Voices of Youth Newsletter June 2005 no. 16 Tsunami Terror: Rethinking the aftermath It has been almost six months since the Indian Ocean tsunami struck, and young people are more concerned and involved than ever. Perhaps the best gauge of their enthusiasm is “Tsunami Terror,” the discussion forum on Voices of Youth that was created for the exchange of thoughts and suggestions about the disaster. “Tsunami Terror” became one of the most popular forums on Voices of Youth, yielding more than 450 posts, 69% of which are from girls and almost 20% from the affected region. The C8 Children’s Forum: Find out more and join the discussion! Implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Tell us how your country is doing! Violence Against Children Youth consultations for the UN Study. Join in today! WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT: Macedonia has won the Make a difference! 1-minute video contest Upcoming: Play the new Water Alert! game INSIGHT OF THE MONTH "In these days with the tragedy in South Asia I realized that the youngsters want to participate and make a better world. All [their] ideas show that the young people are united and willing to help the people that need their support. The youngsters are acting locally and that’s great because they show their urge to live in a better world.” girl, 18, Colombia Overview The Indian Ocean Tsunami was possibly the most devastating natural disaster of our time, killing hundreds of thousands of men, women and children — and the damage will continue to pose obstacles in the coming months and years. The participants on Voices of Youth have shown a deep understanding of the disaster’s aftermath and its ongoing effects, particularly on young people who have been weakened, orphaned, or victimized. Their concerns have covered pressing issues ranging from the most obvious (emergency care and conditions in camps for internally displaced persons) to the more complex (child trafficking and the psychological effects of the tsunami, especially for children). Voices of Youth participants have also demonstrated great foresight in making demands for the well-being of young people in tsunami-affected areas. Participants not only insisted on the cooperation of high-level authority figures, they were also willing to take matters into their own hands: from as early as January 2005, young people from around the world started tsunami relief efforts on their own, sometimes even reaching into their pockets for the cause. SRI LANKA “I know that day they weren’t the only ones to cry, in fact, it was the whole world who cried along with them. The time has come to lift up our spirits and work together. We can’t bring back the dead but we can make those who are left behind live again.” girl, 18 This newsletter celebrates the remarkable compassion and dedication that the participants on Voices of Youth have shown for tsunami victims. May their voices be heard. For more information contact: Amber Oliver, Coordinator, voy@unicef.org Aftermath of the tsunami Resuming life & School The aftermath of the tsunami has brought about many hardships, and young people firmly believe that though affected populations want to help themselves, they may need some assistance to do so. indonesia “Back in Indonesia, I can see that those affected are trying to rebuild their lives. They know they can’t live on handouts forever, so they are already carrying on their daily lives and trying to make a living.” girl, 17 india “Condition are still remaining critical, and people who have faced this tragedy are living [only with difficulty] and need things to run their family and life.” boy, 16 Sri lanka “So if anyone could provide stuff such as toys or books which would help these children get back to normalcy it would be great. Also, the most pressing need is to get these people back to their homes.” boy, 19 Health care Participants on Voices of Youth are concerned about potential disease in tsunami affected areas. They call for immediate and widespread distribution of medicine to the victims. ireland “It is predicted that the number of dead will double due to diseases spreading like wildfire. The aftermath of the tsunami is going to kill as many again. Urgent help is needed.” girl, 20 Camps Young people are concerned about several reports indicating that months after the tsunami, administrative processes still delay the delivery of donations to camps for the internally displaced. india “Amongst the organisers and everyone there are several taking advantage of the situation for the sake of strategy, politics, and money.” girl, 17 Indonesia “Please, don’t you ever cheat with the money they gave to our country, Mr. President. I will be so ashamed as an Indonesian if that happened.” girl, >21 united kingdom “Please, we need to make sure that all the aid is going equitably to everyone.” boy, >21 Young people are also noticing that camps for the internally displaced are being turned into dumping grounds. Brazil “Some of the stuff that was given out was pretty weird, such as makeup, and beauty products. I don’t think people realize that these are pretty much useless.” girl, 17 trafficking In times of emergency, say young people, there will always be opportunists waiting to take advantage of the vulnerable. VOY participants are offering suggestions for measures to protect against child trafficking. romania “Create volunteer centres where the victims (especially children and teenagers) could learn how [to] avoid being victims of child trafficking (a great problem now).” girl, 17 somalia “What can be done for children without homes and lost parents: set up camps with every child registered. girl, 19 mental health Participants on Voices of Youth show concern for the mental health of children affected by the tsunami. indonesia “How do you feel if your parents are suddenly taken away to the wild salty sea and you never see them again? How do you feel if your sister or brother bodies are found dead behind the rumbles of your house? And it all happen in one morning? Well that is how the children in Aceh feel now.” girl, 9 singapore “I’ve always believed that, in whatever situation, kids are the worst hit ones. We need to not let them be led astray, thinking that this world is so unfair to them.” boy, >21 Young people see themselves as playing a critical role in the recovery effort by reaching out to child victims and others. argentina “Psychologists can help children cope with traumas, but [other] young people are also there to understand them. If we can get in contact with them we can be very helpful.” girl, 18 china “When we send money to them as a union, we could write a letter and put it with the money. Money can help them rebuild their home; love can help them rebuild their hope.” girl, >21 youth-led initiatives Showing a keen sense of responsibility as global citizens, young people tell us what they are doing to help: united erab emirates “I was busy collecting money & clothes for the people in south Asia. Now, when I check [Voices of Youth] I find out that I am not [the only one] who thinks and acts for them. Thank you.” boy, >21 qatar “We can put [up] posters to tell people a particular story from a specific place about a victim.” girl, 15 mexico “You can send [letters of support] for tsunami victims ... there are people who can spread the letters and give them to the people.” boy, 17 malaysia “I realise the majority listens to carolling, I think getting a group of friends singing songs such as ‘We are the World’ could collect money.” girl, >21 kenya “Considerable effort is being made but it also begins with us. Instead of complaining, do something.” boy, 20 Greece “Every day I give money to help and I would also like to give clothes … but aside from that I would like to do some more hands-on work.” boy, 17 iran “Seeing that there are still people who do not forget people in their happy days makes me hopeful. I am eager to help but my [financial] circumstances aren’t that good. I can only say I hope they hear my voice.” boy, 19 united states “Selling candles for a dollar. All the money go to a fund we set up to donate to UNICEF. Then the people who bought a candle will be invited to attend a candlelight vigil to pay respects to those lost in the disaster.” girl, 17 international cooperation When it comes to large-scale tsunami rehabilitation efforts, young people are somewhat sceptical about international cooperation. pakistan “Let’s just hope that governments and people continue their efforts because usually the trend is for the fervour to die out as soon as the media hype is cooled up.” girl, 19 australia “I am really happy to see aid poured into Asia from all around the world. However, it’s sad that we are only just emptying our wallets now.” girl, 19 conclusion Young people’s commitment to tsunami relief and rehabilitation remains clear. They have used Voices of Youth as a forum both to share their own projects and to borrow ideas from others. Their energy highlights once again how worthy youth-based efforts of any kind can be. As one child from Sri Lanka said, “Remember: the ocean is made up of drops of tiny water.” malaysia “It’s heartbreaking and at the same time, a relief. It’s great to see many teens like us taking the effort to share thoughts on the disaster.” girl, 16 For more information, read past VOY newsletters: § April 2005: “Young people call for equal rights for all” § Dec. 2004: Water, environment and sanitation § Feb. 2003 & Oct. 2004: Commercial sexual exploitation § August 2004: Education § April 2004: Media § Dec. 2002 & June 2004: HIV/AIDS § February 2005: Violence LEND A HELPING HAND TO Tsunami rehabilitation efforts Join other young people around the world as they enact change! Following the tragic events of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Adolescent Development and Participation Unit (ADAP) of UNICEF saw the necessity of an advocacy document for the region’s affected youths. For this reason, ADAP is producing one this month under the working title, “Voices of Youth: A Source of Hope Amidst Tsunami Recovery.” The document will be used will be used to raise awareness of the main issues and concerns facing adolescent tsunami survivors and, in doing so, keep this focus alive throughout the rehabilitation efforts in affected countries. More importantly, however, the advocacy document will be empowering; that is, while it will aim to identify and underline the specific vulnerabilities of adolescents in the tsunami crisis, it will also emphasize their capacity and competence in participation and their potential contributions to the rehabilitation efforts. The bulk of this document will consist of comments extracted from Voices of Youth’s “Tsunami Terror” online discussion forum. Real-life stories of initiatives, actions, and organized collaborations will all contribute to the document’s depiction of young people as partners in global change. To bring it full circle and fully integrate young people into our project, adolescents themselves will play a key role in editing the advocacy document. To find out more about how you can join hundreds of other young people around the world already taking part in tsunami rehabilitation efforts, visit the list of selected websites below. · Quarters from Kids www.quartersfromkids.org With the support of former Presidents Bush and Clinton, Quarters from Kids was launched as a campaign to engage young people in a collective response to the tsunami disaster. The process is as follows: young people donate quarter-by-quarter (or even nickel-by-nickel) to the organization of their choice. Currently, Quarters from Kids has more than 100 youth-based organizations and over a dozen relief organizations under its umbrella. · Catholic Agency for Overseas Development www.cafod.org.uk FASTTRACK is a website especially for young activists who show a deep concern for pressing global issues. Click on “What’s Up” for brand-new headline news, or “Big Issues” for a summary of what’s going on. Then follow the advice from FASTTRACK on the many different ways you can get involved. · Christian Aid http://www.christianaid.org.uk/learn/ Christian Aid’s “le@rn zone” is as cool as its name! Designed for teachers, youth leaders, and children, it provides resources that help make learning about heavy issues seem a little more lighthearted. Its latest installment is the “H2KnOw” pack, which uses facts, activities, and real life stories to show how water affects people’s lives around the world. The pack also contains information and ideas for reflecting on the impact of the tsunami. · Oxfam International www.oxfam.org Oxfam International has raised about $200 million (and counting) for tsunami relief. The organization is active in Indonesia, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, and India. In collaboration with all respective country governments, other NGOs, and partners in the affected areas, Oxfam will spend the next three to five years rebuilding essential infrastructure and helping people restore their livelihoods. Join thousands of other young people around the world by writing in to see how you can help! · The Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org The Salvation Army has officially declared 2005 the “Year for and Youth” so your input is more than welcome! The organization has launched campaigns such as The Youth Ambassadors’ Initiative, an exchange program that enables young people to address similar issues in different contexts. · Sarvodaya www.sarvodaya.org In the past, Sarvodaya has adopted the UNESCAP Braga Youth Action Plan, which involves more than 400 young people representing youth organizations from 150 countries. Together, they work toward the overall development of society, and they want to be considered serious and reliable partners in the conception, planning, and implementation of policies in their communities. Though their focus is primarily in Sri Lanka, they have lots of ideas about getting involved. Voices of Youth http://www.unicef.org/voy/ Since 1995, VOY has focused on exploring the educational and community building potential of the Internet, and facilitating the active and substantive participation of young people on child rights and development related issues. Through web boards, interactive quizzes, youth leadership profiles, live chats and more, Voices of Youth provides thousands of young people from over 180 countries with an opportunity to self-inform, engage in lively debate, and partner—with their peers and decision makers—to create a world fit for children.