The Network grew out of a process, which prepared children and youth to participate in the Earth Summit in 1992. The idea
was to encourage young people to present their concerns to politicians and participate in the process to raise awareness of
the need for sustainable development. 6000
school children participated in the process, which ended with a Children's Hearing in Norway in 1990. 40 other countries
organized similar activities, which culminated in the Global Children's Hearing that took place at the Earth Summit in 1992
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In 1994 the Post Pessimist network was started in the Former Yugoslavia. Young people from the different ethnic groups organized
their own network and meetings. They communicated and co-operated and lots of interesting projects were carried out. In 1997
the idea of a network of active youth groups organizing their own projects was adopted in Southern Africa. The Young Voices
programme was introduced in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi.
Active youth
A brand new handbook in international youth work, with tons of ideas for activities and excercises.
Read more(26.06.2007)
A good example
– I want to be a useful citizen for my country. A person people look up to. And a role model for other girls, says Tendai (19 years old).
Read more(01.02.2007)
Youth’s right to participation
Sometimes the situation in Nicaragua feels hopeless. An Norwegian People’s Aid representative asked a youth organisation leader to talk about the kinds of youth problems found in Nicaragua. The list was long: prostitution, drugs, crime, unemployment, teenage pregnancies and violence at home. Add widespread poverty, limited educational opportunities and a culture of youth discrimination, and the future looks dark indeed.
Read more(27.06.2006)
The Shout Behind the Veil
Finally there is something more numerous than bullet holes on the walls of Palestine: political posters. Candidates, slogans, party logos, plus a surprising number of this sudden crop of posters in the Gaza Strip which have been made and put up by student organizations and youth groups. Young people aged 18-25 are 30% of the population in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and are determined to make their voices matter in the 25 January Parliamentary elections. While some posters endorse a specific party, they all have a common theme of "Change—NOW."
Read more(24.01.2006)
Men as partners, not abusers
A male feminist from Zimbabwe wants to make African men best friends with their girlfriends and wives.
Read more(23.01.2006)
Youthful battle against HIV
In Soweto, highly-motivated volunteers are fighting a hard battle to keep young people away from the HIV virus.
Read more(05.01.2006)
Bringing Young People Together
What makes people involve themselves in voluntary work? This is one of the issues discussed at NPA’s youth conference in Johannesburg, South Africa this week.
Read more(02.12.2005)
Young Voices
Hatcliffe Youth Group - Changing Lives Through Sport
The economic downturn in Zimbabwe as well as the political crisis has left the lives of many difficult, especially for the young people in Informal settlements such as Hatcliffe. Young people from the Hatcliffe Youth Group (a member of Young Voices Network Zimbabwe) have decided not to be victims of the situation and formed the group in 2001 that does, amongst other things, income-generating projects, and twinning with other Young Voices members who have what they don't have. They also train each other in sport.
Read more(19.04.2004)
