Model NATO Youth Summit (Brussels 2012)

Source: http://www.natoyouthsummit.org/home.html

Dear participants,
It is our distinct honour and privilege to welcome you at the first edition of Model NATO Youth Summit (Brussels 2012):

“Political responsibility through leadership, innovation and strategic thinking in the XXI century”

Model NATO Youth Summit is first and foremost an ambitious project. With the aim of bringing together 29 delegations and a total of 221 participants from two continents, the summit is intended as one of the largest simulations of the NATO decision-making process. The participation of delegations from Baltic and Eastern European countries, alongside an impressive number of delegations from the United States, Canada and Western Europe means that Model NATO Youth Summit goes well beyond the inter-university and regional levels.

We have witnessed how tensions among civilizations, religions and cultures have inevitably grown in the last couple of years. Thus, it is essential to advance cross-cultural understanding and build inclusive societies. It is our belief that the youth play a crucial role in achieving these goals. We hope that the Model NATO Youth Summit will serve as a platform for young delegates, with different backgrounds, to share their ideas and to work together. Students from the 28 universities around the world will therefore have the opportunity to engage in productive debates, and to network during special events prepared for them.

Participating in Model NATO simulations unites us, and reflects our common interest in broadening our understanding of global problems, and finding enduring solutions to these challenges. Being able to respect differences of opinion, compromise, build consensus and negotiate, are important skills you will acquire, that will serve you well in every sphere of your life. Mastering the art of diplomacy is not easy, and empowering yourself with such an ability at this young age is admirable.

While looking forward to welcoming you to this event, please accept the assurance of our highest consideration.

George-Mihael Manea

 

Project Manager
NATO Youth Summit

For more details: http://www.natoyouthsummit.org/home.html

2012 UNESCO Youth Summit

The Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site is proud to host the 2012 UNESCO Youth Summit on 27th, 28th and 29th June 2012. The event promises to be a unique conference with young people coming from across the country.

Greenwich will be hosting many sporting events for the 2012 Olympics including the equestrian events in the Royal Park and attendees will be able to soak up the atmosphere of London as it prepares for ‘the greatest show on Earth.’ Don’t miss your chance to take part!

This will be an incredible opportunity to welcome people from across the world and to celebrate the unique beauty and importance of the World Heritage Site together with the collections and diverse cultural industries based here. 2012 also marks the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Site convention: the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 16 November 1972.

Read more: http://www.youthsummit2012.com/?page_id=34

2012 Algalita’s International Youth Summit

Source: http://www.algalita.org/ship2shore/2012InternationalYouthSummit.php

Algalita’s International Youth Summit engages students and educators from across the UnitedStates and around the world in action-oriented, solutions-based education about plastic marine pollution. This excitingSummit involves students in hands-on activities and projects that strengthen student leadership and speaking skills, promote environmental awareness, support educational curricula and spark local action. More information aboutthis program can be found on our website www.plasticsareforever.org.

WHO WE SERVE

Algalita works with students and teachers throughout the world to foster a greater appreciation of the marine environment, as well as an understanding of how plastic pollution effects marine life. The Summit’s objectives are to educate, motivate, and empower by engaging, mentoring, and overseeing youth leaders in launching action campaigns to reduce plastic waste in their own communities.

Educate – Giving students the information, tools and skills they need to become leaders in their communities. Providing teachers with improved curriculum and educational tools to teach students about issues related to plastic waste.

Motivate – Involving students in hands-on projects with measurable outcomes that lead to plastic waste reduction in their own communities. Inspiring local, national and international youth to continue seeking ways to reduce plastic waste in their own neighborhoods.

Empower – Preparing students to deliver presentations to community outlets such as a town councils, other schools, and local organizations. Growing and strengthening a peer network of youth leaders throughout the world committed to positive change.

2011 YOUTH SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

During the inaugural 2011 Summit, more than 100 students, 30 academic advisors, and 50 speakers and guests gathered in Long Beach, California. Student teams and their advisors represented 12 countries, including the Bahamas, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guam, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia. From the U.S., students and teachers traveled from throughout California, as well as Illinois, Indiana, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and South Carolina to attend in person.

Via webinar, participants represented 27 countries, including countries as far away as Brazil, Fiji, Israel, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Uruguay.

Creating awareness of the problem of plastic marine pollution and engendering a sense of responsibility are the first steps toward a long-term solution. Algalita’s objective is to provide information in a compelling manner that connects with students, teachers, and the public at large.

2011 YOUTH SUMMIT RESULTS & IMPACT

A team of junior high school students from The Pegasus School in Huntington Beach, California presented their project on local Styrofoam® pollution to the City Council. The council members were so impressed with the findings that they moved to ban Styrofoam® products from council chambers and asked the team to come back for a commendation for their efforts to reduce plastic waste.

Students from the International School of Lusaka in Zambia wrote and produced a music video for their original song “Change the World” and invited students from other schools to be part of the production. The song and video caught the attention of influential leaders in their country and has brought the topic of plastic pollution to the forefront of environmental conversations.

The four-member Gaia team from Canada staged an impromptu performance, commonly known as a “flash-mob,” in their school cafeteria. The purpose was to inform and educate their classmates about plastic pollution using the posters and signs they had created during the Summit.

Source: http://www.algalita.org/ship2shore/2012InternationalYouthSummit.php

 

Call for Applications:MOREMI Initiative Fellowship for Young Women in Africa!

Who is the most outstanding young African woman leader you know? Help us find her!

Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa (Moremi Initiative) is pleased to announce its call for applications for the 2012 Moremi Leadership Empowerment and Development (MILEAD) Fellows Program- to identify Africa’s most promising young women leaders.

The MILEAD Fellows Program is a one-year leadership development program designed to identify, develop and promote emerging young African Women leaders to attain and succeed in leadership in their community and Africa as a whole.

The program targets dynamic young women interested in developing transformational leadership skills that help them tackle issues affecting women in their communities and society as a whole- by equipping them with the world class knowledge, skills, values and networks they need to succeed as 21st century women leaders. Applications are welcome from young African women living in Africa and the Diaspora.

The MILEAD Fellowship will be awarded to 25 outstanding young women with exceptional qualities who have exhibited leadership potential in their community, organization, and/or profession. To be eligible for the one-year program, an applicant must be African, living on the continent or in the Diaspora; agree to participate in all required activities related to MILEAD- including a three-week residential Summer Institute in Ghana; and commit to a community change project. Applicant must be between 19 – 25 years of age. Specific requirements of the program and related dates are outlined in the application package. Please review program and application guidelines carefully, before completing your application.

Please note that this is not a full-time fellowship. Selected candidates may remain full time students or work full time for the program duration, except during the 3–week summer institute. The 3-week summer institute is an intensive and full-time residential program and all fellows will be required to attend. The rest of the program involves community-based, online and other distance activities.

We invite you to share this application information with the most promising young African women leaders you know- who have the potential to help transform Africa.

How to Apply: Application forms are available online at www.moremiinitiative.org or by request via email. Completed application form must be submitted with two letters of recommendation and CV. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted by email.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2012.

The deadline for completed MILEAD Fellows applications to be submitted for review is March 15, 2012.

Interested in applying? Download the 2012 MILEAD Application Form

For additional information go to:www.moremiinitiative.org or contact:

MILEAD Program Coordinator
GHANA

Email: info@moremiinitiative.org 
Tel: +233 302 770 736 or +233 242 901222

www.moremiinitiative.org

USA
Tel: +1 404 826 2942       

Email: partners@moremiinitiative.org 

www.moremiinitiative.org

Q&A: Who is Africa’s Top Young Tech Entrepreneur?

Gossy Ukanwokwe, is a 23 year old Nigerian based student ,and Founder and CEO of one of Africa’s fastest growing e-learning social networking site – Students Circle. Ukanwokwe, who is regarded as one of Africa’s top young Technology Entrepreneurs is currently completing a course in Management Information Systems at the Girne American University. Ukanwokwe is extremely passionate about Africa, Education and Technology.

1. Why did you create the social networking e-learning platform – Students Circle?

Firstly I felt that I should make it easier for students and learners to find resources they need for academic work because I learnt most of my programming by self-tutoring online and I found it difficult to get resources that are in a syllabus. However when I did, I didn’t have other students to study with. Students Circle solves both problems.

Secondly, with the growth in demand, rising costs of post secondary education, and a demographic bulge in the youth population, young adults are faced with greater pressures when making the choice to attend post secondary school and graduate school. These pressures makes it difficult for the average African to gain access to quality education or resources at a low cost.

2. How will Students Circle assist with the advancement of ICT in Africa?

We believe Students Circle will become a hub for all learners in Africa. ICT is one of the major disciplines on the network. We strongly believe that ICT has a role to play in the growth of the continent. If every African with a smartphone and internet enabled devices has access to ICT resources on Students Circle. Everyone can be a learner.

I had a conversation with my adviser at Girne American University Prof Beran Necat, he said he believes that Students Circle will be the perfect example for Africa to see how ICT can be used not just in Education but in every other sector, and I believe him.

3. How did you manage to secure funding for Students Circle?

Students Circle is currently self-funded.

4. What are your sentiments regarding the current educational system across Africa?

It’s a hopeful sentiment. I am looking at it from different aspects.

Incentives, Motivation, Quality and more for Educators: Are educators paid well enough to motivate them to give their best to students? This I believe affects the quality of what students get. Also in the aspect of quality, are all our educators up to date with training, current trends and theories?

Motivation, Attitude, Poise, Access and more for Learners: Do learners have access to high quality resources? Do they have the right attitude towards education? Do they have the right motivation to learn? Are they poised? The answers to these questions will differ for different African countries, but I am sure we can all agree that the score card on average will be less than 45%.

In the aspect of Technological Implementation, do African academic institutions place priority on technological implementation and integration into the system?

In the aspect of Infrastructure, do African academic institutions have all the right infrastructures, labs and tools that will allow them deliver their optimum?

5. How will Students Circle help to close the academic and digital divide in Africa?

Students Circle will close these divides not by itself, however by the single contribution of every African educator, learner, institution and the people in general.

We can do our best to ensure that the gap of quality of resources is closed. We will ensure that the quality of access is closed too. We are currently working with Encipher Group to have SCN (Students Circle Network) resources on every tablet PC that is sold to their market in Africa. This will ensure enough penetration and access.

In the aspect of universality, we are bridging that divide by bringing students from over 125 countries to come together and learn in a single platform. We are closing the gap of poise, motivation and attitude as well – by making education and learning both fun and social.

6. Did you ever imagine that you could be one of Africa’s Top Young Technology Entrepreneur?

Trust me, that’s a totally far thought. I have always wanted to be an Entrepreneur. I have always wished to solve real life problems by creating things. I am African as well, so I guess the equation can suffice.

7. What sort of content do you provide on Students Circle?

There are over 10,000 resources that are indexed on Students Circle. These resources are from some of the top universities across the globe. There are full courses, tutorials, outlines and projects. These resources are both in text, video, audio and video. You can actually start learning a few languages on Students Circle as well. We are expanding our disciplines to accommodate more. We currently have resources from Humanities, Business, Computing, Engineering, Medical and Health Sciences, General Sciences, Law, Social Sciences and more.

8. How do you market the website across Africa’s Colleges and Universities?

We just fully set up the new interface for the network. We are starting our focus on Africa. We will be reaching out to these colleges and universities in diverse ways. In all we will show them how Students Circle can benefit them. First, they can get a whole lot of exposure to prospective students by partnering with us. They can use our platform to kick-off their own e-learning initiatives.  They can use the resources on SCN to build on their own resources and in turn deliver more resources content to their students.

9. Do you firmly believe Africa can be at the forefront of Technology? What needs to be done to accelerate that dream?

Africa is the future. Africa is the untapped market of the world. Africa has made its contributions to the growth of Technology on the global front by generating such resourceful people who have contributed to the growth of Tech.

I think it’s time we all synergize from our different locations and places. Let us all assemble to deliver cutting edge solutions that will take Africa to the next level.

Orientation is also needed. Africans need to understand that African solutions and products are good enough to compete with Western ones. Once they embrace African solutions by Africans, a lot more will start to unfold.

Source of article: http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2011/10/qa-who-is-africa%E2%80%99s-young-tech-entrepreneur/