Millennium Development Goals Awards Committee

Today, I got involved with the MDG Awards 2010. Its theme is ‘MDGs: the Global Heartbeat’. The event is going to be held on the 19th of September 2010, at the Waldorf-Astoria on the eve of the High Level Review Summit.

Background:

The event is produced in collaboration with the Millennium Campaign and the UN Office for Partnerships. The event was introduced into the United Nations by H.E. Mrs. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, the 61st President of the General Assembly, and has been supported by each successive President. On this evening we will look back at some of the success stories of the past decade, while anticipating future challenges with renewed commitment. A series of compelling stories will illustrate the power and impact of the MDGs and their potential to transform lives. The event will encourage distinguished guests and celebrity speakers alike to voice their own personal commitment to supporting the MDGs, while calling on the support of all stakeholders to help achieve them.

Awards will be given in the categories of Government, Youth Leadership, Stand up Mobilization, and Lifetime Achievement. Entertainment includes a cross section of Grammy winning artists with a personal interest in helping to achieve the MDGs.

My Involvement:

This year, I am assisting with the delivery of invitations to Directors of UN Agencies, Under Secretary Generals, and Permanent Missions. I was responsible for contacting NGOs, ICTs and the Private sector about their RSVPs and ringing Permanent Missions to confirm Heads of
State. On the night, I will be helping with Registration. I am looking forward to the gathering of Heads of State, politicians, local authorities and highly esteemed celebrities, an evening to be recorded in the official historical records of the 2010 General Assembly and MDG Summit week. I will also be assisting with other details over the coming weeks and assisting on the night itself. I am learning a great deal, networking and meeting professionals from all over the world. This amazing opportunity is developing my capacity and motivating me to believe that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and have hope for the future. I am surrounded by inspiring young professionals who work as a team to turn this event into a reality.

I can't wait for the 19th of September! 

Fortune Cookies

In new york...anything is possible.

Occasionally, I get a fortune cookie that goes up on my cubicle wall...why? 


Little pieces of paper clutter up my life because I am lucky enough to work 83+ hour weeks, and live off Chinese takeout (employer gets me lunch). It is also because I possibly could be defined as using the messages to justify all the things I really really want to do (and possibly shouldn't)...I can be pathetic (ahem, but that would be a different conversation--and would possibly involve biting or hair pulling in the very least). The little grammatically incorrect, often incomprehensible pieces of disjointed wisdom are motivation to let my imagination soar.


 The mini white pieces of paper with dark blue text can be cutsy cheesy slips of motivation...e.g 


"Do the right thing because it is right! Have the courage to face it" 

Well, yes, Laundry is important BUT compared to lazing in the sun with friends on a blanket in central park oggling the volley ball team (may I add they are topless)...what is really the right thing??? ( I mean...come on!)


 "Apply yourself to the basics and progress will follow". hmmmmm. Make-up / shower today verses another 20 minutes in bed? It is debatable which is more of a basic necessity when you have only had two hours (besides I don't smell and I am not that ugly without war paint...right?).


Then there the messages that range from the frankly corny to the outrageously stupid. On my birthday (Ironically) I got.... The best thing about growing old is that it takes such a long time." Logically, I know that my waiter probably has a secret room in the back with cookies labelled birthdays because the likelihood that it was a co-incidence is about as likely as me being appointed Secretary General tonight! 

 Regardless, I would be interested in which of the following is going to give me permission to flaunt my new guy to my ex:-

• Our greatest Glory is not in never falling but in raising every time we fall. 
• The time is always right to do what is right. 
• The hard times will begin to fade. Joy will take their place.  

Also, does "It is too late to start digging a well when you feel thirsty" refer to "Get off facebook before you get fired!" Or ..."Keep your mouth shut, Biatch". When it comes to divulging what my colleague actually did last night?

What we did last night?

This naff gem makes arguing with boys so much more clear... "First they ignore you, then they attack you, then you win." Do you see what I mean? It is seductively easy to let the mini fortune cookie God justify life for me...


I know that these little slips of paper are just harmless fun. But they cheer me up when I get lonely or homesick. They are more than little pieces of paper. They are slices of motivation that remind me that I need to have a little fun and take a pinch of reality with my meal (and yes, writing this with almost zilch sleep is possibly something I will regret when I am sane). 


A Journey must begin with a single step.


In New York City, anything is possible! That is my first step...I am here! My journey is begun--right?!?!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6ZQKkkjmcI

UN HQ Launch International Year of Youth

"The future belongs to the youth. They have a clear vision of the world" - Ban Ki Moon

I disagree. The present belongs to the youth. We are now. This is our time to survive. Our time to transform. The future belongs to the children...

Today from 10am to 1pm, the International Year of Youth is being launched at the United Nations Headquarters. I presume that like most youth out there...I did not realise that the 12th of August was International Youth Day. However, on the 17th of December 1999, the General Assembly endorsed (Resolution 54/120 I) the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) to declare August 12th International Youth Day. Considering that there has been an international day of youth for ten years....and I have been living in Ireland for the majority of that time--there is no real excuse that I can make that justifies my lack of knowledge. However, it is heartening to find out that this year is being declared the International Year of Youth. Despite the fact that I just turned 25, ending my UN defined Youth (15-24 years old), I am still thrilled to be participating in Youth Activities and promoting the value of Youth involvement. 

I believe that children are the future but YOUTH are the present. As such, it is vital that we work actively to empower youth and facilitate youth growth. In a variety of forms and in a number of roles...I have spent most of last year advocating for change. I have had the amazing opportunities to work with inspired, enthusiastic, talented, articulate and motivating youth from diverse backgrounds. I have been challenged to learn, examine, explore, and challenge. This active process of action and reflection is assisting me to develop my potential. Today, I witnessed a historic event. One that will assist youth to promote our local initiatives (that already exist) on a global scale. 


The International Year of Youth is based on a General Assembly resolution (resolution A/RES/64/134)  that was adopted.

Today's launch was a little disappointing. The speakers, amazing in their own right, did not speak about the main theme of the year...namely DIALOGUE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING. 


The event was advertised as "celebration of young peoples’ energy, imagination and initiatives and will recognize their crucial contributions to enhancing peace and development." Unfortunately, it did not live up to that. While a few of the speeches were meaningful and the video with people in white masks (celebrating diversity) was well done: the majority of the event left a lot to be desired.


However, the joint statement by Heads of UN Entities for the launch of the International Year of youth (see images included) was a lot more meaningful for me. The message gives youth leaders, advocates and activists a positive starting point from which to spin their lobby strategies. 

A recent report by the International Labour Organization showed that global youth unemployment has reached an all-time high. According to the report, of the world’s 620 million economically active youth, 81 million were out of work at the end of last year. I have been an unemployed Youth. It was soul destroying, scary and I could not see the way out. It was depressing and hard.

“The global economic crisis has had a disproportionate impact on young people; they have lost jobs, struggled to find even low-wage employment and seen access to education curtailed,” the Secretary-General noted in his message. However, the schemes that are being implemented are not enough. Unpaid internship positions are thriving, while youth struggle to find a decent wage paying job. It is disgraceful and the worst part is that there doesn't seem to be an easy solution. 


During the International Year, the UN will focus on three overarching objectives:

1. Increasing commitment and investment in youth
2. Raising youth participation and partnerships
3. Boosting inter-cultural understanding among youth.

Personally, I feel that the most important one for me is the first objective. I may no longer be a youth. But when I was, I was deeply impacted by the result of the economic crisis. It has adversely impacted on my long term career goals and objectives. Therefore, it is imperative that something is done now to prevent this cycle from continuing. 


So, this is my introduction to the International Year of Youth that has just been launched. It is my personal impressions of this historic day and I hope it provides you with a starting point from which to get involved, innovative, take charge of change and work towards our mutual future.


I have left a lot out. It is always hard to accurately portray in words...the essence of any event. Suffice to say, you didn't miss much if you did not attend the launch event. But you will miss a lot  if you do not get involved during the year. So, spread the word, highlight the fact that this is the International Year of Youth. Celebrate, and seize the moment. It is time to live in the present and to take our steps in the right direction.


Please comment, please tell me if your opinions differ from mine. Challenge me to think differently. Involve me in your projects. I am always interested in being actively involved, in learning and sharing my time and skills.


Do not be shy. Be courageous! Have fun!


By the way....if you decide you want to read what the Secretary General of the United Nations said at the launch of the International year of youth....you can read more here

7th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations

After months of hard work by the International Youth Council and theFriendship Ambassadors Foundation, the 7th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations went really well.
I lead an amazing Communications team that worked tirelessly to prepare promotional materials, spread the word and generally provide a strong online and offline presence leading up to and during the event.

We promoted two successful fundraising parties (that we assisted in organizing and running), created a website and newsletter. We established ourselves as a organized force that could handle most situations.


During the Youth Assembly, I held workshops on the Millennium Development Goals, Youth and Social Media  at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Effectively using Social Media to promote an NGO is a new area of expertise for me. I attended a workshop given by Big Duck on How NGOs Can use Social Media. It surprised me, primarily because I understood all that was being discussed and also because I knew tricks that were not mentioned or even touched upon.

The event was marketed as a skill builder where civil society organizations can learn how to use to Social Media as a tool to "communicate with their audience, market their services, connect with their networks or improve the way they work and promote their social development agenda".  Ms. Farra Trompeter, Vice President of Big Duck, delivered on those promises. But she impressed me because she recognized the work that her intern had contributed to her presentation (such as the research), used some great stats to illustrate her points and give a global viewpoint.

She stressed that the key features of social media are participation and interaction, connecting people and providing the tools necessary to have a conversation - all important components of NGOs’ day-to-day work.  She highlighted how strategic use of social media is actually helping civil society organizations to measurably reach new people by propelling nonprofit goals to build a movement around a core advocacy issue, improve customer service or programmes, reach new donors, or raise awareness of a nonprofit brand around the world. As a computer savvy 24 year old who checks facebook first thing in the morning and last thing at night...I was unsurprised by the statistics. I didn't need the lessons on how to use Facebook or Twitter and I had numerous suggestions on ways to streamline her suggestions to cut down on the time involved. However, I did learn to listen for what people are saying about me by using google alerts.

Currently, I am the administrator for two google groups (one with over 8,000+ members and one that is just beginning to hit the 2000 mark). Therefore, I would have been interested in lessons on how to increase membership and how to attract members. The training was great but it was aimed at an audience with little or no computer / social media knowledge. Therefore, I didn't learn as much as I would have liked. But it gave me the confidence to recognize my strength in this area. Therefore, when I was invited to facilitate a workshop on Empowering Youth to Use Social Media to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals...I was confident that I could deliver a workshop / think tank that would be interesting and beneficial to participants.

When I heard that Erica Grigg and Sean Flax would be moderating it with me...I was thrilled. They are both Youth Leaders with strong Communications skills.
My contribution to the Social Media think tank was allowing participants to see the latest statistics and demographics and then to challenge them to think of how to create / tailor a social media strategy for their work. The participants were all youth leaders from around the world. Therefore, they had some amazing contributions. The Chinese delegates in particular gave me some insights into the use of QQ and challenged me to think from their cultural perspective about the MDGs. I had fun...but it did not prepare me for the workshop that I would be leading on the Friday on the 7th MDG....Ensuring Environmental Sustainability.


Esperanza Garcia and I moderated the discussion of Youth Participation in MDG 7. I started by introducing my work in the area; discussing the Youth Caucus's involvement with the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (Major Working Group of Children and Youth). Then I proceeded to mention how they could get involved with drafting the policy paper for 2011 and Rio +20. After this, I focused on some case studies from around the world before introducing Esperanza Garcia. She gave a motivational talk on how youth can change things. How we are the present (not the future). We are the now. She talked about her involvement in the Philippe Senate and Copenhagen. Then we encouraged participants to break out into groups (after introducing themselves) with people that they would be interested in making partnerships with. As a result, the group was highly interactive and resulted in concrete decisions that will be implemented when delegates go back home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9woDiYiXmzs&feature=player_embedded

Social Media and MDGs

On the 5th of August 2010, the International youth Council facilitated four informative, interactive and intensive Think Tanks on Advocacy and Partnerships, Social Media, Fundraising, and Entrepreneurship.

I had the honor of facilitating the Social Media Think Tank with Erica Grigg and Sean Flax. Sean introduced what social media is. I focused on how NGOs can effectively use Social Media. However, the lessons that I stressed are universal when developing your social media strategy. It is vital to know your audience. You have to engage them, that means, you have to LISTEN (alerts.google.com) to what is being said about you online. Then you have to communicate in a way that makes you more interesting than the individual and their friends / neighbors / family. 

In order to achieve this, it is vital to realise your audience is fluid. You have to be focused, interesting and flexible. You have to reflect what your work is offline to be effective online. It is also important that you know your audience, listen to what they are interested in, engage in their issues and follow them. You want to be following more people than follow you. You don't want to be boring and generic. And you have to be country specific.

I also used current statistics to engage the audience so that they considered how social media could be used by them in their own countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The International Youth Council tries to empower youth and therefore, these workshops were aimed at equipping the delegates with the skills they need to be effective when they go back home. Our event was really well attended. Erica Grigg focused on Social Media Strategies. Together, we provided a comprehensive and intensive update on Social Media and using it as an effective tool.

After our think tanks, IYC members helped the friendship ambassadors foundation escort over 600+ youth to different Permanent Missions to the UN around the city. I had the privilege of visiting the Common Wealth Missions--Grenada in specific. The First Secretary was warm, welcoming and very interesting. She made all the youth feel comfortable and we had the opportunity to explore their offices. We left armed with gifts of posters, spices and brochures on Grenada.

The IYC had organised a Networking event led by the International Youth Council in the Park infront of the UN. This event was organised / facilitated by the amazing Reginald Bassey (Reggie-the legendary). It was great fun, lively and entertaining. I was interviewed by Hip Hop Youth and a Taiwanese TV station. I had fun and the event transformed into a block party complete with dancing and lively MDG dating (a little like speed dating but focusing on the MDGs).

At about 6:45pm...there was a mad dash to 28th street for the IYC Party at the Willow Lounge. This event was a spectacular extravaganza that included Ron Bruder as a special speaker.

Day 2 was a much bigger success for the International Youth Council than we were expecting. Keep tuned and I will keep you posted on the finally day and our MDG think tanks.