European first for Scotland

Looking to build a better future

The World Youth Congress (WYC) series was launched by UK-registered charity, Peace Child International, and the first congress was held in Hawaii in 1999. Dubbed the Millennium Young People's Congress, it was initially conceived as a young people's earth summit. Instead, the first congress identified ten key priorities for the new millennium, eight of which were the same as the priorities decided by the UN a year later. The congress showed that young people want to take an active part in development and the concept of youth-led development was born.

Aimed at offering young people an opportunity to share their commitment to the environment and contribute to building a better future, the WYC provides a forum for young people, aged between 18 and 25, to share their expertise and skills with young people in other countries as well as development agencies.

The 3rd World Youth Congress was held in Scotland, at Stirling University summer 2005, the first time the event came to Europe.

Scotland was chosen for the event because of its outward-looking attitude and its commitment to youth. Scotland also has an enviable reputation for hosting great events; be it the Edinburgh Festivals, Hogmanay or the MTV awards.

51% of the world's population are under 25 with the percentage increasing in developing countries. Their voice and their commitment to the future of the environment are vital.

The overall theme for Scotland 2005 was 'Young People working for a Sustainable World Community' and the programme aimed to reflect and further the UN's Millennium Development Goals: sustainability, poverty, education, equality, community and health.

Funding, organisation and co-ordination for each individual event was managed by the organisations in Scotland including the Scottish Executive, Peace Child International, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Scottish Youth Parliament and other youth organisations.

Speakers and inspiration from the four corners of the world

The delegates at the opening day of the WYC were addressed by dignitaries and speakers at the plenary sessions held throughout the 10 day event included Eveline Herfkens, executive co-ordinator for MDGs campaign; Kumi Naidoo, secretary general and chief executive officer of Civicus and Chair of Global Call to Action Against Poverty; Ben Quinto, executive director of Global Youth Action Network; Jens Mester, European Commission; Nivi Narang, Oxfam; Ryan Hrelijac, founder of Ryan's Well Foundation and the Bloomer sisters, co-founders of a new, US-based global service project.

Ryan Hreljac and the Bloomer sisters exemplify what the Congress is really all about.

Ryan was six when his teacher explained that people were dying in Africa because they didn't have clean water. This upset him so much that he went home that day determined to raise enough money to build a well. In 2004, Ryan travelled to Uganda for the first time with his parents to see the well and the drilling equipment that he had made possible. With the assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency, his Ryan's Well Foundation has helped to raise more than $500,000. Ryan has met the Prime Minister of Canada, been on Graham Kerr's "The Gathering Place" television show, laid a wreath with Prince Charles and been on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Ryan continues his work with the Ryan's Well Foundation today.

When former child labourer Iqbal Masih of Pakistan, visited the Broad Meadows Middle School students in the USA during 1997 he met a group of young students that were so moved by his story that they decided to get involved in campaigning. Elizabeth Bloomer, who was 12 at the time, went on to speak at a U.S. Congressional Hearing on Child Labour, she was a keynote speaker at the United Nations General Assembly, lectured in Washington, DC and at Harvard University and spoke before ten thousand youths in Boston. Elizabeth and classmate Amanda Loos wrote, directed and hosted a two part, two hour TV mini-series for educational television titled "The Global Sweatshop."

Elizabeth, was joined in her campaign by sisters Mary and Laura and they developed a campaign that attacks poverty through a national programme in the United States (modelled after a similar project in Norway) called Operation Day's Work-USA, which is designed to help, each year, the children in one poor developing country. Particular attention is given to girl children and the risk to children of being sold into the worst forms of child labour.

Action projects

Delegates, who came from countries as far afield as Canada, Brazil, India, Argentina and the USA spent three of the ten days working on community action projects across Scotland. There were about forty of these based across the country in towns and cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and the Western Isles. Projects included homelessness, HIV/Aids, drugs & alcohol and community regeneration.

No end

But, of course, there's no end to the challenges presented by the congress. As Paul Kane, a 23-year-old Scot who helped organise the event said: "If we are going to have any chance at reducing poverty levels, illiteracy, unemployment rates, as well as promote gender equality and protect the environment then we need a radical change involving young people. The old ways have failed us. It is time for a change of direction. We have young people here that want to be part of that change."

In 2010 the World Youth Congress will take place in Turkey. The 5th event, 1000 young people will attend and share their experiences in development work and hear about initiatives in Turkey. And no doubt much inspiration will flow from the congress with more young people around the world learning how to help eradicate poverty and improve lives.