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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

What does it mean "being young"? We need to acknowledge that it is different from country to country, from culture to culture, maybe even from family to family. While in many places there is a legal age, when you "come of age," start to vote, to drink, to have stricter responsibilities in front of the law, in many other cases these happen at quite different times. If in many European at 18 one is allowed to drive, drink alcohol, get married (except with parental consent when the age is 16) and vote, in the United States, driving can start at 16, voting and marriage generally at 18 (except with parental consent when the age is 15 or 16) and drinking at 21.

If you think this already sounds complicated, it only gets more complex when we leave aside the age definition and take a more cultural approach, recognizing that in many cultures as well as in practice youthness is associated also with practices such as engaging in a profession, getting married or leaving the household of your parents. Then "being young" can range from 6 to over 40. When you start working, when you get married, when you get to vote are all examples of "growing up". How about when you experience death, famine, dire injustice? Does that make people grow up? How about when you love and cross barriers because you follow your heart? Does that make you young, daring, and crazy?

Young people with energies, creativity, inspiration, openess and curiosity are indeed unjustly affected by violent conflict all around the world but also they are becoming more and more the protagonists for peace. Is this the good news of our times? There are certainly a number good reasons to believe it.

There is, now more than ever a wealth of information on peace, peacebuilding, human rights, conflict transformation. If 25 years ago there was no institution offering peace studies courses, now there are more than 20 offering peace degrees, and hundreds offering conflict transformation and peacebuilding courses. If not long ago youth were considered to be passive recipients of knowledge and societal education and perhaps occasionally revolutionaries now they are empowered to action in mirriads of directions. People Building Peace tells some of their stories. The Center for Peacebuilding International tells other stories of youth action in conflict. The Council of Europe (which is not EU! :) ) offers other chances for youth to learn, teach and become engaged in human rights promotion, youth policy decision making and social inclusion.

With all these things being said, we can only remember than choosing not do do anytihing is a choice in itself, and not acting might not be equal to 'do no harm.'

In and for peace,
Andra

FACTS ABOUT YOUTH

• Young people between the age of 15 and 24 make up almost one sixth of the world population. If you count young people and children (all under 24), they account for 40% of the world population;
• Almost 85% of the world youth lives in developing countries;
• 133 million youth are illiterate around the world;
• Youth make up 41% of the world unemployed;
• 238 million youth live less than $ 1 per day;
• Between 6000 - 7000 youth become infected with HIV daily;
• More than 300,000 youth are engaged in war as child soldiers.

EVENTS

• UNOY Study Session on Youth in Peacebuilding is going on right now in Budapest at the Council of Europe Youth and Sports Center. 30 young people from more than 20 countries are gathered there and explore peace models, share expeirences, networks and think about a better future.
• CIVICUS World Youth Summit. The CIVICUS Youth Assembly takes place from 16-18 June 2008 in Glasgow, Scotland and will build on the fantastic success of the 2007 Youth Assembly, with more extensive participation and even more delegate places. Delegates will again be assisted to attend, with accommodation, food, programme events and CIVICUS delegate fees sponsored. This year we are also delighted to offer a limited number of travel bursaries. Space is limited, and delegate places will be awarded to the strongest applicants from around the world. For more information, click here.
• SEMINAR “Promotion of Fan-coaching by the youth sector”
  When? 6-10 April 2008 Where? Europa Park, Rust, Germany
  Deadline to apply: before 27/02/2008
  I want to apply…
• STUDY SESSION: Beyond Norms - On Equality in Higher Education
  When? 20-26 April 2008 Where? European Youth Centre Budapest, Hungary
  Deadline to apply: before 9 March 2008
  I want to apply…
  

Thank you for sending your comments at andra@activeforpeace.org.

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