I am still having butterflies in my stomach because of yesterday's great achievement!
It was a day to remember and it is forever engraved in my conscience.
Yesterday was a manifestation of a life-long dream, the unfolding of the ups and downs i endured in obtaining an academic position in a foreign country, with a foreign language, setbacks, norms and values, culture and a totally different academic mindset.

Yesterday i graduated with a Masters degree in Cultural Anthropology/Development Sociology!!

So many friends and family joined me in the collective sharing of the sounds of laughter and the cries of joy. So many others could not join us but their spirits, love and praise were deeply felt.

At exactly, 14:45 I was seated in front of the exam-commission as they debated on the social and academic relevance of my thesis (for more info on my fieldwork visit www.sahro.waarbenjij.nu). As well as my general behaviour and progress in the university domain and own contributions to the faculty. I had graduated with a distinction and i was overcome with joy and shed a tear or two.

I just sat there and stared....and hoped they wouldn't ask me anything.....i prayed ...please just don't ask me anything..... i wasn't thinking straight...and i knew i wouldn't say anything sensible!. They didnt.

Behind me sat my invited guests all, beaming with gifts, flowers and excitement...all proud and beautiful. I felt more of a bride than a graduate..loool !!!!

After 5 or so minutes they called me to the front and i walked towards them....shaking and thinking oooh why am i so nervous.

I stood there facing the audience and the commission to my left as my own supervisor's speech was read out (he couldn't be there, so he had written a long letter). The letter was heart-warming and i am glad to know that I am Prof.Dr. Peter Pels' "favourite Somali Anthropologist" !!

The essence of yesterday, has many dimensions. The Historical dimension involves my own childhood . As a child i dreamed alot, or rather day-dreamed alot. I mastered the art of day-dreaming. Often i got slaps on my head because i didn't hear the adults calling me.

I built castles in the air, i envisioned and constructed my future life. I dreamed about sitting in class among other kids and having many books and pens, i dreamed about learning how to read and write, about being an independent, educated, career-minded and human-potential conscience woman. Most importantly i wanted to prove to my family and relatives that yes, despite all the socio-cultural obstacles that are unique to Somali women, i can be anything i want to be. I come from a traditional nomadic culture and women have a fixed place in society...

Growing up and years later, after realising that this daydreaming was causing me much dismay, i confided in my favourite friend; my grandmother! I asked her for advice as to how i could stop the daydreaming, to which she replied "ooh dear child, it is only after we have dreamt that dreams become goals and goals become realities".

I am happy to announce that i am today joyfully living that dream.

Sincerely, Sahro

Be the Change! Programme
Small Scale grants for Youth-led Projects


Peace Child International has created the “Be the
Change!” Programme (BTC!) to support young people to
get involved in local community action and development
projects. Peace Child encourages young people to BE
THE CHANGE they want to see in their communities and
to make it possible we created a small scale grant
programme for youth-led projects.

If you are below 25 years old and have a project that
concentrates on the development of your community at a
local level, take a deep look in the requirements for
the grant programme and submit your proposal to Peace
Child International.

The Be the Change! desk officers will guide and advise
you to identify your own local issues, priorities and
problems and also help you to provide your own
solutions.

So, what kind of projects are we looking for?

- Projects that are genuinely youth-led: it cannot be
a bunch of adults getting some young people to front
their project so they can get money for it.
- It must benefit the community rather than an
individual need: we do not accept applications for
school fees or personal trips!
- Projects costing $500 - $1,000 with a detailed
budget.
- Have two experienced and committed adults to mentor
the project: following the principles of the
co-management.
- Have measures of achievement (indicators) by which
projects may be evaluated.
- It can be either income-generating (funds to start
up a small business and creating jobs) or it can be
non-income generating (for health, education,
environmental clean-up or community improvement)
social programmes which are of genuine and lasting
community value.

If you fulfil these requisites make sure to download
the application form on our website and send your
proposals to the appropriate desk officer at Peace
Child International before the deadline.

The deadline for applications to the Be the Change!
Grants is on Tuesday 31st October
You will receive a confirmation when your proposal has
been received.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Please submit photographs, preferably in digital
format to
Or send it by mail to: BTC COORDINATOR
AFRICA: Africa@peacechild.org
ASIA: asia@peacechild.org
EUROPE: Europe@peacechild.org
LATINOAMERICA:latina@peacechild.org

Nadia Ramos Serrano
Coordinadora del Programa de Donaciones BE THE CHANGE
*********************************************
Peace Child International
The White House, 46 High Street,
Buntingford, SG9 9AH Herts,
United Kingdom
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1763 274459
Fax:00 44 (0) 1763 274460
www.peacechild.org
www.bethechange.info
*********************************************



NADIA RAMOS SERRANO
Miembro de la
Red de Jóvenes Líderes
BIDJUVENTUD



If there are images in this attachment, they will not be displayed. Download the original attachment







PROJECT PROPOSAL


Be the Change! Programme

Small Scale grants for Youth-led Projects


Peace Child International has created the “Be the Change!” Programme (BTC!) to support young people to get involved in local community action and development projects. Peace Child encourages young people to BE THE CHANGE they want to see in their communities and to make it possible we created a small scale grant programme for youth-led projects.


If you are below 25 years old and have a project that concentrates on the development of your community at a local level, take a deep look in the requirements for the grant programme and submit your proposal to Peace Child International.


The Be the Change! desk officers will guide and advise you to identify your own local issues, priorities and problems and also help you to provide your own solutions.


So, what kind of projects are we looking for?


Projects that are genuinely youth-led: it cannot be a bunch of adults getting some young people to front their project so they can get money for it.
It must benefit the community rather than an individual need: we do not accept applications for school fees or personal trips!
Projects costing $500 - $1,000 with a detailed budget.
Have two experienced and committed adults to mentor the project: following the principles of the co-management.
Have measures of achievement (indicators) by which projects may be evaluated.
It can be either income-generating (funds to start up a small business and creating jobs) or it can be non-income generating (for health, education, environmental clean-up or community improvement) social programmes which are of genuine and lasting community value.


If you fulfil these requisites make sure to download the application form on our website and send your proposals to the appropriate desk officer at Peace Child International before the deadline.


The deadline for applications to the Be the Change! Grants is on Tuesday 31st October

You will receive a confirmation when your proposal has been received.

We look forward to hearing from you!


Please submit photographs, preferably in digital format to

Or send it by mail to: BTC COORDINATOR

AFRICA: Africa@peacechild.org

ASIA: asia@peacechild.org

EUROPE: Europe@peacechild.org

LATIN AMERICA: Latina@peacechild.org

NORTH AMERICA: n_america@peacechild.org

SMALL ISLAND STATES: sis@peacechild.org

UNITED KINGDOM: uk@peacechild.org


Or send the via - mail

Peace Child International, BTC! Programme

The White House – Buntingford, Herts.

United Kingdom, SG9 9AH

Fax: Int + (44) 176 327 4460

Tel: Int + (44) 176 327 4459





Date of proposal :


1. Name of Young proposer (your name)
Your Contact details e-mail:
Phone:
Address:

How many people will be involved in the project? Give names & ages:






2 - Organisation: If you are a member of an organisation, give its name
If yes, please give us a brief history of your organisation and what it does?










3. Project Title: Find a catchy title that sums up what you want to do:


4. Background: Rural / Urban(circle one); Town: Country:
Project Context: Please give us a sense of where you live - your community, your situation:






NEED: Describe the major community need your project is addressing:










5. Project Summary - (Give us a general explanation of the activities you will undertake in this project.)














6. Action Plan - Schedule of the activities

How Long will it take? (approx.):
Activity schedule















7. Beneficiaries: - Who will benefit? How many of each age, gender, background and how were they involved in planning the project?










8. Project Mentor(s): an adult with experience in the field your project address has a very valuable role in supporting and advising projects- Please state who you will have as your mentor

Name(s):
Contact details for the lead mentor: e-mail :
Phone:
Address:
Occupation(s)/Experience:




9. Evaluator – All sponsors require an independent, objective evaluation of your project. Find some one to do this for you(not a family member! Ask a teacher, religious leader or best, a journalist.
Name:
Contact details: e-mail :
Phone:
Address:
Occupation/Experience:




10. Budget – What is your local currency? exchange rate: = £/$
Items/Expenditures required Quantity Price per Unit Total Cost in your local currency Total Cost
£ or $













TOTALS:




11. Handling Money – very important: most sponsors will not give money to individual young people. So each young project manager has to find a registered NGO, school, youth group or religious body to receive the funds into their bank account. Often, they order the materials for your project, and prepare the financial report so young people never have the risk of handling cash. Please explain your relationship with the organisation that you will be using to handle money.
Name of the Organisation:


Name of your Main Contact Person:


His/her Title or Role within the organisation:


Organisation’s address:



Organisation’s Phone: Fax No.


Organisation’s e-mail: Website


Date when the organisation was founded:


What is your relationship with the organisation?



Have they agreed to sign a letter of agreement to allow funds for it to be passed through the Organisation for your project? YES / NO






12. Sustainability: How will the project continue when you have spent the funds we send you?














Be the Change!

Notes on filling in the Project Proposal form


1) Your Name & Contact Details – in particular an e-mail address. If you don’t have one, get one!


2) Your Organisation: if you have one! If not – skip this part, but note in Part 11 you will need one to handle your money for your project;


3) Project Title - The words you use in your title should paint a picture in the reader's mind. Be precise, concise and not ambiguous." Sum up the aim and focus of the proposal. "


4) Background - Project Context: We need to get a sense of your community - what goes on there, what type of place it is.

Need -
What are the pressing community problems that your project address? (When thinking about the needs it is a good idea to conduct a survey/ interview or hold a meeting first,to find out what other people think, get their ideas and prove that these needs are real and are shared by others. You should draw up a needs summary.)


5) Project Summary: Here you give us a brief descriptive story of what you plan to do.

If you have prepared a needs summary - show us how your project will address each need.


6) Action Plan: We need a simple step-by-step time-table for your action plan.

In the ‘Time-table’ Column, write “Day ONE, Day TWO…” - “Week ONE, Week TWO” or “Month ONE, Month TWO…”etc. – depending on how long your project is going to take. Time the project from start to finish so that the funder knows what will be done by when.


7) Beneficiaries: Explain exactly who this project is aimed at.

Show us how and when you have consulted the beneficiaries and if they have been involved in the planning and design of this project.
Sometimes proposers dream up ideas without consulting the people they are aiming to help. We need to know that the beneficiaries have been involved and want this project to happen.


8) Mentors: Experience proves that youth-led development works 100% better when you have a good mentors. Chose your mentor carefully and tell us briefly what experience they have in the field.


9) Evaluators: Again chose your evaluator carefully. Make sure it is someone whom we can contact. It would be useful if they spoke English, French or Spanish so that they can send their report directly to PCI Headquarters.


10) Budget: We want to know what your local currency is and what the current exchange rate is;

Please state the amount in the local currency, as well as in £ sterling or US$ (Rates of exchange vary from day to day)
Please be realistic as you prepare your budget: find lowest cost for materials, see what "in kind" donations you can get (thee include donated materials, work space, donated labour donated etc.) Check all prices at 2-3 locations. Don’t just guess!


11) Handling Money: Most funding organisations do not send money to individual young people. If you need money for your project, each young project manager, must find a registered organisation to receive the money. It could be a registered NGO that you have set up yourself, or it could be a friendly neighbourhood NGO, or your school or youth club. In this box, all you need to demonstrate is that you have thought about this issue, found an organisation that is prepared to receive the money, and to give us their name and address. Before we release the money to you, you will have to sign a short Letter of Understanding with the organisation, a copy of which we shall forward to you if your project gets accepted.


12) Sustainability: The best projects generally continue after the funding is over but funders are often ready to fund one-off projects and events. Let us know what you plan to do once the funding is finished? Are you planning to collaborate with other local organisations to keep it going?




www.iadb.org/bidjuventud

Please forward to all those interested!

The German Women Security Council proposes a conference to coordinate our efforts on the implementation of UN Sec Council Res. 1325. please read our proposal, transmit it to all those who might be interested and react.

Let us build a European Women’s Security Council!

A Survey is in preparation of a European conference as a starting point of a „European relay race“ for demilitarisation and equal rights especially in the European Security and Defence Policy.

Dear friends and interested people, The European Union has been built out of the ruins of Europe. It was designed as an alliance for peace after the defeat of Nazi-Germany. „The ruins are the unsightly but nevertheless indispensable fundament“of a united Europe, said the Swiss writer Adolf Muschg. This history obliges us, and especially all European politicians, to be strongly engaged in peace politics. Anything else would be a moral betrayal of the vision and reality of the already united continent and the ongoing unification.

Unfortunately, some of the political decision-makers and economic forces see the unification process only as a profane opportunity for market enlargement. For them, economic interests and investments must be secured – if necessary also by military means. This attitude had a considerable influence on the European Security Strategy which was passed in 2003. This concept for the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union strongly relies on military rather than on civilian conflict management. This is to be realised through the establishment of a European armament agency and the establishment of European intervention forces acting worldwide which are, for example, able to occupy the oil fields in the Middle East together with the US army in order to defend European interests – as documented in the „European Defence Paper“ of 2004. These interests can be threatened by a “massive increase of energy costs or the disruption of commercial flows of goods”.

A small circle of mainly male security politicians who are lacking any democratic legitimacy have decided on these plans. Neither the Parliament of the EU nor any national parliaments have ever approved this security strategy. This policy is against the declared will of many men and women in Europe working in lots of different ways to overcome conflicts and crisis by civilian means. Further, this policy is contradicting the EU as an alliance for peace and is also against the fundamental principle of equal rights for men and women. Especially women are excluded from the decision-making. In times of crisis or peace negotiations they are not able to fully participate in the fields of security politics which are dominated by men – as we can witness at present in Kosovo. This means excluding them twice and in an undemocratic manner from an existential part of European politics.

The multiple instruments of civilian conflict management are not promoted enough and due to that they are also not applied. Also, in the EU and its member states the budgets for military and armament expenditure are at least a thousand times higher than those for civilian conflict management.

However, we invest all our energy in making Europe become a global player in the field of civilian alternatives. We that stands for the “German Women’s Security Council”, a voluntary network founded during the last war against Iraq consisting of women peace researchers and activists. Some of the members are representing organisations such as amnesty international, medica mondiale, WILPF, or the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

We call upon the women of Europe, to get powerfully involved in all spheres of security politics! We further request the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 is implemented consistently all over Europe and in all national and supranational institutions such as the EU, the OSCE or the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. As the Resolution 1325 of the 31st October 2000 states: women shall be part of all peace processes at all levels, locally, regionally and nationally, during conflict prevention, peace missions, national reconstruction, in parliaments, governments, justice, police and in all other state institutions. Women are half of Europe – half of European politics, European ideas, projects and visions for the future.

Against this background we are planning a European networking conference. A possible date is the 5th May 2007 in Berlin since Germany is holding the EU presidency in the first six months of 2007. The aim of this conference is to discuss these issues with the responsible political authorities and transmit the results to EU institutions. We would like to focus on the following issues:

Do we need a Europewide network of women experts and activists for the implementation of Resolution 1325, similar to the German Women’s Security Council? If yes, how could this be realised?

Switzerland, UK, Sweden, Denmark and Norway are until now the only countries whose governments have presented national action plans for the implementation of Resolution 1325 as has been expressly requested by UN Secretay-General Kofi Annan. What is the content of these action plans? How can we pressure other European countries and also Europe as a whole to establish such national action plans? And how can we pressure multilateral bodies and organisations such as the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe to establishe such action plans? How can we influence decisions concerning peace and security issues of the institutions of the European Union such as the Council and the Commission or NATO?

What is the situation like in the countries targeted by European interventions? How do men and women living in these countries experience these European interventions? What would be necessary for a civilian conflict management? For example, in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What can we do to de-militarise Europe and to strengthen civilian conflict management instead of military intervention?

In order to make the results of such a conference more sustainable we aim to start a “relay race”. Therefore, we would appreciate to give the relay to our portuguese and slovenian friends whose countries will hold the Presidency of the EU for another six months each after the conference. It is then up to them to take up the race and pressure for the implementation of Resolution 1325 all over Europe. And, of course, every one has a responsibility to take up the appropriate actions.

We would like to know the following from you:

Are you interested in such a conference and would you participate?
0 no

0 yes with probably …..participants

Which other groups/institutions/associations you know are working on the issue?
........................................................................................................................
What are the main issues of interestfor you?
........................................................................................................................
Who are the NGOs in your country working directly or indirectly on the implementation of Resolution 1325? If possible, please state names and contact details below!
........................................................................................................................
Which official institutions in your country are working towards the objectives of Resolution 1325? If possible, please state names and contact details below!
........................................................................................................................

Thank you very much for your interest and cooperation!
The German Women’s Security Council

Please mail back as soon as possible to:

meinzolt-depner@t-online.de

I am looking for information. Please, your opinion and experiences count and they can help us all.

What do YOU think are the most important 'Management Tools and Skills' Young Professionals, who are working or intending to work in International Co-operation (development work), must have..?

Sahro

Announcing the 8th Annual African Students Conference

The Impact of Religion
Saturday, 14th October 2006

09.30-18.00
Institute of Social Studies
Kortenaerkade 12
The Hague, the Netherlands

The ASC for African students has been organized annually since 1999 at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague. These conferences under the title Building Peace in Africa address critical issues of major concern in the field of advancing peace, justice and sustainable development.

The overall topic 2006 will be the Impact of Religion. The conference is primarily intended for African students studying in the Netherlands and young African Diaspora. But other students or academics with an interest in the subject, representatives of NGOs, officials, and other concerned persons/ organizations are very welcome.

Participation will be free of charge!
Date: 14.10.2006, 9.30-18.00
Where: ISS Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague
Info: unoy@unoy.org (Vera Silva)

Download the Application from www.unoy.org and send it to Vera Silva unoy@unoy.org

Keep visiting our homepage for updates and other news.

Fellowship Announcement
ORGANIZATION: Human Rights Watch
DEADLINE: 6 Oct 2006

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DETAILS:

2007-2008 Fellowships in International Human Rights

For recent graduates of law schools or graduate programs in journalism,international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines from any university worldwide.

Human Rights Watch, the international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization, invites applications for its fellowship program.
Human Rights Watch is known for its impartial and reliable human rights reporting on over 70 countries worldwide, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in affecting the
policy of the U.S. and other influential governments toward human rights abusers.

Unrestricted Fellowships

Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship - Established in memory of Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg, early supporters of Human Rights Watch.

Restricted Fellowships

Arthur Helton Fellowship - established in memory of Arthur C. Helton, a 1976 New York University Law graduate who dedicated his professional life to refugee and humanitarian issues, open to J.D. graduates of New York University School of Law.

Leonard H. Sandler Fellowship - established in memory of Judge Leonard H. Sandler, a 1950 Columbia Law graduate with a lifelong commitment to civil rights and liberties, open to J.D. graduates of Columbia Law
School.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Fellows work full-time for one year with Human Rights Watch in New York or Washington, D.C. Fellows monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site investigations, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy aimed
at
publicizing and curtailing human rights violations. Past fellows have conducted fact-finding missions to, among other places, Albania, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Kenya,
Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda, the U.S.-Mexican border, and
Venezuela.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have exceptional analytic skills, an ability to write and speak clearly, and a commitment to work in the human rights field in the future. Proficiency in one language in addition to English is strongly desired. Familiarity with countries or regions
where serious human rights violations occur is also valued. Fellows must be law, journalism, international relations, or area studies graduates with degrees received after January 2004 and before August 2007, or must provide evidence of significant, comparable, relevant work experience.
Fellowships begin in September 2007.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: The salary for 2006-2007 fellows is $43,000, plus excellent employer-paid benefits. The salary for 2007-2008 is
currently
under review.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 6, 2006

Applicants are responsible for compiling complete application packets
which must include the following:

-- cover letter
-- resume
-- two letters of recommendation
-- at least one unedited, unpublished writing sample
-- an official law or graduate school transcript (applicants in
one-year graduate programs should supply an undergraduate transcript
with
a list of their graduate school courses)

Complete applications (including transcripts and recommedations) for
2007-2008 fellowships must be received no later than October 6, 2006.
Complete applications should be sent to:

Human Rights Watch
Attn: Fellowship Committee
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299

Applicants must be available for interviews in New York from early
November to mid-December 2006. Inquiries may be directed to the Fellowships hotline at (212) 290-4700 x312, or to fellowship@hrw.org.
Please see http://www.hrw.org/about/info/fellows.html for more
information.

Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.