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Youth Programme - MAXFACTA, April 2006
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) and Maximizing Facts on HIV/AIDS Youth Group (MAXFACTA) held a one day youth forum on the 1 April 2006 at a youth centre in Nairobi. The forum that was attended by about 30 youths who are either affected or infected with HIV/AIDS, disseminated important lessons on the importance of behaviour change that would protect the youth from contracting HIV/AIDS and leading responsible lives to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Other topics were literacy on the more common HIV/AIDS treatment terms, and nutrition for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Youth Programme - Youth Consultative Meeting, Nairobi, April 2006
Following the successful Youth Congress and Exposition in June 2005, ATPS collaborated with the Technical Centre for Rural Cooperation (CTA), Netherlands to hold a consultative meeting of youth experts on 6-7 April 2006, in Nairobi. At this meeting, the Steering Committee decided that the theme of the 2nd African Youth Congress would be Food Security and Health for Sustainable Development: Perspectives of the Youth. To ensure objectivity, the Committee, made up of youth from nine African countries, decided that youth participation would be based on application and submission of an abstract of work done in a thematic area. The ATPS Secretariat received an overwhelming number of applications and the abstracts were reviewed externally. The Congress took place on 26- 29 June 2006 in Accra, Ghana.
This activity is one of the many youth events aimed at using peer-to-peer education to help curb the HIV/AIDS scourge in Africa.
Youth Programme "Young Professionals Platform in Agriculture Research for Development, Netherlands, May 2006
Three members of the African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST), Maurice Bolo (ATPS), Winnie Alum (NARO-Uganda) and Jane Bisanju (UN-Habitat-Kenya), received sponsorship from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) to attend the strategic planning meeting of Youth Professionals Platform in Agriculture Research (YPARD). YPARD is a platform of young professionals involved in agricultural R&D under the aegis of the CGIAR system.
The strategic planning meeting was held on 2 - 5 May 2006 to formulate the vision, mission, objectives and strategies YPARD. The attendance of the AYFST members was intended to build their capacity to formulate their own objectives and strategies. The AYFST has formulated their draft mission, objectives and strategic plan which was ratified at the youth congress in Accra. The planning meeting brought together young professionals from 16 countries worldwide.
Youth Programme "ATPS/CTA/CSIR Youth Congress, Accra, June 2006
The 2nd Africa Regional Youth Congress on Science and Technology "Food security and health for sustainable development in Africa" was held in Accra, Ghana on 26-28 June 2006. The conference that brought together young professionals, scientists, youth leaders and representatives from national, regional and international institutions and civil society who are committed to the promotion and application of agriculture, science, technology and innovation in meeting social and economic development goals in Africa. The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS); the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); and the African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST) sponsored the conference.
Among the speakers was the Ghanaian Minister for Health, Hon. Major EK Quarshigah who officially opened the meeting, while the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Clement Eledi, delivered a keynote address on behalf of Hon. Ernest Debrah.
The congress benefited from the imagination, creativity and innovativeness of youth dovetailed with the experience, guidance and mentorship of the resource persons in seeking solutions to the persistent challenges food insecurity and burden of disease in Africa.
The youth issued a strong communiqué targeted at African governments, regional organizations and development partners. During the congress, the African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST) and its official website were officially launched to provide a united voice for the youth on science and technology in Africa.
ATPS/CTA launches the AYFST
Following the inaugural congress in 2005, the youth continued to deliberate on how best to build and sustain a vibrant science and technology (S&T) constituency amongst the youth in Africa. Through extensive consultations with fellow youth and some senior leaders and professionals, the youth determined that they require a vehicle through which to empower themselves to actively contribute to Africa's socio-economic development through greater application and involvement in agriculture, science, technology and innovation.
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) and the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) supported these initiatives by the youth that resulted in the official launch of the African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST) and its Web site (www.ayfst.org).
This forum will provide the youth an opportunity to contribute and share our ideas and views on topical and policy issues in science and technology as they relate to Africa's development.
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