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Kenyan slum youth to benefit from UN Secretary-General’s donation
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

23/06/2008
Nairobi



Young people drawn from two Nairobi slums are set to be the first beneficiaries of a donation by UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon which is being administered by UN-HABITAT.

At the beginning of last year, while visiting Kenya, United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon was deeply moved at the poverty he witnessed in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa. He, therefore, pledged a donation of USD 100,000 to help train young people living in Nairobi’s slums.

The result is that 70 young people representing 13 different villages of Kibera as well as their colleagues from Mavoko (also an informal settlement on the outskirts of Nairobi) gathered at UN-HABITAT to celebrate the launching of the Youth Empowerment Programme.

Addressing the youth, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka encouraged them to move beyond the tensions left by the unfortunate conflicts which took place in Kenya earlier this year. A disputed election process saw skirmishes erupt in Kenya early this year with some 1,200 people losing their lives while over 100,000 were displaced.

Instead, Mrs. Tibaijuka called on young people to take responsibility to empower themselves, organize, and effect positive change in their communities.

The representative from the Kenyan government, Mr. Stephen Jalenga from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, thanked UN HABITAT for its leadership in providing this training, and as well for empowering youth to organize themselves.

“There are over 700,000 people in Kibera, and 60% of them are youth.” stated Linus Sijenti, a youth leader form Kibera. “This project is the first step in giving young people skills to lift them out of poverty.”

Youth chosen for the course will be trained in three key innovative techniques that includes making “Habitat blocks”; glass “Bottle window” tiles; and “Ferro cement” doors.

“Habitat blocks”, are low-cost bricks that are only 20% of the cost of an ordinary brick. Glass “Bottle Window” tiles are near unbreakable glass windows that can be made out of recycled materials while the “Ferro cement” doors are almost fire and bullet proof. Training in these three innovative techniques will allow the participants to attain skills that they can market and use to start small enterprises within their communities.


June 23, 2008 | 4:57 PM Comments  2 comments

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UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum Special Announcement
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Dear All,
As a result of the recent earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province, the Ministry of Housing and Construction of China (MHCC) which is host to the Fourth session of the World Urban Forum, and which is keen for a successful event, has suggested a possible postponement of the meeting. This is so that it (MHCC) can concentrate on humanitarian relief operations as a matter of priority to ensure that the populations affected are properly sheltered before the onset of next winter.

This very difficult situation of force majeure facing the country, and in particular the Ministry of Housing and Construction of China, is undeniable and understood. The Members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Nairobi and UN-HABITAT have discussed the matter and are fully sympathetic with the situation. However, as an official meeting of the United Nations mandated by the General Assembly to be held this year, postponement is not possible. Discussions are underway with China to find a mutually acceptable solution. Such a solution would entail more support by the UN-HABITAT Secretariat in the organization of the Conference to reduce the burden on the host with the intention of keeping the meeting as planned in Nanjing, thereby avoiding financial losses for WUF 4 partners who have already made travel and other committments.

Should difficulties in holding the meeting in Nanjing prove insurmountable, WUF 4 will be relocated to another suitable venue in Asia on the same dates so as to minimize logistical and financial inconvenience.

If the Asian option does not work out, in line with UN rules and standard practice, we are pleased to inform WUF 4 participants that UN-HABITAT's host country, Kenya, has kindly offered to host the event in Nairobi during the same dates.

WUF 4 participants are advised to continue with registration and their substantive preparations for the event as they monitor progress on the venue on this website. It is anticipated that the matter of the venue will have been concluded by 15th July.

Regards,
Christabell

June 23, 2008 | 4:02 PM Comments  0 comments

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Invitation to UN HABITAT's World Urban Youth Forum E-consultaions
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

From June 15 – July 11, 2008 the Partners and Youth section of the UN-HABITAT will undertake an e-consultation at http://groups.takingitglobal.org/WUYF4.
The Fourth World Urban Forum (WUF) will take place in Nanging, China from 3rd - 7th November 2008 and the World Urban Youth Forum (WUYF) will take place, before the WUF, from the 1st to the 2nd of November 2008.

The aim of the e-consultation is to gather information for the Development of a Background Paper for the WUYF.. Participants to the consultations are requested to consult with their peers who do not have access to internet so that their opinions can be included in the paper as well.

The theme of both Forums is Harmonious Urbanization: The Challenge of Balanced Territorial Development. UN-HABITAT would like to solicit thoughts experiences and suggestions from you, the youth, on this theme through this e-consultation. This process will present an opportunity for you to articulate and give meaning to what you consider harmonious or inharmonious in your lives, towns and cities. It is also an opportunity for you to suggest ways to increase harmony in your neighbourhoods.

As we start off please I'd like to invite you to http://groups.takingitglobal.org/WUYF4

a) Introduce yourself
Name: _____________________
Organization: _________________________
Position________________
Country: ________________________________
Age: ____
Gender: ________

b) Write a few line about your expectations on this e-consultation
c) Share your understanding of the UN-HABITAT World Urban Youth Forum

Looking forward to the e-consultations

Regards,
Christabell A Opudo
Local Programme Assistance
UN-HABITAT Partners and Youth Section

http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/copudo

June 12, 2008 | 9:17 AM Comments  3 comments

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http://apps.facebook.com/causes/75383?recruiter_id=2001358
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

hi collegues just 3 days left,

Move Your Lips
Raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. The person who recruits the most people between March 27th and June 9th 2008 to THIS FACEBOOK CAUSE will win a trip for two to either London or New York!
Donations to the cause benefit:
STAYING ALIVE FOUNDATION INC
a 501(c)(3) non-profit

Make a noise about HIV and AIDS - we are the generation that can do something about it!
Get clued up - learn more at moveyourlips.com
Buy a guarana lip butter at the Body Shop - money raised supports the Staying Alive Foundation
Invite as many people as you can to this cause - and build maximum support

for more information click this link http://apps.facebook.com/causes/75383?recruiter_id=2001358

Cheers

June 6, 2008 | 8:30 AM Comments  0 comments

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