General – Page 15 – Youth Peace Makers

September 27, 2018

“The Right to Peace – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70”

On 21st September it is an international peace day celebration, Due to many YPM responsibilities this day was moved and celebrated on 25th Sept 2018. It was attended by the Tensing team with the YPM football team, Computer class kids and the staff.
Tahona Godfrey and Elias Adrian YPM volunteers were involved in running the whole exercise by explaining the importance of peace on earth and asking questions to some of the participants. The importance of the day was manifested through brief speeches from participants on how each of us has a role to play so as to enjoy peace. The words reflected the importance of Right to peace to all people. As youth in Africa they shared on a number of countries where peace is a farfetched reality, but also how many youths suffer violence through being forced into conflict and war tone areas. They see how peace is the ingredient for justice and human rights to all. The words echoed the message for the day given by the General Secretary of UN Antonio Guterres on marking the International Peace Day. As he says “It is time all nations and all people live up to the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human race. This year marks the 70th anniversary of that landmark document.” — Secretary-General António Guterres
As Youth Peacemakers we join the world in celebrating and even more putting emphasis on the importance of peace as one of the basic and important ingredient for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Youths under YPM are involved in a number of activities in Schools, Colleges and general life walks with peace as a guiding compass for success. It has been witnessed through the stories that were shared by the football players that they have been wining different trophies at their level to the point that now they will represent the district to the FA CUP in Tanga region. The secret has been working for peace, living peacefully and sharing peace even to opponents in their competitions. The same is needed to all people of the world. We need peace to each individual so as to enjoy the God given creation. Justice is fundamental for Peace, but the true provider of Justice should be raised in peaceful circumstances—YPM envision provision of peace platforms to youth and community members to be able to see justice throughout our communities.
The event was colored with training on S2C (Subject to Citizen), Brief explanations of Importance of VICOBA to Youths economic initiatives and various games like pulling a rope, a coca cola drinking competition, the fun learning activities on dependence and need of one another as well as a volleyball contest.
Through this event we believe the participating youths have gained an opportunity to appreciate the importance of peace in the world but will also use the talents and opportunities they have to invest and work for peace so as to set platforms for achieving their dreams.

“Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” Mathew 5:9

September 3, 2018March 25, 2020

YPM conducted education campaign at Makanya Ward; “NIACHE NISOME ELIMU NI MKOMBOZI WANGU”

YPM conducted education campaign at Makanya Ward; this is one of the areas where there is a great challenge for students to continue studies especially after basic education, given the importance of education in human life, and to focus on the vision of YPM in empowering young people, YPM find it important to have public awareness campaigns to raise conscious on the importance of education and the long time impact of avoiding education, this activity was in line with the campaign motto
“NIACHE NISOME ELIMU NI MKOMBOZI WANGU”
YPM had the opportunity to meet the leadership of Makanya Village and Ward and was given a warm welcome to carry out this mobilization activity. In the occasion there were a lot of young girls and boys from the nearby schools of Mboghoi and Makanya Primary and Secondary Schools as well as the parents who were attending the market day.
The message was well received and the comments were of high appreciation with the invitation for a second round to allow more members and nearby schools to get the knowledge.
We do believe the knowledge will help the community and the youths to value education more than it has been in the previous years. It is expected that they will manage to consider performing better and go to Secondary schools rather than rushing to doing the home maid works in towns and cities.
The Art group of YPM was central in performing and educating the community on the stage and by mingling with them to exchange views and ideas on their performance. YPM will continue with this exercise in other areas to continue to mobilize the community on the importance of education, it is hoped that this will bring new light in the village and rural communities where education was not important at all.

August 29, 2018March 25, 2020

YPM CONDUCTED DEBATE COMPETITION FINALS IN DISTRICT LEVEL 2018.

YPM TZ conducted debate competition which involved 55 schools in Lushoto District with a total 615 of students (Female 339 Male 276)
This Debate competition started since February 2018 by forming a committee of five members one from YPM staff and four teachers from different schools as team of coordinators.
The debate involved various educational stakeholders and has involved all secondary schools in Lushoto District Council and some six schools from the Bumbuli Councils.
The competition also included the Public Debate Format (PDF) training for all English teachers at Secondary Schools established by the Youth Peacemakers Tanzania.
On 10th August, 2018 YPM in celebration of the International Youth Day conducted Debate Competition Finals at the District level which was held at Shambalai Secondary School hall. The District Commissioner of Lushoto was the guest of honor, whereby other stakeholders such as the District Executive Director, the District Education Officer, Ward Education Officers Radio Utume and the community were invited to take part in the occasion. The District Commissioner was represented by the Lushoto Division Officer.
In running this competition, the following benefits were attained by the participants:-
1. Students were trained on S2C (Subject to Citizen) which is one of the methodology used by YPM to create the sense of responsibility, duty and rights among youths as community members.
2. Learners gained wider knowledge in the course of preparation for the bigger event. They consulted, discussed and read different sources to acquire evidence and supporting points for their arguments.

3. Students develop self-confidence and ability to present their topics in front of people from different caliber.

4. They got exposure by travelling from one school to the other in carrying on with the competition at different levels.

5. Learn more English language that was used at all levels in the debate, not because Swahili is not important but as a way to build skills on the media of learning used at Secondary Education.

6. Students created network, partnership and peer to peer relations.

7. More than 40 teachers were able to attend and learn new technics and methodology of conducting the PDF debate.
Despite these benefits we have also met the following as follows;
1. Some schools did not participate fully in the competition, without crucial reasons.
2. Financial challenges was a major challenge especially during inter schools competition at Ward levels, where students presenting one ward were required to meet another ward.
3. The students seem to lack strategies for preparing themselves as best presenters and give strong evidence to support their arguments.
4. Many students are unaware of the Public Debate Format (PDF)
Future Plans
1. We are looking forward to
a. Conducting debates that will be involving all existing Secondary Schools in the Lushoto and Bumbuli Council.
b. Running a competition that will involve all Secondary Schools in the Tanga Region (Inter district level)
c. Finding effective representatives who will represent us in various issues at the National and International levels.
Based on so many direct and indirect profitable benefits in this competition, YPM requests cooperation from various stakeholders to enable the competition to succeed 100% for future years by facilitating us in the following issues.
1. Assistance in transport and food for students especially from inter-ward level.
2. Support the improvement of gifts to bring more motivation to students
3. Intensified Public-Private Partnership in this sector through involvement of our Councils(Lushoto and Bumbuli) in improving the competition.
4. Ideas to make the competition attractive, educative and empowering.

June 6, 2018March 25, 2020

YPM CONCERT AT MLOLA: “EDUCATION IS MY REDEMPTION”

Education is a major challenge in the rural areas, some challenges are caused by some parents who dissuade their children and encourage them to go to work at an early age without knowing the future challenges lying ahead of them.

Recognizing the importance of education YPM prepared an education concert on May 31, which took place in the Mlola ward. The main message of the day has been “Let me go to School, Education is my Redemption”. The Arts Group sent the message to the community through the arts and entertainment.
The Aim of doing the event has been to have an entertaining but direct way of sending the message to the parents and students in the area that is highly affected in the whole of Tanga region.
YPM plans to continuing with these events every in five other places faced with same challenge so as to help the community understand and appreciate the importance of education for the development of the family, community and nation at large.

November 28, 2017December 5, 2017

IASYM in Afria Conference University of Lusaka Zambia: 6-8 September 2018

The 2018 African regional conference of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry will be held at the Justo Mwale University in Lusaka, Zambia.

Purpose?
Academics and practitioners in Youth Ministry seize the opportunity to share and discuss the current issues and challenges that the youth in Africa are facing. With the migration of youth to Europe and the East, the changing culture and technology, social media and climate changes have an immense influence on the youth in Africa to which the Church cannot cast a blind eye. There is also on the other hand much that African youth can contribute to the rest of the world.

For Whom?
We want to bring together people who are currently involved with youth ministry research projects:

people teaching youth ministry,
masters and PhD students and students who plan on getting involved in the study-field in the future,
people who are involved in youth ministry, in church, institutions and organizations as well as
colleagues in related fields of study like Sociology, Psychology and others.

We hereby invite you to submit a proposal (in the form of a 350 word abstract) from your context and from your research base – be that theological, historical, philosophical, quantitative, and qualitative or other research traditions.We really want to respect the interdisciplinary nature of our ministry. Add a short biography.

When you consider submitting an abstract, you may want to consider one of the following subthemes:

Youth, theology and disability
Agency of youth in Africa
HIV and Aids and youth in Africa
Church silence on youth risk behaviour – substance abuse
Implications of African culture on the church – sex and sexuality; morality; ethics
Child and youth Trafficking and abuse – connection to poverty?
Immigration and migration among African youth: opportunities and challenges
Islamic radicalization among young men and the need for apologetics in youth ministry

Please send your submission no later than 28 February, 2018. Notification of acceptance will be emailed to authors by the end of April 2018 so that presenters have ample time to prepare for the – conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your work and receive valuable feedback from colleagues and stimulate the thinking of others in the field.

Please submit proposals to:
Nene Muthuri (Secretary) nenemuthuri@gmail.com
OR
Willem Semmelink willem@sats.edu.za

Forward

July 21, 2017December 5, 2017

YPM MEET WITH THE LUSHOTO DISTRICT LEADERS FOR NETWORK BUILDING.

Youth Peace Makers Tanzania is an Organization that works closely with the government. On 20th April 2017 YPM had an opportunity to meet with government officials in Lushoto district. These included but not limited to the District Commissioner, the Council Director of Bumbuli and Lushoto (Rep.) Police, Immigration officers and other top offcials. The intention was to network and do the stakeholders meeting to the new appointees in the District Administration of the 5th Government Era. This will help promote cooperation in the work of YPM well. Lastly YPM invited the leaders in the radio program on Lushoto development that will be aired by UTUME FM RADIO 5th May. The programm will invite different stakeholders into discussion related to goals of SDG as implemented in the development agenda of the district.

July 18, 2017March 25, 2020

YPM INAUGURATED THE LUSHOTO DEBATE COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

YPM under the environment program prepared the environment competition debate. The competition involves secondary students from o-level and A-level. Schools around the Lushoto District.
On 13th May 2017 O- level students starts there competition and we look forward to starts competition for A-level students early July. On this first round it involve 10 schools and they were divided into two groups. Motion for first group was “Can environment protection lead to eradication o…f poverty?”.
The second motion was “There is sufficient involvement of youth on environment in Tanzania?” . The model used was PDF. After this round we remain with 5 schools and the second round will be early July after the school vocation.

July 30, 2016December 5, 2017

MHELO KIDS AT YPM LEARNING CENTER

Youth Peace Makers Tanzania has succeeded in establishing learning centers in different areas in ,Lushoto district. In this program YPM invites students of different primary and secondary schools around the town.

Above are The kids/pupils of Mhelo primary school learning computer programs. They do meet three times a week on wesdnesday, Thursday and friday.The aim is to give them opportunity to learn for free, without contributing any amount of money as well as be innovative through what they have learned

July 23, 2016December 5, 2017

VISITORS

The whole week YPM had visitors from Haugland, Valdress and YPP and those visitors had oppotunity to sit together and discuss a few of the important things that lead to progress. Valders got a chance to visit some places like IRENTE CHILDREN S HOME, and towards the village of KWEDEGHE for purpose of learning to see the life they live Tanzanians especially those who live in rural ares and had the opportunity to participate in their daily activities. Haugland also got a chance to visit those areas.

July 22, 2016December 5, 2017

YPM visit in Handeni

Between 14th – 16th of September, representatives from YPM head office visited activities in Handeni branch. Training and follow up were done on VICOBA and PETS, and wheelchairs donated to the local hospital. We are also in the process of setting up a computer center for youths.

VICOBA IN BRIEF
VICOBA is a Village Community Banking. It is a group that is formed by 20 – 30 people who are willing and accept the responsibility of forming, attending, respecting and abiding to the rules to be set. These groups are formed for the sake of empowering economic freedom at local and grass roots level. They are platforms for grass roots informal education and efforts to inculcate the spirit of saving from the little that they have. The amount, the regulations to guide the group and the leadership is chosen among the group members. The facilitation does not require them to pay fees, but rather support the early stages and allow them to grow.

Secure box for keeping of cash in the group. All three keyholders must be present to open the box. — Secure box for keeping of cash in the VICOBA group. All three keyholders must be present to open the box.

There are many benefits from participation in VICOBA groups. It fosters cooperation on economic development by providing fast access to loans for investment in businesses. It gives chance to build a strong relationship in the given community and members of the group. It provide chances for unified voice in matters related to development in the specified community; it challenges and encourages the spirit of saving and thus loan to businesses. It encourages members to be industrious and courageous to take steps in starting small businesses as a way to stop/fight poverty. In a unified manner it equips members to raise together while holding hands of one another through insisted weekly savings. And there is profit.

Read more about VICOBA groups here

Visit to VICOBA group
At the moment there are three VICOBA groups in Handeni, and we were lucky to meet with one of them. The group was 8 months old and consisted of 30 members, which together have contributed with 2,977,000 Tanzanian shillings in the bank. This has made it possible to lend out 6,370,000 million shillings, which has been used to start small businesses like small hotels and shops.

In this visit in Handeni- Kwakonje community, the group reported that since start-up, there are people who has taken loans and returned already. Altogether 2,884,000 shillings have been returned to the group. But time to return loans is however also mentioned as one of the challenges facing the group, and some were concerned about what to do about people traveling away without paying back. YPM advised the groups to have a clear charter of rules on how to handle delayed payments, not to lend out money to unreliable persons, and to report any form of theft to the police. Travel is not an excuse for delayed payment as modern technology, like money sent through mobile account, makes transactions possible across distance.

Another issue stressed by the YPM delegation was whether the group would keep the circle into the next year or not. VICOBA groups are mainly organized in two different ways: some are distributing back all the shares and profit once a year, and start over again (breaking the circle), while others keep the shares and distribute profits only (keeping the circle/closing the year). YPM advised all their groups to keep the circle/close the year, as this is the only way to build a strong bank which can let people lend higher amounts of money. Access to more financial resources gives greater investment opportunities to the individual, but will also benefit everyone in the VICOBA group by bringing in more profit. If a group want loans on a million shillings or more they should close the circle. The VICOBA group in Handeni has a maximum loan of 500 000 shillings today, but decided they would attempt to close the circle to increase their capacity.

handeni-vicoba-web2 — YPM Director, Mr. Godfrey Walalaze, speaks to the Handeni VICOBA group about the benefits of closing the circle.

Follow up training on PETS
On Thursday 15th of September YPM held a training on Public Expenditure Tracking System (PETS) for young people from villages around Handeni. The participants presented what they had done in their local communities as follow up projects since last training. The last training held August 2015 set the group of Trainer of Trainers (ToTs) who were to go into their communities and awaken the spirit of follow up for inspiring accountability. One example of a project was done on a local health center, tracking the income from fees put on users. Every visitor to the center had to contribute with 300 shillings to pay the security guard, in addition to 1000 shillings to see a doctor, and 200 for child clinic. This fees were justified as necessary to run the center, but an account on how the money was spent, and what happened to the surplus, could not be shown.

Tracking public money, asking questions and hold leading figures accountable is all of what PETS is about. If a health center receives 1300 shillings from twenty people every day, then that makes 26000 a day, 182 000 a week, and 780 000 a month! People have the right to ask how this money is spent. Unfortunately the ambassadors of PETS still meet a lot of challenges in their work. On the training, people reported problems with cooperation with leaders and local community, lack of education among people on their right to ask, and leaders who ignored them, did not turn up on appointments, or received them with a skeptical attitude (typically who are you, and why do you ask about this).

Challenges and how to solve them were discussed, and YPM came with some advice for the future. The participants should be conscious not to do PETS alone, but teach their villages and by that creating whole communities working together as catalysts for change. Alone we are weak, but together we are unbreakable. Priorities for follow up should be decided collectively in the community, and ambassadors of PETS should make sure they report back to the village to inform them on their progress, build trust and get community power. In that way we are doing advocacy with the community, not for them.

YPM is aware that PETS is demanding work and will take time, but are grateful for all achievements reach this far.

Participants are discussing challenges they meet with PETS in their communities, and how to solve them.

Wheelchairs to Handeni hospital
Friday morning on the 16th of September, YPM donated four wheelchairs to Handeni hospital to be used by sick and disabled people living/visiting the hospital.

Construction of computer center
YPM is planning to put up a computer center for youths in Handeni, and have donated four computers for this purpose. The center is expected to open next month. Further information will be posted.