Message of Hope

Damola Morenikeji and Nigeria's President, Olusegun Obasanjo - as the latter affirms his hope for Nigeria and Nigerians

Leading the Future

ADM and some pupils at one of his programme.

Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child

Aanu Damola Morenikeji and Obiageli "Oby" Ezekwesili (CFR); World Bank's Vice President for Africa.

Award

Damola Morenikeji with the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun after becoming the first recipient of the Ogun State Youth Award for Excellence in Health and Community Service.

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Global Youth Forum: Calling on Youth Leaders


Registration open for virtual delegates
People under age 25 represent 43 per cent of the global population. Yet they rarely have an opportunity to influence national or global policies.
However, on 4-6 December 2012, over 900 youth leaders, representing every country, will have an unprecedented opportunity to have their say when they convene in Bali to develop official recommendations for the United Nations development agenda.
Youth can contribute virtually
They will not be the only ones contributing. Around the world, youth leaders will connect locally and electronically to provide a shared response to the social, economic and human rights challenges and opportunities faced by their generation.

If you have access to a computer, are between the ages of 14 and 25, and interested in influencing the global development agenda, register to become a virtual delegate now.
Once approved you will receive log in instructions and can start to connect, advocate and join a global conversation on the key issues for youth. During the Forum you will be able to follow broadcasts online and submit your recommendations via the virtual delegate platform. In some cities, hubs will allow virtual delegates to participate in groups.
Five crucial issues under discussion
Led by young people for young people and contributing directly to the process of defining future development goals, the Global Youth Forum will give young people a stronger voice. Delegates will agree on global recommendations for action on five crucial issues:

  • Staying healthy
  • Comprehensive education
  • Transitions to decent employment for youth
  • Sexuality, families and rights
  • Fully inclusive civic participation
The issues are based on goals that emerged from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and that remain relevant to the lives of young people. Through a partnership of UN agencies, young people, civil society and the private sector , the Forum aims to spur a sustainable youth advocacy movement.
via:#OpportunityforYouth

Saturday 27 October 2012

ADM-Foundation launches 'YouthSpeakDevelopment' (Online Opinion Bank)

In ensuring the participation of young people in the development process of the African continent, an online opinion bank – YouthSpeakDevelopment – have been launched by All for Development Foundation (ADM-Foundation).


With youths constituting over 60% of the African population, it had been observed that they (youths) possess strong, unimaginable zeal for the development of their countries and the continent, thus, the need for their voice, opinions, ideas and feelings to be shared and positively considered, regardless of their nationality, gender, age or culture.

In a statement accredited to the Executive Director of the organization – 19 year old Aanu Damola Morenikeji – he noted that ‘since youths are the greatest assets that our continent possesses, our opinions and ideas have a strong influence on our future. So, we are launching YouthSpeakDevelopment an opinion bank meant to give youths from within African and diaspora an avenue to share their views, opinions and ideas towards the development of the continent.


Noting that African Youth Day will be commemorated on Thursday, November 1st, 2012, he urged African youths to share their opinions via www.tinyurl.com/YouthSpeakDevelopmentAYD2012.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

DESPLAY Africa (Youth Democracy Academy) Season 8 - Call for Application

I recommend the Youth Democracy Academy - DESPLAY Africa - to all young and emerging leaders and democrats in the African continent.
DESPLAY Africa enjoyed patronage from youth in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon and South Africa. This is your turn to join a robust and growing community of young democrats.
What DESPLAY Season 8 Offers:
  • Admission Slots for ONLY 35 young people within Africa (especially from West and Central African Countries).
  • Three (3) Semesters/Workshops of 4 days each in a different state and region of Nigeria.
  • About 30 knowledge based sessions and focus group discussions and activities.
  • Opportunity to challenge and improve your personal leadership influence and impact.
  • Obtain a youth democracy and good governance engagement toolkit (Video and Handbook – FREE)
  • Opportunity to meet and engage with young democrats around the world.
  • 10 day learning visit to an African country practising democracy.
  • Get a chance to run for Office of President of DESPLAY Republic Season 8 among others.
No one completes the DESPLAY Africa program and remains the same.
For more information, click here.

~Aanu Damola Morenikeji (DESPLAY Fellow 2012)

Sunday 21 October 2012

Youth Social Business Summit 2012; Register


The Youth Social Business Summit 2012 (YSBS) is the first ever international event that serves to propagate social business among youths, foster discussion and collaboration between existing practitioners and stakeholders, as well as present and conceive best practices.
The event will gather youth delegates, experts from private sectors, civil society, governments and academia for 3 days of workshops, panel sessions and meetings.
Whether you are a social entrepreneur looking to adopt social business, a Corporate Affairs executive that sees positive impact as more than a CSR afterthought, or an idealistic youth interested to learn how one can change the lives of many, YSBS has something for everyone.
The Youth Social Business Summit 2012 will hold between 7th and 9th December at Publika, Solaris Dutamas.
As Professor Muhammad Yunus puts it, social business is a “non-loss, non-dividend company designed to address a social objective within the highly regulated marketplace of today”.

For registration visit www.socialbusinesssummit.my or email tristan@myharapan.org

Apply for Studership; Student Leadership Training


The Student Leadership (STUDERSHIP) Training is an initiative of All for Development Foundation (ADM-Foundation) aimed at reorienting and training student leaders towards strengthening their leadership qualities and strategies for the purpose of building an integrity conscious generation.

The training which will be held in successions will help in promoting integrity based leadership in tertiary institutions (higher institutes of learning) across Africa, and in extension focus the attention of the teeming young undergraduates to other related developmental issues which will reduce the involvement of students in social vices within the continent.

The training is also intended to - among other things - stimulate goal-oriented thinking and behavior, promote transformational leadership processes and promote active youth participation in decision making processes.

To apply, fill the application form here.

Only successful applicants will be contacted. For further information, send a mail with the subject 'STUDERSHIP’ to allfordevelopment1@gmail.com.

Friday 19 October 2012

She Entrepreneurs 2013; Call for Application


Are you a woman with a vision? Do you want to contribute to sustainable change? Apply to She Entrepreneurs, a Swedish Institute leadership program, and become part of a unique network of women social entrepreneurs. 
She Entrepreneurs offers inspiration, tools and networks aimed at building collaborative strategies and expanding partnerships between Sweden and the countries involved in the program.

She Entrepreneurs focuses on young women social entrepreneurs in the Middle East, North Africa and Sweden. The program runs for one year, with participants meeting for ten days in Sweden and one week in the MENA region. During the first module in Sweden, participants are provided with tools needed to develop a social project for sustainable change in their country or region. In between the meetings, the participants work on their own projects locally, coached by group mentors over digital platforms.

The participants are offered the opportunity to meet Swedish organizations as well as leading social and business entrepreneurs. Through the program, participants become part of an active network that strengthens the role of women and supports personal and professional development.

Who can apply?
Women between the ages of 20 and 32 from Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank-Gaza and Yemen who have the ambition and interest to use social entrepreneurship to further develop and implement a social projec that has already been initiated. You should have good knowledge of both written and spoken English as well as basic knowledge of the Internet and social media like Facebook and Twitter.

You will find the application procedure on the website. There is no fee for the program. Travel, hotel and food expenses are included in the program.

Application process opens: 1 October, 2012
Deadline for application: November 2, 2012
Skype interviews: December 4-14, 2012
Accepted applicants will be informed by: January 18, 2013
She Entrepreneurs 2013: April 6–17, 2013

For more information about She Entrepreneurs, go to www.si.se/sheentrepreneurs or contact Ulrika Rosvall Levin, program manager, at ulrika.rosvalllevin@si.se or Camilla Eriksson, communications officer, atcamilla.eriksson@si.se

Are you 19 or under, Apply to the Thiel Fellowship


Thinking of applying to the Thiel Fellowship? Did you know that most of our fellows didn’t think they’d make it to the finalist round? You’ll never know if you don’t apply.
We want to see you move forward with your project, no matter the outcome of the application period. Here are ways we support our applicants:
  • We’ve heard from many applicants that just the act of applying has encouraged them to move forward with their ideas, helped them to think deeply about their future, set goals, and pursue their dreams, even if they did not receive a fellowship.
  • Through applicant events like the Under 20 Summit, and virtual connections on Facebook, we’re excited to help build a robust community rallying around youth entrepreneurship.
  • Applicants who receive a phone interview get one-on-one support from a mentor and can choose to stay in touch with their interviewer for continued guidance.
  • Finalists are flown out to San Francisco where they meet other young visionaries and develop friendships with likeminded peers. They also meet with the Thiel Fellowship Network of mentors and advisors. We encourage finalists to connect with as many people as possible so that, even if they are not a fellowship recipient, they can still leverage our network. Some finalists have chosen to stay in touch with the Thiel Foundation as well to get advice and encouragement along the way.
To be considered a candidate for the application you must be:
  • 19 or under by December 31st of the application year.
  • Able to submit your application in English.
  • Able to submit your application by midnight on December 31st of this year.
We’d love for you to share with us about how you want to change the world. To view the application questions before registering, please visit:http://www.thielfellowship.org/apply/

FY13 Youth Innovation Fund (YIF): Call for Proposals


FY13 Youth Innovation Fund (YIF): Call for Proposals

Grants of approximately $10,000 from the Youth Innovation Fund
for innovative development projects
Are you 33 or under, work for the World Bank Group, have a desire to gain greater operational experience, and have an innovative project idea?  If so, then this is your chance!
The Youth Innovation Fund is proud to announce a new round of funding for this fiscal year to support young staff’s implementation of innovative approaches to international development. Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to the proposals which best meet the judging criteria and areas of focus described below.
There will be a YIF Informational Session at 12:30pm on Tuesday, October 9th in MC13-121.  Please bring your lunch and your questions.
Areas of focus
Projects should target the areas of youth development in World Bank client countries across a range of issues including, but not limited to:
  • Education
  • Youth Entrepreneurship / Employment
  • Information Technology and Communication
  • Gender
  • Governance
  • Health
We highly encourage projects to be innovative and to utilize technology and social media platforms.
Selection Criteria
The proposals will be judged on the following criteria:
  • Relevance – Follows the loose guidelines set forth in the “Areas of Focus.”
  • Partnering – Partnership with World Bank country office and an organization in the country or one that works in the country is strongly encouraged, including some mirroring or matching of funds (can include in-kind support). Collaboration with non-traditional Bank partner organizations, such as NGOs, tech companies, media, etc in the form of support and funding is encouraged.
  • Actionable – Clear implementation plan; can be launched and the funds can be disbursed by the end of FY13 (June 30, 2013).
  • Measurable – Clear methodology and plan for measuring results.
  • Sustainable & Scalable– the concept is scalable and can be built on.
  • Expected Impact – The idea has the potential for significant development impact to the targeted region, community, or demographic group.
Eligibility
Eligibility: Everyone who works for the WBG and will be aged 33 and under as of 6/30/13. Candidates are required to have a “manager mentor” who is willing to provide guidance on the project. Candidates must still be under the employ of the World Bank Group as of 06/30/2013.
How to Submit
Proposals should be submitted no later than COB November 2, 2012. Proposal forms are attached and can also be accessed at the following website:http://bit.ly/vjIQ2Z and when completed should be sent to y2y-yif@worldbank.org.

Questions?
The FY13 call for proposals is administered by the YIF Team. If you have any questions or concerns, please see the attached Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).  If your question is not addressed there, please send an email to y2y-yif@worldbank.org and we will try to respond to your question promptly.
Also, please note the YIF Information Session on Tuesday, October 9th at 12:30pm in MC13-121.
Click here to download some information

World Youth Day for Democracy; Reflection 1


As i joined other young developmental minds, from across the world in celebrating the World Youth Day for Democracy (18th October), i call on young people to contribute their quota to the sustainability of democracy - which have come to stay in Nigeria.

With youths constituting over 60% of the Nigerian population, it is neccessary for us to make good use of one of our major resurces - ideas. Through positive ideas, let's unite to make Nigeria's democratic process and system a model for emmulation. A fact we must admit is that the older generation can not create it alone. Let's join hands, synegize towards building integrity conscious systems.

It was opined - from my discussion with some young minds today - that corruption has been an impediment to we having quality dividends of democracy. As true as that may sound, i am optimistic, and propose a solution. The solution is as clear and right; it is DOING the RIGHT things.

As young people, we should be disciplined, and determined to ALWAYS do what is right. When everyone does what we know is right, and make positive civic participation in our communities, cities, states and country, we will be suprised that the next generation will only know the term 'curruption' as a word in the dictionary.

We are to make things work, we will, we are!

Long live democracy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

~ADM Nigeria

Thursday 18 October 2012

Share your dream #WomenDeliver2013


Everyone has a dream in life. These dreams help us define our own individual path, purpose, and goals. In this project, Women Deliver, DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) and The Lancet want to highlight and explore the dreams of young people living across the world.
If you are a young person under the age of 30, we want to hear from YOU about YOUR dreams for a better future! Tell us your desires, hopes, goals– this can be about what you would like to achieve in life or about what you would like to see happen for your family, community and country.

What is the purpose of this exciting opportunity? 
In May 2013, Women Deliver will host a global conference that will call on world leaders to move from promises to progress for girls and women. In preparation for this, The Lancet will run a special feature in their journal that will focus on the dreams and hopes of young people living in Africa, South America, and South Asia.

Why should you get involved?
Since the Women Deliver conference in 2013 will be attended by leaders and participants from all over the world, your dream for the future can make a difference. All dreams accepted for publication will be promoted at the event and shared among those attending. This is YOUR chance to make them listen to YOUR thoughts, hopes and goals. You will be a role model for other young people in your community and country. 

Sample Dream Submission: 
I have a dream that my younger sister and I will be able to finish school. She wants to be a teacher and I want to be a doctor. Together, we dream of making sure that every girl in our village has access to education, contraceptives and medical care.  We have seen too many of our friends and cousins drop out of school to get married or work, and we wish that things could be different. My sister and I have more options than most, because our parents believed we should choose the direction of our own lives. I hope that one day every girl will have this freedom. If this was the case, we would have more women in healthcare, education and politics making decisions that affect the lives of young girls.  When only men are making these decisions, they cannot fully understand the challenges that girls face. When my sister and I are older, we will remember our lives now, and that of our peers, and use that knowledge to shape our decisions. This is how the world will change, one dream at a time.

How can I get involved?
  • Fill out the form, click here. Please note that depending on where you are writing your dream, it may be better to write it offline first before visiting the submission form. This way you can copy and paste the information in.
     
  • Since space is limited in the journal, we may not be able to accommodate every dream sent to us. In addition to the dreams listed in The Lancet, we will also create a digital map of dreams which will be made visible at the conference. Please do not worry too much about getting the language right, as all dreams will be edited as needed before they are sent to The Lancet.
     
  • By filling in the online submission form and submitting your dream, you allow DSW, Women Deliver and The Lancetpermission to feature your dream on some social media channels (such as Twitter and Facebook).
     
  • If you have any questions, or have any problems completing the form, please email Mr. Shane O’Halloran.
     
  • Closing date for receipt of entries is November 23rd, 2012.

Pan African Youth Leadership Forum; Apply


We are pleased to announce that Friends of Africa International, Inc. (FAI), in collaboration with the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, will be hosting our third annual Pan-African Youth Leadership Forum (PAYLF), December 10-14, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
More than just a conference, this year’s Forum is a series of initiatives set forth by FAI to provide a platform for a commitment to youth development in Africa. Emphasis will be placed on peace and security as a means to promote economic and political stability in the era of the African Renewal. PAYLF III’s main objective is to establish a permanent infrastructure for a future corps of well-informed, active, and committed youths to answer the call to rebuild failed institutions throughout the continent.
Delegates at this year’s Forum will participate in skill building workshops, training sessions, and breakout sessions alongside international expert resource persons (made available by FAI and its partners) from various parts of the world. Several of the key issues that delegates will discuss include: monitoring elections, monitoring peace and security measures, women’s rights and development, assessing economic development, assessing climate change, and promoting youth mentorship.
The upcoming event will not only bring together promising young Africans from across the continent, but also young people from various other continents as well, so that they can share their experiences and expertise, questions and concerns, and their hopes and dreams for the future revitalization and development of Africa.
For more information concerning past Forums or to learn more about FAI and what we do, please visit our website at www.fafrica.org.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION BELOW: