Kimmie Weeks makes cover of IB Magazine
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Kimmie Weeks to speak testify before Congress
Please join the Congressional Human Rights Caucus for a briefing on human trafficking from conflict zones in Sub-Saharan Africa. The briefing will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, in room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
The majority of trafficking victims in Africa are children who are trafficked either within their own countries or in the region for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Adult women are also trafficked for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude across African borders to Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Conflicts and civil strife in Africa have created displaced populations and traumatized local communities who are vulnerable to exploitation. In conflict areas, where government control is often limited, armed groups frequently abduct women or children for sexual slavery, and often recruit children into their ranks.
The conscription of child soldiers is a unique and extreme form of trafficking that UNICEF estimates affects more than 300,000 children under 18 in more than 30 armed conflicts worldwide. In December 2007, the United Nations noted that evidence suggests that refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) camps are often prime recruiting grounds for child soldiers because of the concentration of vulnerable children.
YAI begins support for former child soldiers in Uganda
Jinja, Uganda – On Wednesday April 30, 2008 Jinja District officials handed over goods donated by Youth Action International to the transit center in Jinja. Youth Action International (YAI) provided beds, mattresses, and blankets to cater for the basic needs of the children at the transit centre. This is the only transit centre in the district that caters for abandoned children who originate from different parts of Uganda including Karamoja, Soroti, Mbale, and Gulu. Speaking at the handover ceremony Ms. Agnes Amooti Namiyingo, YAI’s Country Representative noted that YAI chose to work with Jinja transit centre because it was giving hope to children who would otherwise not have anyone to care for them and possibly spend the rest of their lives on the streets. James, one of the children at the centre said that “he never thought he would sleep on a bed nor have a blanket to cover himself.”
YAI ASSIGNS REGIONAL DIRECTOR TO WEST AFRICA
Monrovia, Liberia: Eve de la Mothe Karoubi has taken up temporary assignment as Youth Action International’s Regional Director in West Africa. Although based in Liberia, Eve will help to coordinate YAI’s activities in Sierra Leone as well as explore opening a new office in the Ivory Coast. While in West Africa, Eve will host workshops on conflict resolution, and help launch a series of new YAI programs for women and youth. Continue reading
$150,000 in education materials for Liberia
Youth Action International is teaming up with People United for Libraries in Africa (PULA) and Mother Goose Times to ship over $150,000 in books and education supplies to Liberia and Sierra Leone. The consignment will include books for rural libraries, materials for a new after school initiative, computers and materials for Sierra Leone’s school for the visually impaired. Youth Action International will continue to ship education supplies to Liberia throughout the year.
Kimmie Weeks Joins Premier Gathering of Donors and Social Investors in Ambitious Undertaking: Finding Fresh Solutions for Global Social Impact
REDWOOD CITY, CA: Internationally acclaimed Liberian child rights activist Kimmie Weeks of Youth Action International is among the featured speakers at this year’s Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF), an annual gathering of cutting edge donors committed to international causes. Kimmie Weeks will be joined on stage by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former UN Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Virgin Atlantic’s Sir Richard Branson, Google.org’s Larry Brilliant, scholar Samantha Power and singer Annie Lennox in a discussion of “Human Security, Human Rights and the Shared Responsibility to Protect.” Five hundred of the world’s best known and most effective philanthropists will be in attendance.
According to the Global Philanthropy Forum’s founder and president, Jane Wales, “Once a year, the Global Philanthropy Forum convenes leading philanthropists from around the world for an intense three days to consider ways to tackle large problems. These challenges — be they poverty, disease, climate change, social exclusion or mass atrocities — cannot be solved by one state or one sector. Philanthropy, and those it supports, has a role to play.” GPF members are joined by on-the-ground advocates from the developing world, social entrepreneurs, business leaders and policy practitioners to chart strategies for impact and enter into collaborations. Continue reading
New TV series on Kimmie Weeks begins airing around the world
Youth Action International’s founder and Executive Director Kimmie Weeks is being featured in a new MTV and Discovery Channel reality series called 4Real. Hosted by Sol Guy, the show takes pop star MIA to Liberia to explore Kimmie’s work to transform his country.
As children of war, Sri Lankan rap maven M.I.A. and Liberian child advocate Kimmie Weeks know much about the devastation of civil war on countries, families and neighbors. Bringing M.I.A. to post-war Liberia, Sol introduces M.I.A. to Kimmie, showcasing his work to help young people rebuild their lives and their country. Forced into a refugee camp, Kimmie formed his first NGO at a young age and became one of the most wanted men in Liberia. But Kimmie’s reputation for helping others, now earns him an invite to meet with Liberia’s first female president, and he brings M.I.A. and Sol along for the gathering. Afterwards, Kimmie enlists Sol and M.I.A.’s help to repair the first playground in post-war Liberia – a symbolic example of the healing process. Mobbed at the marketplace, Sol and M.I.A. head back to the block for a party where she performs ‘World Town’ – inspired by her visit to Liberia. An impromptu dance-off shows off the spirit of a people working towards a better life and brighter future.
Other Celebrity guests for Season One are Cameron Diaz, Mos Def, Joaquin Phoenix, Eva Mendes, Casey Affleck, K’NAAN, M.I.A. and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The 4Real series is now airing in 133 countries and 35 languages.
YAI participates in the 2nd Afro-Arab Youth Conference in Uganda
Kampala,
YAI LAUNCHES Hospital2Hospital
Hospital2Hospital is one of Youth Action International’s newest and most exciting projects. Hospitals around the United States are working together to collect unused medical supplies, which would otherwise be discarded as waste. These medical supplies will be delivered to a major government hospital in Liberia and other hospitals in partner countries that are in dire need of the most basic of materials.
Many surgical materials such as gloves, sutures, drapes, gowns, and more are prepared for medical procedures but are later discarded unused even though they have had no contact with any individual and remain in their packaging. Hospital2Hospital uses the Remedy model, which is a safe and legal way of collecting unused medical supplies from U.S. hospitals. Remedy was founded at the Yale-New Haven Hospital by anesthesiologist William Rosenblatt and the model has spread to hundreds of hospitals around the country. Using this model, the Yale-New Haven hospital collects over $200,000 worth of medical supplies for groups around the world that otherwise would have been thrown away. In fact, this method saves some hospitals money from having to dispose of the medical supplies.
Every medical supply that is collected and shipped instead of being wastefully discarded can literally save lives in partner hospitals while cutting down on “waste” in the U.S. To find out how to get involved, please contact info@peaceforkids.org.
YAI Launches Vocational Training Program
Kampala, Uganda – On Friday February 8th, the Minister of Youth and Children, honorable James Kinobe officially opened Youth Action International’s vocational skills training initiative in the slum areas of Kampala, Kisenyi. Honorable Kinobe urged the youth to “maximize the opportunities afforded to them by this initiative.”Youth Action International launched the vocational skills training program in collaboration with Mengo Youth Development Link, a grassroots organisation for both income generation and skills development to the marginalized youth in Kampala’s slum areas. Continue reading
