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| ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: TOWARDS A MORE WHOLISTIC APPROACH |
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The CSD is a case in point in the involvement of youth in the decision-making process. Youth caucus delegates share the floor with government delegates and are also empowered to make interventions and share experiences and priorities of youth working at the grass-root level. Youth at CSD also meet directly with their governments to ask how their countries’ sustainable development commitments are being fulfilled and lobby for increased ways and methods for youth to nationally implement policies of sustainable development.
II. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Youth Advisory Council
The Council works closely with UNEP on environmental issues, UNEP decision-making processes, and UNEP programme development. The council members support UNEP in enhancing environmental awareness and act as ambassadors for the environmental conscience of young people worldwide. The UNEP TUNZA Advisory Council aims to increase youth participation in UNEP through developing environmental policy, advising UNEP on ways to involve youth in UNEP’s areas of concentration, and advising UNEP on the development of regional initiatives and the UNEP Children and Youth Program
III. United Nations Volunteer Small Grants Scheme
The UNV MDG Small Grants facility aims at providing a window for the direct participation of volunteer-based NGOs, local communities, and other volunteer-involving organizations in activities that further the achievement of Millennium Development Goals. The MDG Small Grants facility is rooted in the belief that global environmental problems can only be addressed adequately if local people are involved and that with small amounts of funding, local youth communities can undertake activities that will make a significant difference in their lives and their environment.
IV. MDG Youth Campaign
The MDG Youth Campaign was launched by the United Nations Vietnam Country Team in 2003. The initiative has drawn the attention and support of thousands of Vietnam’s youth in helping to achieve the Goals. Thanks to the campaign’s series of initiatives, to the receptive interest, and the opening support from the youth union, government agencies and bilateral donors, youth in Vietnam are now more aware of the MDGs and the country’s current development challenges. Many youth, thus, are effectively contributing to the achievement of the MDGs.
In forums where youth enthusiasm and dynamism have been channeled effectively, exemplary results have been achieved. Countries like Vietnam which have effectively sensitized their youth to the MDGs and related development issues are in the best position to achieve the MDG targets by 2015
India: A case in point
India is striving to achieve the MDGs by adopting policies and conceptualizing frameworks that integrate the diverse resources of the country into cohesive and workable units capable of being directed towards achievement of the MDG’s. The table below clearly depicts that the Tenth Five Year Plan of India has set some key targets on the basis of the established MDG targets.
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Tenth Plan Targets:
Target 9: Reverse loss of environmental resources Increase in forest cover from 20.6% in 2001 to 25% by 2007 and 33% by 2012
Target 10: Halve proportion people without safe drinking water by 2015
Cleaning of major polluted rivers by 2007 and other notified stretches by 2012. All villages to have sustained access to potable water by 2007
Target 11: Improve lives of 100 million slum dwellers
These efforts will however prove futile to combat strategic challenges posed by global climate change, burgeoning pollution and diminishing water resources unless concerted steps are taken to secure and enhance active co-operation among various socio-economic groups and to facilitate greater involvement by the youth of the country.
Role of Youth: India
"No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline."
--Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations
Although India may not have yet “severed its lifeline”, it has nonetheless failed to facilitate and implement effective involvement of youth in the decision making process. No initiatives taken to strengthen and mobilize young people as partners in policy formulation have actually received the support of the government. A vast portion of the youth remains blissfully ignorant of the Millennium Development Goals and their import.
Suggested plans of action:
In a country as socio-economically diverse as India, it is futile to standardize measures to secure and enhance greater co-operation and involvement of the youth towards achievement of the MDGs. However, some valuable lessons may be learned from the successful international initiatives provided earlier. Some measures which must be adopted at the earliest include:
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Comments
Henry Ekwuruke | Feb 23rd, 2007
I understand you views, but I would like to add that making the goals are one and deserve attention, with all leading to one goal: To end poverty in its totality. Congrats!
sulpying soapstone carvings from kenya samuel omweri | Mar 11th, 2007
hi Ruhal,
i,m busines man from kenya seling soapstone carvings, is there any way we can sulpy you the oroducts from here?
thanks
samuel
community handcrafts assistane business samuel omweri | Apr 12th, 2010
Dear sir /madam
We are an artisans from western kenya who are looking for Business partnership and community development project,
Here in below is the information about our organization,
we wel come you to work together and make changes in our communities.
Tamokcub project is non profit organization found in Kenya Western part of the country, it is founded by local volunteers. It has hundred artisans who make various handcrafts e.g. soapstone carvings, wood carvings, baskets, bags, T-shirts, Jewelries and others.
The project has been devised to assist the development of a sustainable industry using those native resources that are readily available. Proceeds from the project go towards the project member’s children’s education and to raise the health of all the project participants.
This project seeks to blend the resourceful creativity of the Kenyan artisans with knowledge of western world marketing distribution brought to the project by an experienced business coach.
The vision is to develop a unique product line that will attract the interest of the world, be low cost to distribute globally and be high in unique skilled labour content but low in other production costs. The business developed must be capable of sustaining the group in the long term. With economic sustainability the health and education benefits will flow.
To meet this requirement the group is working on a unique handcrafts concept from various artisans within Kisii and neighboring. All the income generating we get from the sales 100% profit of the project will go the Tamoklub Committee, for the distribution in accordance with their constitution. In addition 50% of the project costs will be expended in the Kenyan artisan groups. The constitution and committee officers are elected by the general members annually.
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
This group which is found in the western part of country faces many problems of diseases mainly Malaria, HIV/ AIDS for example 88% of the community have Malaria 60% have HIV/AIDS their average life expectancy has nearly halved over a period of 15 years as HIV/AIDS has taken its toll. Children born with HIV/AIDS seldom live beyond age of 15 years.
The group’s predominant industry is agriculture. The group as a main central workshop and other various home workshops where they are making their products. The group rents their main workshop. There are no electricity, water or communication services installed. Their homes are predominately mud and stick buildings are still used.
Drought is becoming a problem as a primary issue with lower rainfall generally. A secondary effect on drought in the north and west of the country is forcing human and livestock movement to find grazing further south. Anthrax is a health issue associated with the livestock movements.
EDUCATION
Education is scarce, around one third of teachers in the rural areas have been lost to HIV/AIDS. The Kenyan government has decreed universal primary education but the reality on the ground is the cost of equipment and uniforms, the need for younger family members to take care of their sick members, and the lack of teachers, all conspire to make general primary education of the group’s children currently unachievable. Secondary education is rare.
So we highly welcome any organizations e.g. fair trade organization, N.G.Os and others to partnership with us to assist as in marketing, representing and developing our communities as it is stating from above. contact person Samuel Omweriemail. mumayouth@yahoo.com or tamokcub@yahoo.ca
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