The YES Campaign and the YES Country Networks are organizing many events,
activities and celebrations today to mark International Youth Day and its
theme of youth employment for 2003. Below is a selection of some of the
activities planned by members of the YES Global Alliance.

On behalf of the YES Campaign Office in Boston I take this opportunity to
congratulate the hard work of the volunteers and coordinators working on
today's activities. Everywhere the results of your hard work are bearing
fruit, and there is more evidence of that below. Let's celebrate
International Youth Day 2003!

Fred Clark

Pakistan

The Pakistan National Youth Service (PNYS), a province-wide youth
volunteerism program launches today from Lahore by YES Network Pakistan.
Ali Khan, YES Coordinator, says the national service program will
subsequently be extended to other provinces.

"A valuable national asset of 100 YES volunteers, all between 15 and 29
years of age will commit to dedicate a valuable part of their lives, a
period of one full year, to community service, to demonstrate their
capacity for involvement in societal change and uplift. This project will
also immensely contribute to improving the employability skills of the
youth of Pakistan."
Contact: Ali Khan < aliaccessed@hotmail.com>.

Namibia

YES Namibia is very busy today. The YES Namibia Coordinator is attending a
YES Regional Consultative Workshop from 12-14 August 2003 in Johannesburg.
The National Youth Council is also hosting a ICT/NEPAD conference from the
11-14 August 2003. In addition, members of the network are also holding a
press conference today involving different stakeholders in youth
employment.

One of the panelists will be the Minister of Higher Education, Training and
Employment Creation, Hon. Nahas Angula, the Patron of the YES Namibia
Network. Mr Donald Charumbira, the Secretary General of the World Assembly
of Youth is also assisting in the preparations and will also be a panelist.
The press conference will be broadcast on national radio networks,
according to Coordinator Samuel Agies Aochamub.
Contact: Samuel Agies Aochamub < info@youthcouncil-namibia.org>.

Argentina

Today, YES Argentina and partner organization Pastoral Youth is hosting a
Roundtable Discussion on Youth and Employment: Ideas and Proposals for
Public Politics. The event is sponsored by the government's National Youth
Directorate and the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences.

Coordinator Dacil Acevedo says the objectives of the roundtable are to
create a space for reflection and discussion on youth employment. "It is
also to share visions and strategies that will help generate public
policies that have a real impact in this area. Finally, we hope to help
reach a consensus between public officials and representatives of
organizations to develop concrete actions in this field."
Contact: Dacil Acevedo Riquelme .

Paraguay

YES Paraguay is organizing a public debate on "Poverty and Youth
Entrepreneurship" from a multi-sectoral perspective with the help of the
local UNDP office.

Organizer Mirian Nunez says the objectives of the debate are to analyze the
current situation from a multi-sectoral perspective. "We will do so by
considering the possibilities of entering the workforce and youth
entrepreneurship based on the realities of our population. It is a
population that is predominantly made up of youth who have few
opportunities to enter the labor market."
Contact: Mirian Nunez .

Tanzania

Youth in Tanzania will march in a Peace Rally for Youth Employment today,
according to YES Coordinator Kaanaeli Kaal. "Youth will carry posters
through the streets carrying powerful messages about youth employment, and
there will also be a variety of public debates and sporting activities",
she said. The day's events are organized by YES Tanzania lead organization
the Tanda Youth Development Association (TAYODEA) in collaboration with
other Youth NGOs.
Contact: Kaanaeli Kaal < kaanaeli@hotmail.com>.

Nigeria

YES Nigeria is participating in a day's celebration in Abuja, capital of
Nigeria. Celebrations are hosted by the Women's Development Center, and YES
Nigeria Coordinator, James Olawale Ajani says "this year's IYD focuses on
"Finding decent and productive work for young people everywhere". On this
International Youth Day, let us ensure that we young people are given the
opportunity to contribute to the development and the progress of this
nation."
Contact: James Olawale Ajani . Tel. 234-080-330
14234

Benin

YES Benin is organizing a full day of activities today. The highlight of
the day is the presentation of YES Benin's National Action Plan for Youth
Employment. Coordinator Honvou Toussaint reports that officials are
attending from a number of Ministries, local government and UN agencies. He
says the day's objective is "to awaken the awareness of development actors
on the situation of youth employment in Benin and to search for suitable
convenient solutions together."
Contact: Toussaint Y. HONVOU . Tel. +229 96 46 46

Albania

YES Albania is hosting a seminar today as part of a summer-long Work Camp.
Organizers report the seminar is focusing on the use of the internet as an
organizational tool. Coordinator Floriana Hima reports the activities are
organized by a partnership between Albania's National Youth Council, the
Albanian Youth Parliament, and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport.
Contact: Floriana Hima . Tel. 355 69 209 5487

Somalia

Coordinator Faiza Abdi Noor reports a celebration will take place today in
the Puntland city of Bosaso. "All youth organizations in the area of YES
Somalia along with the local UN office and other international
organizations have been preparing for a celebration."
Contact: Faiza Abdi Noor < faiza_abdi@hotmail.com>.

Guinnea Bissau

YES Guinea Bissau is holding a press conference as well as an animation
musical and cultural sports, according to Coordinator Algassimo Ba.
Organizations invited include all UN Agencies in Guinea Bissau, the
Ministry of Youth, NGOs, and the Chamber of Commerce, he says.
Contact: Algassimo Ba < algassimo@hotmail.com>.

Romania

YES Romania is hosting a celebration today with sixty young people from
twelve different countries. Coordinator Rodica Pop says "we are expecting
youth from Romania, Moldovia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic,
Italy, Spain, Scotland, Holland, Macedonia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Nigeria and
Egypt. They are all in town for the 4th Session of the Young General
Assembly."

South Africa

In South Africa, a three-day Regional Consultation Workshop on Youth
Employment starts today in Johannesburg. Hosted by the Youth Development
Network (YDN), this workshop forms part of YDN's Regional Support Plan
(RSP). This plan seeks to promote and stimulate youth employment in the
region through various targeted initiatives. The main aim of the workshop
will be to win collective support on the implementation of the plan. YES
Networks from Southern Africa will be participating in the workshop.

Organizer Hlanga Mqushulu says "the support for this process from the YES
Country Networks has been tremendous."
Contact: Hlanga Mqushulu .