Overview of the Year of Youth

The United Nations system’s approach for the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding (12 August 2010 – 11 August 2011) aims to provide a concrete framework for collective efforts during the Year. The UN system’s approach for the Year focuses on the three key areas outlined below. The progress achieved during this Year in each of these areas will lay the foundation for further work in youth development, including the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

1. Create awareness (increase commitment and investment in youth)
2. Mobilize and engage (increase youth participation and partnerships)
3. Connect and build bridges (increase intercultural understanding among youth)

For CSVR the year of youth presents an opportunity to exchange knowledge locally; in the region and globally on:

• Promoting  youth activism in preventing violence and building sustainable peace
• Deepening our understanding of youth experiences of violence both locally and globally
• To further this goal CSVR will be undertaking the following activities in 2010:

In addition:

• in the week of 23-27 August we will be facilitating a workshop on Youth activism against school violence at the global interactive forum (a parallel activities to the World Youth Conference Mexico 2010)  
• In the week of 20-26 September we will be participating in the Soweto Youth Festival.

Should you wish to participate or partner with us on any if the activities please contact Emily Mabusela on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Activities for the year 2011 will be available on our website from the 1st of December

WE REGRET THAT THE SEMINAR HAS BEEN POSTPONED AS A RESULT OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE – the date on which the seminar will be held is as yet undecided.

INVITATION TO ATTEND A SEMINAR

The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) in partnership with Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) will be hosting a roundtable discussion on ‘safeguarding the rights of girl child to education’.

The seminar is part of the two partners’ reflection, as we celebrate national women’s month, of how women and girl children in particular, deal a myriad of challenges in the education sector that could otherwise undermine the meaningful role they play towards advancing and defending democracy in South Africa. The roundtable will further review departmental strategies on teenage pregnancy and the impact of sexual violence on the girl child and their ability to access and complete their educational journey.

Further details of the Seminar are as follows:

Date:        30 August 2010
Venue:      Parktonian Hotel
Time:        10h30 – 13h00
RSVP:        Tsame Mfundisi at 011 403 5650/ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it