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International Youth Camp Presentation
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Youth Struggles, Youth Alternatives
The energies, visions and creativity of young people have been intrinsic to the struggles against neo liberalism. From the streets of Prague, Genoa and Seattle to the dynamic expressions of resistance, a young generation of activists have continued to be part of growing movements of alternatives that now form the World Social Forum. The World Social Forum since its inception has always encouraged an independent space for young people under the auspices of the International Youth Camp.
The International Youth Camp over the years has been an autonomous but connected space at the World Social Forum. Its methodologies and activities have been organized according to the vision, capacities and dynamic of local youth organizing groups. The IYC conforms to the Charter of Principles of the WSF and is organized within the thematic parameters as envisioned by the International Council of the WSF. It enables young people to organize panels, workshops, roundtables, demonstrations, cultural events and other activities within the diverse expressions of youth visions and culture.
The IYC 2007
The Africa Social Forum Youth Commission together with the Africa Social Forum Council and Eastern Africa Organizing Committee has proposed a different methodology as a result of lessons learned from previous social forums. The IYC will be integrated within the WSF space at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani allowing other participants in the WSF as well as young people to effectively interact with other movements. The activity space and the accommodation spaces will be separated to allow young people to creatively engage in deepening alternatives at the Forum. Local youth organizations and social movements are mobilizing to anchor the IYC through their daily actions and struggles. A separate, dedicated space or youth hub will be available to allow young people to network, hold discussions, place materials and discuss future work.
The IYC will conform to the objectives/thematic terrains agreed upon by the International Council of the World Social Forum.
Thematic Axes
The WSF 2007 thematic axes have been derived from people’s actions and struggles. This methodology proposes to ensure a continuity of the values enshrined within the Charter of Principles to connect with the dailiness of lives of peoples initiatives beyond the WSF annual events.
These nine themes are:
- Building a world of peace, justice, ethics and respect for diverse spiritualities;
- Liberating the world from the domination of multinational and financial capital;
- Ensuring universal and sustainable access to the common goods of humanity;
- Democratizing knowledge and information;
- Ensuring dignity, defending diversity, guaranteeing gender equality and eliminating all forms of discrimination;
- Guaranteeing economic, social and cultural rights, especially the rights to food, healthcare, education, housing, employment and decent work;
- Building a world order based on sovereignty, self-determination and rights of the peoples;
- Constructing a people-centered and sustainable economy;
- Building real democratic political structures and institutions with people’s participation on decisions and control of public affairs and resources.
Accommodation
The Organizing Committee has allocated a youth only sleeping bag tented area or camp for youth that will be available at minimal cost that covers the hire of the tent and ground charges. An adjacent solidarity accommodation area with similar facilities will also prioritize young people, should the other camp exceed capacity.
The youth accommodation area is located within the WSF terrains enable young people to save costs on expensive accommodation and transport. It is hoped that the proximity of this area to the terrains will enable young people to fully engage through creative means in making deeper connections and consolidating alternatives at the IYC.
A fee schedule, how to apply for accommodation and other pertinent information will soon be posted on this website.
Facilitation
The International Youth Camp at the WSF 2007 is being facilitated by the Youth Commission of the Eastern Africa Organizing Committee and the Africa Social Forum Youth Commission. The daily articulation, planning and implementation of strategies for the IYC are facilitated by full-time gender balanced team of staff and volunteers at the WSF2007 secretariat in Nairobi.
Participation at the WSF 2007
All youth organizations, youth social movements and civil society entities (e.g. land movements, peoples movements, indigenous groups, young women’s organizations, trade unions, artistic groups, youth groups, farmers cooperative movements, youth NGOs, NGOs, CBOs etc), that are in agreement with the Charter of Principles may take part, propose and self-organize events at WSF.
Young people who are not connected to any organization can participate in all activities of the International Youth Camp and the World Social Forum terrains.
Young people from Governmental entities and political parties may take part as observers. Young politicians and parliamentarians who are committed to the Charter of Principles can be invited to participate on a personal basis and not on an official capacity.
Registration
Activities in the World Social Forum are self organized and co-organized. This means that you and your partners will completely be in charge of organizing your activity (preparation, publicity, identifying speakers, materials, transport and accommodation of your group/organization members).
Once registered, the Organizing Committee will ensure a space for your activity within the terrains, its appearance on the WSF Event program and provide translation equipment. An alternative translation group, The BABELS network has often supported the WSF translation needs.
All registrations have been centralized this year without making distinction of sector or age. Registration forms for organizations, activities, stalls and individuals are available at this link. The deadline for activity registration is December 13, 2006. Individual registration will remain open, even during the Forum. You are however advised to register early, especially for countries that require visa.
A collaborative online space has been designed to assist organizations effectively network and plan a joint activity for the WSF. It allows the sharing of documents, automatic mailing lists for communication, visibility of initiatives by other groups, translations and other user friendly tools. The Collaboration space is free for use and can be accessed at www.wsfprocess.net.
Fees
The IC has set a uniform fee structure for individual, organizational, activity, stall and exhibitions.
Please remember that only organizations or groups can propose and organize activities. As individuals or in youth organizations, you are free to participate in any of the WSF spaces but it would be wonderful to hold your activity at the Youth Camp.
Useful Hint
While many youth organizations have considered the prescribed activity fees as a hindrance to the articulation of their actions, we highly recommend that your organizations explore the group methodology available in the WSF Process Website. It allows organizations to interact beyond traditional partnerships and thematic sectors. It not only ensures a continuity of your actions beyond the WS2007 event but could improve the quality of your activity, enable you to share activity costs as well as take advantage of the concessionary delegation registration.
Pre-WSF Activities
The International Youth Camp is central to the Caravan Initiative that will enable groups to move by road/air, connecting with local groups from Country to Country in an attempt to save costs due to the difficulties in air travels in Africa as well as mobilize group at the local level by creating awareness of the event. The Youth Commission of the Africa Social Forum together with organizations in the ASF Council will hold several cultural, intellectual and educational activities at the Caravan Stops (oasis).
So far, a Caravan is proposed to move from Zambia (Lusaka) – Malawi (Lilongwe) – Tanzania (Dar-es-Salaam) ending up in Nairobi. We encourage young people to connect with these initiatives at the local level. Other regions are yet to concretize their Caravan Initiatives. An update will be available soon on this website.
Stay informed
Important updates are often available on this site. Regular updates are also contained in a bulletin that is circulated via email. Please write to media@wsf2007.org.
Useful Addresses
The Organizing Committee and the WSF 2007 Secretariat is committed to facilitate an inclusive process that enables youth, their groups and organizations to articulate their living alternatives at the WSF2007 and beyond.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at the following addresses should you need any assistance:
- On issues regarding registration: registration@wsf2007.org
- On issues regarding volunteering: volunteer@wsf2007.org
- If you would like to submit an article for the WSF2007 newsletter on related themes and your local actions: media@wsf2007.org
- On all/general WSF2007 Youth Camp related issues, please send a word to Kiama, Aida or Philip at youth@wsf2007.org
We look forward to welcoming you among us and to share you living alternatives at the WSF2007!
The Youth Facilitation team for WSF2007.
