GLOBAL YOUTH ANTI-CORRUPTION NETWORK

REPORTPREPARED BYROSEN DIMOV

SIMON KODJO SEMAHOEVGENY KOSSOV

Introduction• In May, 2010 the World Bank Institute welcome and

gathered first Global Youth Anti-Corruption Forum, Mobilizing Youth against Corruption in Brussels, Belgium. The forum brought together 50 young civil society leaders, musicians, and journalists from around the World to exchange their experiences and formulate action plans to fight corruption in their countries.

• The forum recognises that young people across the world can play a major role in the fight against corruption. They need to be resourced and a quick with innovative tools in their fight against corruption. The forum made used of a number of creative knowledge approaches including video conference with parallel sessions on relevant issues relating on corruption.

In Colombia, Gina Romero from OCASA organization spread the GYAC in their OCASA web page and and virtual bulletin that is received by 15.261 people from all around the world, but specially Latin America.

In Ocasa’s workshops with youth called ‘Politic Action’ and ‘Youth organization’, GYAC’s experience is related as an example of youth working in networks to fight against corruption. T

These workshops had the participation of 160 youth in four different municipalities, including Bogotá. She had spread GYAC’s information in the World Youth Movement for Democracy

• Action for Social Rights from Sierra Leone lead by Foday Ahmed Sillah organized a press conference in June 2010,

• In October 2010, Action for Social Rights organized a seminar with support from UNICEF on the topic WASH U Hand from Corruption.

• In July 5 youth organizations, 3 secondary schools, 1 musician and 1 journalist were invited to a dialogue forum with the aim of indoctrinate them as corruption ambassadors looking at ways of tackling corruption in their field of profession or belong.

• Action for Social Rights have been able to mobilize the three targeted category of GYAC (CSOs, Musicians, Journalist) to be part of GYAC initiative and several meetings has been held and Work Plan 2010-2011 develop.

• GYAC Sierra Leone was official launched by the Anti Corruption Commission in Freetown. Inter faculty debates and inter college debates was organized with Restless Development and member of GYAC Sierra Leone Network. Action for Social Right held a consultation meetings with the Anti Corruption Commission, youth Groups, Musicians and Journalist for the establishment of GYAC Sierra Leone.

Tanzania Youth Vision Association led by Deogratias Munishi has taken deliberate efforts to popularize the GYAC first to youth other youth organizations in Tanzania and individual youth.

This has amounted to a number of them joining the network. He coordinated these youth to come together and form a legal GYACN-Tanzania chapter which will fill the gap of youth involvement in the war against corruption in Tanzania.

Internationally, he has introduced the GYCA to his friends in Ukraine, Morocco, Georgia and Argentina. Of these, the Morocco crew has joined the network while the rest are on their way to the network.

Local Youth Corner Cameroon led by Sanyi Emmanuel Sanyi have engaged the World Bank Cameroon to push for the GYAC-N to be recognized in Cameroon. This has been successful to a certain extent and it has allowed them to hold joint Anti-Corruption Network Conference in Cameroon there on 02 September 2010.

• He also uses the churches as medium to speak to young people about the work of GYAC-N focusing on promoting values of ethics and integrity, the fight against corruption and the promotion of governance as tools for building a more prosperous nation.

• Internationally, he led the GYAC-N delegation to the 14th IACC in Bangkok Thailand, during which they worked to promote GYAC-N to the world’s top institutions in the fight against corruption present in Bangkok.

• Gabi Wambo Laurent from Cameroon RECAAD-Cameroon had focused on the creation and enlargement of a Cameroon branch of the GYAC network; include youth organizations working on governance and anti-corruption agenda in the Cameron.

• He had spread the information to other youths from neighboring country in some forums where they got occasion to meet with them.

• At the international Level, their active participation on Ning page and invitation given to many friends around the world to visit the website has surely contributed in promoting the network.

• In Ghana United Network of International Youth for Development and Peace led by Youth Development Practitioner Simon Kodjo Semaho has continued their project on Youth anti corruption awareness creation. The organization has also embark on a new Youth Ant-corruption awareness campaign ’One Youth at Time’ has led in creation of students and Youth Anti-corruption chapters in Ghana. The organization has targeted young people in Junior High Schools (JHS), Senior High Schools (SHS), colleges and the Universities with our residence youth representative in promoting GYAC Network in Ghana.

• Internationally, Our Youth Led NGO has youth country representative around Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Rosen Dimov from Bulgaria happens to be our Youth representative since 2007.

• At the international level we have invited our Youth organizational partners to join voices against corruption blog with these endeavor online tool young people has been signing in to join the forum.

In Democratic Republic of Congo Alphonse Muthaka Ilot from Monitoring Program of Young former Combatants organized training on leadership and good governance.

The main objective was to give them a new strategy of engaging youths in the struggle against corruption.

The most innovative skill appreciated by participants was the adaptive leadership. They have started 10 youth clubs in public and private schools in Butembo city.

At the national level they have started advocating for a transparent use of mineral resources. At international level we are in collaboration with donor agencies and some organizations to build partnerships.

Working with African Initiative for Transparency, Accountability and Responsible Leadership led by Ogaga E. Maxwell from Nigeria started GYAC Secondary school Anti-corruption club and at the national level conducting a national anti-corruption project, which include a five days online forum and a one day national summit with representation from all states of the federation. At international level he encourages people to join the online forum.

In Papua New Guinea, Transparency International PNG Inc. led by Daniel George used what he learnt from the Brussels forum through the interactive sessions and conveniently the blog site was instrumental in developing the youth programs in his country and organization.

Collaboration made with other GYACers from Brussels and from the Network

Virtual collaboration for knowledge and experience exchange on voices against corruption blog.

Inter-country Partnership: GYACer have established inter country partnership among themselves in a joint projects on Anti corruption.

Team work at international level: During the 14th international Anti-Corruption Conference in Bangkok this November 2010, 10 GYACers members attended the 14th IACC in Bangkok.

Projects after Brussels. Impact of Brussels summit on this follow-up. Impact to date.

• Gabi, Cameroon • Knowledge exchange and peer to peer learning (regarding youth leaders)• National Anti-corruption Commission in Cameroon – invited to be a

member of a committee drafting the national anti-corruption strategy in Cameroon

• Field work – designing a questionnaire to gauge corruption diagnostics in the education sector in Cameroon

• Ilot, Congo• “Vijana rushwa nje” Campaign that means youths through corruption out

the society, across villages and towns. ICT, SMS, using tools acquired in Brussels.

Gina, Columbia• Youth for democracy and transparency – sensitization,

training, action and 2000 youth reached. • Politic Training for Youth – study visits to institutions, policy

and project formulation workshops, Youth Councils’ Accountability sessions

• Youth participation in Colombia – virtual online course.• Municipalities in youth perspective – oversight activities.• All projects above used interactive tools learnt in Brussels as

well as strategic communication know-how.

Sanyi, Cameroon• Along with Gabi, a joint GYAC-Network Cameroon Conference

at the World Bank Cameroon in September 2010.• School against Corruption project - experiences from Brussels’

ethics and integrity sessions, lectures and presentations• Involvement in the training of public officials at Yaounde

Mfoundi 3 Sub Divisional Youth Council Office.• Participation in radio and TV programmes targeting youth. In

return, youth asks for information.Ahmed, Sierra Leone• Mobilizing Support & Awareness Raising – primary school

pupils, recognition by the Anti-Corruption Commission, media coverage and promotion of the ning network.

Simon, Ghana • Mass creation of Youth Anti-corruption clubs and chapter

launching in Koforidua• ‘’One Youth at a time’’ – start due on World Anti-Corruption

day 9th December 2010, involving youth in deliberation on lessons from Brussels

Maxwell, Tanzania Anti-corruption club and national project, specially advantageous was the online forum

Deogratia, Tanzania • “YOUTH AND YOURS VOTE” project about Tanzanian elections,

first time voters and youth candidates. Approach (alike topic) originating from Brussels – music and culture integrated.

• School seminars “Good Governance by Young People” and formation of anti-corruption clubs at schools

Rosen, Bulgaria• Brussels know-how –integrated in all follow-up projects.• Refugics – comic strips to educate pupils on refugee issues. A story

included on how refugees escaped from their shadow illegal world, but had to pay bribes to arrange entrance and settlement in the new “elite” destination (documents, customs, housing, etc). 5000 copies distributed to schools around Bulgaria.

• “We want no Mutants”- a campaign to advocate for a national youth law upon which to lay youth representative organisations, youth zones (premises).

• Otranto Legality Experience – an international seminar for 200 youth from all over the world. Training on corruption and anti-mafia topics.

• My Europe Festival –travelling short-movies series produced by youth. Corruption tackled, too.

• Children`s Guide to Human Rights – 5-lingual Council of Europe funded publication, right to corruption-free environment included.

Support needed. Efforts in seeking this help.

Gabi, Cameroon• Financial and institutional – especially WB shall give credibility at the state

level.Ilot, Congo• Technical – how to adapt these tools into the project context.• Funds – to extend the networkGina, Columbia• Fundraising, political incidence and broad communications.• 10 project proposals applied for (implementation due in 2011)• Contacts with the newly elected national government• Lack of communication finances – so increased use of social networks and

media

Ahmet, Sierra Leone• Finance and Equipment – scarce, but increasing according to the 2010-11 plan

Simon, Ghana• Challenging are material resource, human resource and funding.• Instead, messages in posters and daily papers.

Maxwell• WB staff to oversight the online forum and attend live presentations.• Deogratia, Tanzania• Material (office) and finances (applying to donor agencies in Tanzania).• Agenda 2000 currently offering their premises to GYAC-N.• Rosen, Bulgaria• Funding – but difficult to apply because of unclear status (GYAC-N still informal)• Projects submitted to British Council, USAID, EU Youth Programme.• Office – using our partners resources.• Other resources – in 2010-12 FLARE (www.flarenetwork.org) supplies may be used for GYAC-N in

Bulgaria

Support needed. Efforts in seeking this help.

Challenges to GYAC-N and possible solutions

Gina, Columbia • Strengthen the regional points – more freedom for them to act.• Strategy for action at all levels and events.• Permanent extension of the network.• Merchandising – like teeshirts, to acquire funds.• Language – mostly spoken is the local language.• Members coordination – more synergy is needed

Gabi, Cameroon• No plan – let us make it in Nairobi.• No means to fight corruption• GYAC-N should be able to set up at least a small grant program to support

projects from its members. This can encourage other donors.

Challenges to GYAC-N and possible solutions

Ilot, Congo • Threats to the lives of members.• Budget is needed to have local activities.• Training and mentoring are much welcome.

Sanyi, Cameroon• GYAC-N still informal. Thus, we should draft an operational and functional guide of the

network including its organizational framework structure.• Funding – for small-scale projects.• Liasion with outer actors – we should set up such a tem, the task force fails to do so.

Ahmet, Sierra Leone• Coordination at all levels• Representation of individal members• Establishing national offices and officers• Funding from the WB based on a 3-year plan

Challenges to GYAC-N and possible solutions

Simon, Ghana• Organizational leadership – unclear, taskforce inactive in the ning network.• Measures shall be defined to optimize the leadership.

Maxwell, Tanzania • Appoint regional heads. Assign responsibilities to people – then we see more results. Rosen, Bulgaria • Unclear status of GYAC-N – now it is chaotic, sporadic actions and communication. Solution –

adopt an organogram, statutes, code of communication.• Determine relationships between GYAC-N and WB (incl. local WB offices) – therefore, certain

who, how and what to ask for. • Draft a plan with short-, mid-, and long-term objectives. • Online networking over-estimated – let us not forget that on the web people might be

hyperactive (but passive in reality) and that some of our brothers and sisters have barely I-net connection (but they are making miracles in their worlds).

END