa has challenges today, these are mere preludes to the looming threats of tomorrow. The youth have deep stakes in the future and we are eager to contribute our quota. The future belongs to us. The youths are full of ideas and we are waiting to share them


Why do we not involve the young people from Africa? An environment where elders believed that they have the monopoly of knowledge cannot lead into a sustainable future!. “Provide all, especially children and youth, with educational opportunities that empower them to contribute actively to Sustainable development.” (Earth Charter 2000).

As a follow up to my participation at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development 17th session and in line with my Earth Charter Special Project, I am organizing a “Dialogue with the Elders Forum” on Intergeneration Partnership for Sustainability with grant from Earth Charter International on June 6th in Abuja.

The "Dialogue with the Elders" Forum is in partnership with Youth Aid Organization for Africa (YAOFA) and will focus more on the Earth Charter as a tool for achieving environmental sustainability and Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability among youths and older generations. "Based on the conviction that intergenerational partnerships are essential for achieving a just, sustainable, and peaceful world".


The meeting is aimed at bringing all youths in the Earth Charter Family to meet with Earth Charter Nigeria "Elders" as well as bring more youths into the Earth Charter Youth Initiative family and also inspire the formation of new Earth Charter youth Groups across the country. It will also afford us the opportunity to meet with invited guests who have a role to play in sustainability issues in Nigeria like the media, government and CSOs and people living in a community.

Date : June 6th 2009
Venue: Conference Room, Youth Aid Organization for Africa (YAOFA), 983,
Ahmadu Bello way, Opposite Legislative
Quarters, Apo, Abuja

Be there!!

UN CSD 17: From the Eyes of African Youth representatives

It is very instructive that Africa is one of the themes of the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. Africa is indeed faced with the worst global challenges to sustainable development. She has a whole lot of resources, but the question is: how are the youths from Africa involved in the process of tackling the problems of the continent? It is very important that we contribute at the UN CSD. Our marginalization in decision-making poses a threat to good governance and development, especially as most of Africa’s development challenges impact on youths.

Young people, who constitute the majority of the Africa's population, are an important force and partner in the field of global Interdependence. It follows, therefore, that youths are social actors who should be recognized as having a role to play in development and who are capable of carrying out projects and programmes in the field of sustainable development.

It is a fact that no African Government has a youth on their official delegation or even a youth representative at the youth Caucus except those funded by the German and Swedish governments or NGOs. Why do we not involve the young people from Africa? An environment where elders believed that they have the monopoly of knowledge cannot lead into a sustainable future!

“Provide all, especially children and youth, with educational opportunities that empower them to contribute actively to Sustainable development.” (Earth Charter 2000)
African Youths have a lot to contribute in decision-making processes but they are not supported by the adults except when making statements at conferences such as the CSD.

Barriers relating to demography – age restrictions, gender barriers, cultural factors and sometimes “extreme politics” exclude youth from decision-making. African Youth have limited time to develop skills and knowledge for decision-making compared to their peers from other regions. Therefore African youths should be given greater opportunities to participate in these decision-making because our opinion matters a great deal to our country and the world at large.

At the opening session of this meeting, the Youth Statement was delivered by Esther Agbarakwe, a youth representative from Nigeria whose participation is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Majority of Africa Women delegates have shown support to the entire youth representative from Africa, an indication of the strong bond between African mothers and their children. So these should be stepping stones the government and other stake holders should follow.

Sustainable development cannot be achieved in Africa without the establishment of an effective intergeneration partnership for sustainability among the young people and the other generation. If Africa has challenges today, these are mere preludes to the looming threats of tomorrow. The youth have deep stakes in the future and we are eager to contribute our quota. The future belongs to us. The youths are full of ideas and we are waiting to share them. Give us the space!

Esther Agbarakwe

Youth at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development 17th Session May 4th -15th 2009

Youth Caucus Opening Statement



UN Commission on Sustainable Development 17th Session

New York, 4th May 2009

Esther Agbarakwe.

Thank you very much Madame Chair.

“Swords into ploughshares, words into action”. My neighbors in Nigeria and other parts of the world have to use those ploughshares everyday to feed their children. Some are not aware of the UN's discussions, but their futures depend on the decisions made here at the CSD and, more importantly, your commitment to implementing them nationally.

We have a common responsibility to leave a better legacy for our children.

All stakeholders, especially youth, need to be integrally involved in the process of information gathering, decision making, implementation and review. While youth and other major groups are ready in service, only you – the country representatives – can make these decisions happen.

Through collaboration, we can empower local communities to engage successfully in sustainable development initiatives, using innovative solutions to deal with global challenges.

We do care about what you say here, but our lives depend on how you implement these policies at home. So practice what you preach.

The urgency is immense for taking action now.

We can make the difference that is needed to create a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

Thank you.

UN Commission on Sustianable Development CSD 17th Session, UN HQ New York

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established by the UN General Assembly in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit.

The Commission is responsible for reviewing progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; as well as providing policy guidance to follow up the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) at the local, national, regional and international levels. The JPOI reaffirmed that the CSD is the high-level forum for sustainable development within the United Nations system.

The CSD has opened its sessions to broad participation from both governmental and non-governmental actors, and it supports a number of innovative activities, such as the Partnerships Fair, the Learning Centre and a series of panels, roundtables and side events. The High-level segment features dialogue among Ministers, and Ministers also hold a special dialogue session with Major Groups.