International Youth Day 2015

“In this landmark year, as leaders prepare to adopt a bold new vision for sustainable development, the engagement of youth is more valuable than ever. At this critical moment in history, I call on young people to demand and foster the dramatic progress so urgently needed in our world.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

IHBG invites you to praise youth everyday but especially today, on 12th of August, when we can unite for celebration across the globe  on International Youth Day! This day was endorsed by UN in 1999 after the proposal in the World Conference of Ministers Rosponsible for Youth, Lisbon in 1998

Each year the International Youth Day has a theme and 2015 is all about youth and civic engagement. This topic is very important because in most of the places all over the world young people are either not encouraged or not able to participate in political, economical and social activities. Especially young women.

Young people are energetic and full of ideas and solutions when taken seriously. There are many examples on how young people can contribute to their community and improve life quality to many. One of the brightest examples is Malala Yousafzai that is known worldwide for her work and achievements and she only recently turned 18, Pakistani girl that is not only political and women's right activist but also a proof on what youth is capable of. There are countless other not so famous stories of young people who are improving life of many, fighting poverty and bringing their community towards sustainable development all across the globe. Our task is to create awareness and let young people know that they can be part of a positive change.
The change can be big or it can be small but it is still worth to create it. You can start to build something right here and right now. Just like this blog, few young activists wanted to empower girls and women all over the world to be proud of who they are and they created this blog five years ago and it keeps running, growing and changing because this is what young people do!

Here is a heart touching and inspiration story from South Africa that shows how life can be changed when there is given encouragement and opportunity to a young person.

Inspirational International Youth Day,
Always yours,

IHBG

WSYA Power 2 Women: Moraba / Mxolisi

As you should know by now, I ♥ Being a Girl received one of the 2012 World Summit Youth Awards. The award showcases the best ICT solutions made by young people that moves us closer to achieving the MDGs. Ours is - obviously - in the category Power to Women.
As we are far from being the only ones doing things around gender via the internets and such, here you have some more:   
 

Name: Mxolisi Xaba, Moraba, @afroesgames

I enjoy football, contemplative and introspective conversations, and being in the field taking social messages to youth challenging them to interrogate the choices they make for themselves.

Moraba came around because there was a need to begin to address young boys who were inheriting and receiving false messages and definitions around how to relate to their female counterparts. We were conscious that, although we wanted to address young boys with our intervention, we also did not want to make it exclusive to them because the most important attribute of our application is the fact that girls have a space in what is incorrectly considered a a male domain (gaming) to challenge these misconceptions through game play around issues of equality, forms of abuse, expectations in relationships, consequences of abuse, rights and responsibilities of persons. What we subsequently found after users engaged Moraba was that Moraba provided a platform for youth to engage each other on issues and questions they had regarding their gender roles. 

Moraba Gender Game from Phil G on Vimeo.
You can download the game here!

The idea and the implementation has proved itself to be so compelling that Al Jazeera has given them coverage!

Listening to the music of Basement Jaxx vs Metropole Orkest, Buena Vista Social Club and Ladysmith Black Mamabazo would make the world a better place.
So would reading the Bible, selected speeches of Marcus Garvey and a Biography of Yourself.
And watching the movie I don't ... a movement (1, 2) by Thuli Thabethe and Nonkuleko Ndlovu.
Trying to say nothing (keeping quiet, you know) for a week would do, too.

Before I'm 80 I would like to forgive those who have hurt me and be forgiven by those I have hurt.

Happy, healthy & hot (Darshini)

Darshini talking about the role empowerment and comprehensive sexuality education play in HIV prevention.