AFS Intercultural Programs’ Post

🌍 Today, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of UNDP's strategic partnership with the #EU! Although this partnership was formalized on 28 June 2004, collaboration began much earlier, in 1996, with a joint initiative supporting refugees from the EU. Together, we have worked towards common goals: advancing #peace and security, promoting #humanrights, and fostering #development to achieve the #SDGs. Over the past 20 years, our cooperation has spanned across more than 100 countries worldwide in areas related to crisis and fragility, governance, and environment. UNDP is the #EU’s No.1 development cooperation partner, including in implementing the #SDGs. Thanks to the #EU partnership, we're advancing development and human rights in #Montenegro!

🌍 Calling all changemakers! 🕊️Let's talk about meaningful inclusion and enhancing the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda in the Euro-Mediterranean region! #YPS The active role of young people in promoting peace has gained global recognition, marking a significant departure from traditional narratives. The passing of UN Security Council #Resolution2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, along with subsequent resolutions, underscores the pivotal role of youth in upholding international peace and security. However, despite their crucial stake in peace processes, formal youth inclusion remains limited, especially in conflict-ridden areas like Libya. 💡 From leveraging existing youth initiatives to fostering inter-generational dialogue within negotiating delegations, there are numerous avenues to enhance youth inclusion. We're calling for a shift toward broader notions of participation, ensuring young people are active stakeholders at every stage of the peace process. 🚀 Join the conversation and share your thoughts on how we can empower youth for a more peaceful future in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Together, let's pave the way for meaningful inclusion and sustainable peace! #YouthPeaceSecurity #EuroMediterranean #InclusivePeaceBuilding

Access to rehabilitation services and assistive technologies is about inclusion, dignity, equity, and human rights.

2000s: Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) With the start of a new millennium, EYIN became the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI). The 2000s saw the introduction of many programs CMY still runs today such as Reconnect (then known as Reconnect Young Refugees), the Youth Referral and Independent Persons Program (YRIPP) and the Refugee Education Partnership Program (now known as RESP.) ⁠ With 20 years as an organisation under our belt, CMY celebrated the milestone in 2008 with 'Many Voices, One Story,' a publication that details the history and work of CMYI at the time. You can find out more about CMY's history here: www.history.cmy.net.au [Image Description: The first image has a yellow background with black black text that reads "2000s. Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues or CMYI." Underneath the text is a group of young people holding hands. The next 5 images are collages of young people from throughout CMY's history. The collages are arranged to look like rows of film.]

🌍✨ Youth Engagement, Peace, and Pan-Africanism: A Path to a Brighter Future ✨🌍 In today's rapidly changing world, the role of youth in shaping peace and fostering unity across Africa has never been more crucial. Engaging young people in dialogue and action is essential for building resilient communities and addressing the challenges we face. Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the change-makers of today. By empowering them to participate in peacebuilding initiatives, we harness their energy, creativity, and innovative thinking. This engagement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, encouraging young Africans to actively contribute to their societies. Pan-Africanism serves as a powerful framework for this engagement. It promotes solidarity among African nations and emphasizes our shared history, culture, and aspirations. By embracing Pan-African ideals, we can cultivate a sense of belonging and collective purpose among youth, transcending borders and fostering collaboration. Let’s invest in our youth—equip them with the skills, knowledge, and platforms they need to lead peace initiatives. Together, we can create a harmonious Africa where every young person plays a vital role in shaping a peaceful future. #YouthEngagement #PeaceBuilding #PanAfricanism #FutureLeaders #AfricaUnited 🌟 Prof. PLO Lumumba Empowering Next Generation Ethiopian Youth Dialogue for Peace Association

Stories have the magical power to connect us, regardless of what journeys we have undertaken. They are passed down through generations, preserving what is precious for families and communities, sparking dreams and evoking emotions. Stories can move us to tears, help us make sense of the world in the darkest times, and allow us to celebrate moments of love and joy. A much needed good news moment - our team in #Greece has just released "Tales from Home," a collection embracing folk tales spanning from Afghanistan to Greece. The book underscores the importance of intercultural dialogue and serves as a testament to how the integration of refugees and the acknowledgment of our diversity can facilitate social cohesion. 📖 https://lnkd.in/ddapwu7v

Invitation to the Southern Africa Regional Consultation on the New Agenda for Peace ✌🏾 Dear Southern African Youth, It is my great pleasure to invite you to attend this virtual regional consultation and participate in this dialogue. Tomorrow, I will be speaking alongside the incredible Cynthia Chigwenya. The purpose of the virtual regional consultation is to gather your ideas, views and recommendations from you, young people actively engaged in peace and security initiatives in your communities and countries regarding the new Agenda for Peace proposed by the UN Secretary-General. 🇺🇳 🌍 The following are the goals of this consultation: 📌Combine and showcase the perspectives of youthful African peacemakers in the regional, continental, and worldwide conversation about peace and security, specifically focusing on the New Agenda for Peace; 📌Developing young Africans' understanding of global frameworks concerning the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda and how it intersects with continental norms 📌 Give young people involved in peacebuilding in Africa and around the world a platform to network with national, regional, continental, and international stakeholders working on the Human Security Division (HSD) agenda,with a special emphasis on encouraging the active involvement and participation of girls,women and persons with disabilities in the process.This platform will help them make a positive impact on peacebuilding. 🌍 please Join us in shaping the pact for the future!,Your voices matter! 🗓️ Date: 1st August 2024 ⏰ Time: 1000-1300 SAST/CAT 📍 Virtual [Zoom] 🔗Please register to attend using this link 👉🏿 https://lnkd.in/djvn_q_i #AU #peacebuilding #peaceandsecurity #regionalconsultation #southernafrica #SADC #youth #peacebuilders #yps #Afrcaunion #UN #consultation #youth #peacebuilders United Network of Young Peacebuilders United Nations AfricanUnion

INTRODUCTION OF THE ORGANIZATION The SCHOOL OF PATRIOT AND HIS PATRIOTISM IN AFRICA (EPPAF in French) is a peace and development movement working towards creation of a peace community, integral and patriot. It is an integral part of the World refugee international network for peace and acts in cooperation with people of goodwill on international and national level as a peace movement. The EPPAF is the largest International Peace structure, based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the way to open its doors around the world.. Since its creation in 2019, the EPPAF stood for peace education integrity of all and patriotism, entrepreneurship, agriculture, for globe independence, economic and social justice and development, for protection of the environment, human rights and cultural heritage; solidarity and support of those peoples and communities fighting for their voices, sovereignty and integrity of their rights, and against injustice.. The EPPAF has consistently adhered to the main principles and objectives laid down by his founder professor Ngena Elélwa Wa'énwa and is inspired by the United Nations charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the millennium development goals. As an NGO, the EPPAF cooperates with civil society community, governments and humanitarians agencies RINP, working on peace and development. The EPPAF initiates and cooperates in actions to revival hope, building peace, and change lives. It also acts in particular for social and economic development, the establishment of a new solution of the problem of injustice, refugee, and luck of joy in families for the recognition of every community freedom of choice; for the establishment of a new information and communication order between communities; in support of the broken hearts; patriots and people with disabilities on the basis of love, respect and cooperation to self-determination. In its activities and structures, the EPPAF pursues the goal of equal participation of men and women. The EPPAF believes that the solution of global peace and development problems is possible by enlarging the popular movement and raising the level of public awareness for the causes that generate war and poverty to the peoples. PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES The guiding principles of and objectives of the EPPAF- SMUAF are: ·        Organize seminars and conference debates on peace, human rights, and patriotism; ·        Create and build patriotism teaching centers; ·        Formalize the teaching programs of patriotism in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Africa; ·        Strengthen dialogue between political and civilian actors to consolidate peace and social cohesion. ·        Relive hopes by the divine word, ·        Restore patriotism to all citizens of the DRC and all of Africa through education of patriotism and building peace.   Thank you !

🌟 Global Forum on #Youth, Peace, and Security: "Arab Vision: Youth, #Peace and Security on the Global Stage" 🌟 #YPS is is critical component of SDF's strategic program of effective civic and political engagement; empowering young Palestinian leaders to participate in decision-making, negotiation, and peacebuilding. 🕊️ 🔹The forum, held in #Amman, Jordan featured participation from Arab League officials, Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports, youth sector leaders from across the Arab world, along with youth delegations and representatives from civil society and international youth organizations. Our colleague, Atta Khaled, attended the forum, representing #SDF, and participated in the dialogue panel on intergenerational dialogue. 🔸Peace and #security of youth remain our core programmatic concern. At the time Palestinian youth in #Gaza are being killed and targeted, we remain steadfast in advocating, collaborating, and engaging with stakeholders for urgent and sustainable actions of protection, participation, prevention, partnership, disengagement, and reintegration. MENA Coalition On Youth, Peace and Security Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa League of Arab States - General Secretariat UNDP in the Arab States region UNICEF Middle East and North Africa UNFPA Arab States

Have you ever heard about the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation? In 1946, 100 Swiss families and individuals bought the run-down Caux Palace as a place where Europeans, torn apart by hatred, suffering, and resentment, could come together. Hundreds of volunteers from across Europe helped transform the building into a center aimed at bringing healing and justice to a divided world. They took concrete actions, such as using the hotel as a refugee shelter and creating a space for advocacy and brainstorming, as explained by Jacqueline Coté, President of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation. One of their key initiatives is the Caux Democracy Forum, taking place this week, where Mercy Hands Europe, represented by its executive director Michela G. Maccabruni, has been invited. This gathering aspires to inspire, equip, and connect individuals, groups, and organizations in the pursuit of stronger democracies and human rights across Europe and the world. Organized by Caux Initiatives of Change in partnership with Initiatives of Change International, the Département fédéral des affaires étrangères DFAE (FDFA), UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (OHCHR), and other esteemed partners, including the Geneva Diplomatic Club for the Opening Ceremony, the Forum addresses the pressing need to revitalize democracy. At a time when democracy faces significant challenges, with growing conflicts and shrinking cooperation, this Forum focuses on bridging the gap between democratic ideals and their practice. This week, around 300 participants gathered from diverse backgrounds—NGOs, diplomats, lawyers, journalists, media representatives, people’s movements, governmental bodies, United Nations agencies, and unconventional actors. Among the speakers, we heard from key figures dedicated to making these values the bedrock of policy and practice across various sectors. These change-makers are confronting corruption, building trust, healing relationships, and developing inclusive economic approaches. Their work, our work, is foundational to fostering trust and cooperation, which are essential for democracy to flourish. Together, we are committed to making a difference. We heartily thank the speakers Jacqueline Coté, Raymond. Loretan, Thomas Guerber, Nada Al Nashif, Andrius Krivas, Maruee Pahuja, Sidra Raslan, Jonas Truneh , Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi, Ignacio Packer, and Sarah Noble. #CauxForum #CauxDemocracy #CauxDemocracyForum #Democracy #HumanRights #GlobalChange #InclusiveSociety #Integrity #Transparency #Accountability #SustainableFuture