Happy World Youth Skills Day

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This quarter, Initiative Africa’s Active Citizen trainees have received British Council’s grants to increase the support towards their community with the work they have started after the AC training. These youth have worked towards COVID-19 and Environmental programs and activities which not only help the community and the glob but create jobs for others and engage others to take part in different actions using their skills and passion as well. IA and British council have been and continue to engage youth through different projects for youth to harness their talents and skillsets to better the community, their world and themselves.

Story of love over tobacco

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wonderful story of love over tobacco produced by World Health Organization-Ethiopia Country Office for your information & dissemination. The story is based on how one woman, wife desperately tried & succeeded on how to make her husband & their house tobacco free:https://www.afro.who.int/photo-story/quitter-fights-tobacco-use-ethiopia

Initiative Africa conducted a visit to IGF cooperative partners

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It can be recalled that IA under the EMEA Project & IGF program is supporting more than 30 Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) through their projects. On June 07 & 08-2021, IA conducted a monitoring visit on selected 4 IGF beneficiaries to review their project progress and discuss identified gaps witnessed during their progress report submission.

Quite a fruitful discussion  held with project teams of each BMOs on possible areas of improvement in selected activity areas, gaps in reporting (both narrative and financial) and lessons learned for an effective implementation in the remaining project duration.

The BMOs were delighted and thank IA team for the continuous support provided.

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2021

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Stop attacks on children

 It is celebrated on 4 June annually to highlight the pain suffered by children across the world who are the victims of physical, mental, and emotional abuse. The day affirms the commitment of the UN to protect the rights of children.

The day celebrates the millions of individuals and organizations working to protect and preserve the rights of children. For example, the Global Movement for Children leadership from Nelson Mandela, etc. Another campaign namely the “Say Yes for Children” is endorsed by more than 94 million people. The campaign calls for ten positive actions to be taken to improve the lives of children.

It is sad reality that in some situations children are affected and violations that occur may be use of children in war, killing, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools etc.

This day wants to make people aware in the whole world about the impact of cruelty or abuse was done with children in all its forms. Also, to protect children’s rights this day make organizations and individuals learn and take part in the campaign.

source joSh

Africa Day 2021: Arts, Culture and Heritage

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Aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 envisions ‘An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics’. This calls for an African cultural renaissance which is pre-eminent and that inculcates the spirit of Pan Africanism; tapping Africa’s rich heritage and culture to ensure that the creative arts are major contributors to Africa’s growth and transformation; and restoring and preserving Africa’s cultural heritage, including its languages.

Globally, the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) play a key role in contributing to GDP. In recognition of the importance of CCIs in achieving the Agenda 2063 objectives of regional integration, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development, the African Union declared the Year 2021 as “The AU Year of the Arts, Culture And Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”.

Culture incorporates social behaviour and norms of a society as well as the language, knowledge, beliefs, traditions, arts, customs, capacities and habits of a certain community and the 2021 Theme is a declaration at a continental level for member states to invest more resources in promoting national and regional cohesion by investing in African culture and heritage as a vehicle for promoting and achieving the national economic and social development goals outlined in Africa’s Agenda 2063.

The Year of Arts, Culture and Heritage is happening at a time when the continent is still grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which has imposed heavy human, financial and economic costs to Africa. However, during the pandemic the Creative and Cultural Industries in Africa have played a key role in contributing efforts towards prevention and combating the spread of Covid-19 and furthermore the increased use of technology has created new spaces for CCIs sector to thrive by using digital platforms to promote their goods and services. The pandemic has provided an opportunity to re-examine the continent’s socio-economic priorities, including the role of cultural workers, towards contributing to building stronger and more resilient health and social sectors, promoting equality, inclusion, social cohesion and African Renaissance, as inspired by the Ubuntu Philosophy ‘I AM because you are; You are because I Am’.

Activities and programmes to be implemented under the 2021 Theme will prioritise the following:

  1. Arts and Culture;
  2. Health, Wellness and Post COVID-19 Response;
  3. African Languages;
  4. History and Oral Traditions; and
  5. Heritage.

Source: https://au.int/en/theme/2021/arts-culture-and-heritage

Initiative Africa conducted First time voters’ education program

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Initiative Africa carried out several training and discussion sessions for the first-time voters in universities and youth groups over 10 locations in different regions across the nation. The chosen locations were Diredawa, Ambo, Adama, Bahirdar, Debrebirhan, Hawassa, Gondar, Wolayta, Arbaminch and Wello.

The training focused on the importance of youth participation in the election, the basics of the election and the procedures of voting. The program was entertaining as it includes a mock -election, short play that was well accepted by the participants as the performance added the youth’s point of view and talents.
In addition, a group of 5 women were selected among the trainees and were given TOT and facilitation training on first time voter education and discussion. The women in turn cascaded the training to their peers in their community.

The trainings proved to be fruitful, and the youth shared their point of view and understanding to learn from one another and discussed through dialogue.

Happy International Mother’s Day

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 In pandemic, here’s what moms can do to fight stress and fatigue
Ever since it started, the pandemic — and its resultant lockdowns — have caused stress. The idea of losing a sense of normalcy has overwhelmed people, causing emotional distress and some physical manifestations of it, too.
For mothers, especially, the period hasbeen difficult, and it continues to be so. Tasked with taking care of the house and juggling many responsibilities, mothers are often left exhausted.
And while Mother’s Day is all about making them feel special and slightly-less stressed, Dr Preeti Parakh, psychiatrist and head of power: The Centre, Kolkata, shares with indianexpress.com some simple tips which they can put to use, to beat the stress of COVID-19.
* Routine life: Establishing a routine for everyone in the family provides a structured environment for the children and reduces the stress for parents. Maintaining regular timings for meals, sleep, exercise, games and studies can help children adjust to the new normal, and also ensure mothers get their chores done while children are busy elsewhere.
* Pandemic lessons: Explaining Covid- 19 appropriate behavior and precautions to children patiently will help ensure their compliance and reduce the pressure on the mother of keeping everyone safe. It is also important to practice the same so that children learn by example.
* Making connections: Connecting with other mothers helps form a support system. Sometimes just talking to someone who is facing the same problemsmakes one feel lighter. Connecting with the child’s teachers can also be helpful.
* Discipline: Mothers need to tactfully discipline children when they misbehave. A child throwing tantrums can be extremely stressful for a mother who has a hundred things to do. Sometimes just ignoring bad behavior helps. Distracting the child with some other activity can also help. Good behavior should always be appreciated as it motivates children.
* Family time: Shared family activities like playing indoor games, cooking or gardening together can be relaxing. This can improve family bonding and reduce stress levels for everyone in the family.
* The role of dads: Ensure the involvement of the father in parenting and share responsibilities with him.
* Me-time: Find some time for yourself. Use it to do activities that are enjoyable and relaxing. Take care of your health, eat and sleep on time and exercise regularly. After all, what is good for children is also good for their mothers.
Source The IndianEXPRESS