YOUNG PEOPLE WE CARE SELECTED AS REGIONAL LEAD AGENCY FOR
2010 GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY
KUMASI, GHANA – 25th February 2010 – Young People We Care (YPWC) together with its affiliates and other interested organizations will mobilize more than 15,000 children and youth to participate in the 22nd Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) from Friday, April 23 through to Sunday, April 25, 2010, across West and Central Africa.
GYSD is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning. Established in 1988, GYSD is the largest service event in the world and is now celebrated in over 100 countries. During GYSD children and youth address the world’s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments.
“The fact that millions of young people are offering their voluntary service for their communities and the world at large means a lot in helping to change the world and sends a powerful message of hope and healing around the globe,” said YWPC executive director, Sally Appiagyei-Frimpong.
Young volunteers will address important community needs through service and service-learning projects addressing climate change, education, literacy, poverty, human rights, and many other issues.
“Global Youth Service Day is a wonderful opportunity for young people to contribute to community development and re-echo the importance of youth-led development in making our world a better place to live,” said Mr. Alexis Dery Danikuu, board chairman of YPWC.
As a Regional Lead Agency, YPWC received a grant to coordinate regional GYSD projects to promote the idea that children and youth are assets and can be valuable resources in their communities. Following some preparatory planning with our affiliates, National Lead Agencies and Local Organizers, on the 1st of April 2010 YPWC will launch the GYSD. During the 22 days of activism and activities that will culminate in the GYSD, YPWC will organize street parades in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, a forum on the MDGs and youth volunteerism, TV and radio discussions, as well as urban clean-up exercises. We will also call on a number of important figures including the Ministers of Youth and Sports, the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the Mayor of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly. These events are geared towards creating awareness of the GYSD and inspiring young people and other interested citizens to create events and volunteer in their communities from April 23-25, and are expected to bring together all relevant stakeholders in the areas of child and youth development and volunteerism. YPWC will motivate and support its regional partners to do the same with the limited resources they might be able to mobilize in their respective countries.
Youth Service America President and CEO Steve Culbertson commented that: “The diverse agencies participating in Global Youth Service Day all have the common goal of providing children and youth with opportunities to serve their communities. These organizations are committed to addressing local, national, and global needs and demonstrating that young people can be part of that change.”
GYSD is coordinated by Youth Service America. For more information about local events or to get involved, as a National Lead Agency, Local Organizer, Volunteer or Sponsor of events please contact Young People We Care at Phone: +233-244-212953; Email: gysd@ypwc.org or visit www.ypwc.org.
To learn more about the GYSD projects occurring around the world, to register your own GYSD project, or to find project planning resources, visit www.GYSD.org.
Youth Service America (YSA) improves communities by increasing the number of and diversity among young people, ages 5-25, serving in substantive roles. Founded in 1986, YSA supports a global culture of engaged youth committed to a lifetime of service, learning, leadership, and achievement. The impact of YSA’s work through service and service-learning is measured in student achievement, workplace readiness, and healthy communities.
Young People We Care (YPWC) is a youth led and youth focused organization headquartered in Ghana with satellite offices in the UK and Canada. The organization is operated by young people (ages 15–30) and adult allies working on youth and development related issues worldwide. Our mission is to educate and inform youth on global issues, inspire them to take action, encourage their participation in global issues, identify and build sustainable partnerships aimed at youth development and provide young people with tools and resources for effective action. Our vision is to provide a ‘youthful voice’ that seeks to address the numerous challenges facing young people by effectively using young resourceful minds to influence the course of global policy formulation and development in a consistent and harmonized manner.
