The High Level Meeting on Youth at UN-New York

Representatives from 400 youth groups gathered in New York today to attend a high-level meeting on youth convened by the General Assembly to discuss a wide range of issues of concern to the younger generation, including jobs, poverty and sustainable development.

Key speakers at the opening session of the two-day event include Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the President of the General Assembly Joseph Deiss, supermodel Alek Wek, who was born in South Sudan, and Brazilian youth representative Romulo Dantas.
A number of heads of State are also expected to attend the gathering, which will also be addressed by several other senior UN officials.

I will be closely following the meeting and I am hoping the HLMY will mark the beginning of engage young people in decision making as partners not follow us.
The high-level meeting is part of events to mark the International Year of Youth, and will have the overarching theme of “Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.”
It will comprise two consecutive informal interactive thematic panel discussions on Monday and two plenary meetings on Tuesday, with the former chaired by Member States at the invitation of Mr. Deiss.

The first panel discussion will be on the theme of strengthening international cooperation on youth affairs and enhancing dialogue, mutual understanding and active participation to achieve social integration, full employment and poverty eradication.
The second panel will be on the challenges to youth development and opportunities for poverty eradication, employment and sustainable development.

Yannick Tona
Youth Ambassadors for Harmony

Yannick Tona with MP Kalisa after the meeting with Discover Rwanda Group

Joint project of English Training Course for Youth between Office of Youth Ambassador for Harmony and Conservative Part/UK

18/07/2011 Youth Ambassador for Harmony Yannick Tona Launch the English Training Course for youth. The ETCY will be given in Centre Marembo a youth center based in Kigali and two Universities Kigali Institution of Education and UNILAK. The first course started today at Center Marembo with training for 40 young people age between 15 and 30 years old.

The Training will take 2 weeks and is more focus on improving and building confidence of using English by young people in Rwanda. The ETCY is provided by Volunteers from The Conservative Party/UK trough Project Umubano.

Speaking after the Launch of the Project Yannick Tona sad” I hope this training we help to improve lives of young people in center Marembo and Rwanda”.

Meeting Minister of Justice;Yannick Tona Speaking the Press after the meeting

Yannick Tona,Discover Rwanda and Minister of Justice Mr. Karugarama

In the afternoon of today 18/07/2011 Yannick Tona and Discover Rwanda group 2011 met Minister of Justice in Rwanda Mr. Karugarama at Ministry of Justice Headquarter in Kigali.
Addressing the group, Minister Karugarama said: “The worst is over and I believe that the nation can give a clear message that the future of this country is bright and that every body has room to live in this country freely.”
He noted that government would make sure that the progress made, so far, in the reconstruction process and restoring true justice in the country is sustained. Also Minister explain to Discover Rwanda participants and Yannick Tona how the Justice institutions was rebuild after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis , the role and importance of Gacaca and the role of the ministry of justice in preventing genocide and his ideology.
In the Question time Yannick Tona ask the Minister what will happen after Gacaca finish their work ; the Minister explain him that the government is working on a way that new case regarding the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis will be brought to normal court in Rwanda.
Speaking to press after the meeting Yannick Tona said that they were impressed by the country’s ability to address various challenges in the justice sector
Asked by the press The main objective of this visit; Yannick Tona said it was to learn about how the Ministry of Justice deals with issues concerning the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis and how the country has managed to move forward in all aspects, just after 17 years,”
He said that the entire world has great lessons to learn from Rwanda especially on how to promote peace, unity and reconciliation and rebuilding a post-conflict nation.
“It’s unbelievable how this country has managed to reconcile its citizens in a short period of time.”
He said that information they received from Minister Karugarama, will enable them to become ambassadors of Rwanda in their respective communities.

Independence of South Sudan

July 9th 2011 is a great day not just for people of South Sudan but for all nations of the world. As a new country is born in Africa, I call upon all nations to accompany and support South Sudan through what will likely be a long journey to establishment. Gaining independence is the first step of many South Sudan must undertake on many different fronts on their journey to prosperity. I encourage the international community, particularly the African countries, to walk with the people of South Sudan in this process. I wish our friends from the Republic of South Soudan a day full of joy and celebration in the attainment of their independence.
Yannick Tona
Youth Ambassador for Harmony

Food crisis in Somalia/YES YOUNG PEOPLE WE CAN END THIS FOOD CRISIS

I just got a very sad email about food crisis in Somalia; many young children are in such a weak condition it is difficult to save their lives. Young children are dying on their way to or within a day of arrival at camps in Ethiopia, more than 50% of Somali children arriving in Ethiopia are seriously malnourished and In Kenya that figure is between 30% and 40%. The need for food, shelter, health services and other life saving aid is urgent and massive in camps. The need our help, if we don't care no one will care. We are leaders of today and tomorrow. Young people let make a difference and help our brothers and sisters in Somalia . Please if you want to help contact UNHCR Office or UN office in your country.

YES YOUNG PEOPLE WE CAN END THIS FOOD CRISIS