INTERNATIONAL YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT FORUM
IYDF
Email: iydf@worldassemblyofyouth.org
Website :
http://www.yahoogroups.com/iydf_hq
International Youth Development Forum IYDF
CHARTER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FORUM
IYDF
We, gathered here in Braga, Portugal after the third session of the World Youth Forum agree to bind ourselves together for the purpose of setting up an International Youth Development Forum (IYDF)
The Organisation shall be based on the Braga Youth Action Plan (1998) which we have adopted and modified to chart a new course for Youth participation in human development. This we believe is the prerequisite for the development of mankind as a whole.
DEFINITION OF STATUS
International Youth Development Forum IYDF shall be an international Organisation. By “International” we mean it shall be global and membership shall span across Youth of all the nations of the world.
IYDF shall be a “Youth” organization. Youth we define as that period between the ages 15– 35 years. Our membership shall be open to all young people who fall within these age specifications. This is without prejudice to any other interpretation of the term.
Development is a progressive series of changes in an orderly, coherent pattern. It is a process in which the internal physiological changes and the psychological process stimulated by them are integrated (or responded to) in a way which enables the individual to master further and a new environmental stimulation.
We believe that development is not merely charge in physical size or proportions. Instead development is a complex process of interfacing many structures and function. We therefore classify development into four:
Classification of Development
- Physical Development
- Emotional Development
- Mental Development
- Social Development.
Hence, in other to achieve the objective of sustainable development we give to ourselves the mandate areas in:
MANDATE AREAS OF FOCUS
1. Education
2. Enlightenment
3. Entrepreneurship
4. Environment
5. Exchange
6. Entertainment
This shall be enshrined in this charter as the cardinal mandate areas of focus of the organization.
All the activities and programmers should aim at empowering Youth through these cardinal areas of focus.
The youth of the country is the future of the country is a well-worn cliché. However, the term “youth” has in the past been used to refer to young people especially when disapproved of. This manifests in the stereotypes of an unfavorable sort of the “delinquent Youth”
The excessive publicizing of that fraction of our young people who deviate from the society’s norms of behaviour and that of their counterparts in other nations and the mass media treatment of youth on general present a distorted and derogatory image of youth in our society which adds to the prevalent adult uneasiness about youth and ignorant of its lot in society today.
As this explained by Sorenson (1963) “Because youth gets a bad press, it has reaped a poor public image. This affects youth’s self-esteem. Need we be surprised if some young people choose to live up to this billing? “ Consequently, this causes the youth to be accused of been responsible most of the ills in the society. A vicious cycle of some sort arises. Ours is a deliberate attempt to correct this notion and show that young people can and should be a part of the solution to the problems in the world. As youth, we are not obstacles, but invaluable resources for development.
Notwithstanding, the vital contribution youth participation in human development can be our actually participation is not encouraged. Despite the fact that youth are about one-sixth of the world population they are not accorded their due rights, privileges and status. We daily face challenges and exclusion resulting mainly from the enormous inequalities in income, wealth, and power dominating the world today. Youth, globally, are burdened by financial problems, restricted access to health services, functional illiteracy, decline of educational system, unemployment, armed conflicts and other social and political crisis.
This is manifested in the increasing unrest, Civil disobedience, rebellion and other deviant behaviour usually attributed to young people. When however, they discover that other youth have problems similar to theirs, their attitude change.
Realizing that young people also grapple with Xenophobia, racism, homophobia and exclusion from democratic participation, we arise to the challenge and provide a forum that would address and remedy the situation. A forum where young people have a chance to publicly discuss and provide solution to their problems. A forum for advocating youth issues, articulate ideas, and formulate concrete solutions to global youth problems.
As we seek to empower young people to participate in human development we state that human development requires that:
1. The international community, the private sector and especially government provide young people with adequate financial resources in other to realize their potentials in becoming full and active partners in the development process:
2. Young people are recognized not only as future leaders, but also as actors of society today, with direct stake in the development process.
3. Real and sustainable solution to world problems can only be found at the global level through the development of new partnership between all the parties involved. Youth cannot and should not be excluded.
Therefore, on the threshold of a new millennium, we members of International Youth Development Forum IYDF are convinced that we can shape our world for the creation of a better future for all.
MOTTO
We hereby adopt “Empowering Youth” as our motto. This shall be the embodiment of our fundamental principals as enshrined in this charter.
MISSION STATEMENT
We seek to form a youth forum that would foster friendship, international cooperation and solidarity. We hold firm to the fundamental ideals of the United Nations system that promote tolerance in multi-ethnic societies, increased respect for Human Rights and greater participation of youth.
We seek to form a network of youth that would be international in scope, independent, non-profit, non-religious and voluntary organization. This would generate mechanisms that would ensure the participation of young people in reconciliation process negotiation and peace building.
We establish ourselves as agents to develop, support and fosters culture of dialogue and peace.
We call on all global powers to invest in development projects instead of financing of conflicts.
We urge our peers all over the world to join us in our bid to propagate these noble objectives.
We beckon the United Nations and governments globally to put in place mechanisms to hinder acts of, and intentions to commit genocide and to severely punish perpetuators of such crimes against humanity.
We take it upon ourselves to lead this campaign in our communities and worldwide. Realizing fully, we owe it a duty not only to our generation but to posterity to live responsibility today to ensure that tomorrow is secured.
Adopted at Braga, Portugal
8th Day of August 1998.
« We are not only the future, we are also the present ! »
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STRATEGY FOR ACTION
ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FORUM IYDF
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT
Email: iydf@worldassemblyofyouth.org
Website :
http://www.yahoogroups.com/iydf_hq
