A redefined Youth African Image

Dear All, The time has come and the opportunity is here to speak out. To tell the story that Africa’s youth is not some black NGO statistic or sad clip on the international news. We are Africa’s youth: brilliant, determined, innovative, and ethical and the foundation of a new Africa. This is a redefined African youth image. We will take our stories of hard work and resourcefulness to the streets, we will take them to the World Wide Web and the world will hear us roar. That is “I am Africa. This is my story…” http://www.i-am-the-story.ning.com Every African youth has a story and is worthy of telling it. Every African youth has a story worth listening to. Millions of African youth from all levels of society, tribe and religion have a history, challenges, purpose and a future. African youth, You have the right, freedom now an opportunity to tell to the world who you really are. As African youth, you have the right to tell the story the international press has failed miserably to tell. African youth are bright and shining stars, hard workers, resourceful, faithful to families and the foundation of Africa’s future. There is no story greater than another. A young single mother who puts food on the table is as honorable as one getting a medical degree in the UK. Everyone plays a role in the story that is Africa. Young man, young woman! Think of the great stories you have heard in your life. Some may be from an expensive Hollywood movie or a TV show. The best ones are when someone you know opens their heart and tells you about their life. It is sharing something important with a friend, it is personal and real. When great stories come from the heart and soul, something inside of us changes. Great stories also seem to be about someone overcoming the odds of failure and oppression to build something positive and new. When we hear a great story, we secretly cheer the storyteller on; we honor what they have done. When someone tells a story about their life it is powerful, because it is real. Like lighting a candle in a dark room, a story brightens our life with hope. The story breathes life into our hearts and encourages us to keep on going when things seem impossible. Great stories inspire people to do new and innovative things. We listen, watch, learn, and then build something even better. When an African youth succeeds, all of Africa succeeds. When an organization helps one African Youth transform their life, they have helped all of Africa’s youth transform. When you look at all of the amazing stories African youth have achieved together we witness the oneness and the promise that is Africa’s future. That greater collective story must be told. Deeply touched, Richard, CEO of Chrysalis Campaign Inc. once said, “Every time I have worked in Africa taking photographs, writing, or working at missions, I have been asked by orphanages, business owners, teachers and youth raising families, ‘Please tell our story.’ It always breaks my heart to hear this, because there are so many stories to tell.” When chatting, Richard and Wandila Simon an African youth, realized that they could empower African youth with the free resources to tell their stories to the entire world. Now the idea is being realized, with the help of UNESCO, with a YouTube channel and the African youth community. African youth and supporters are the heroes, and they deserve the recognition and fame. An educational, cultural and business opportunity for African youth to have an international voice in a constructive way. For African youth to have a way to educate one another into a new future. To encourage diverse African communities and organizations to work together and show the world that African youth are worth investing in. “I am Africa. This is my story…” was born, and this is what it is. The first reason for this contest is that we want to teach African youth how to acquire the resources in the world through the Internet. The second reason is for Africa’s youth to learn how to work and trust one another to achieve personal, family, community and country transformation through intelligent, ethical decisions. It is to encourage one another when things seem impossible and difficult. Seeing and hearing the testimonies of our brothers and sisters encouraging each other to take another step, show that the impossible can become possible everyday. Together you are Africa and this is your story. Only you can tell your story, but we can help with: 1. Free social community and YouTube channel. 2. Free customizable web page. 3. Free training materials on how to tell a YouTube story. 4. Free certificate and chance to win a new laptop. 5. Materials on how to find people who will help you. Just publishing your story makes you a winner. It makes you a part of the greater story that is “I am Africa. This is my story...” The internet and social media today is a great tool for agricultural development, by means of improving information communication and management, and knowledge management. This gives life to the concept that knowledge of farming is equal to prosperity; where as lack of knowledge of farming is equal to death. As organisations working with African youth, there are so many ways in which you can help the youth of Africa to tell their story. Secretly you have always wanted to tell the world what you do, now is your chance. Storytelling in Africa is the greatest of traditions and the impact of Internet social media is our youth’s greatest gift. We have joined forces with UNESCO Power of Peace Network to not only provide youth with a free storytelling curriculum but free software tools as well. This contest will grow your business with free marketing and training tools. Imagine your local community seeing their own story on the global Internet. This a grass roots movement of African pride. As a development organization, this program is designed to not only tell the story of your organization’s work in the life of a single youths life, it will help grow your business. You can submit from one to hundreds of your clients’ videos on YouTube. Your organisation will also have a free private web page viewed by people throughout Africa and the world. You will receive free training and publishing tools that can add services that you can use to help students and NGOs with the contest. Each African youth digital story YouTube video is a powerful statement of determination, leadership and positive ethics. Not only do African youth and businesses need encouragement in the future of Africa, but the world needs to hear about it as well. This educational contest is unique and exciting because the smallest orphange to the largest NGO will all be on equal ground telling how youth are being transformed. It represents not only a united voice for African youth, but a united voice for those who help and work in Africa. It will show that Africa’s people are remarkable and worth investing in. When you help an African youth tell their story of transformation and success everyone wins. The world needs to know what they are capable of. There is a myth in the press “That we report on the world, not shape it.” That may have had some truth in old TV and print, but it is a myth on the Internet today. This Africa-wide YouTube contest for youth called “I am Africa. This is my story…” is your chance to use your media to make a positive global impact. When we brought the idea to UNESCO PPN of our plan to bypass mass media with a message of positive determination, they were excited. The press and bloggers were also excited that they can use these videos. We are looking forward to members of the press submitting entries about their lives as well. This contest has African media taking a very bold leap by educating Africa’s youth on how to publish their own stories. As we have seen with CNN reporters, this is a powerful tool and now your blog, paper, print and television channel can leverage it. The foundation of this contest is an educational way to jumpstart schools, cybercafes, telecentres development organisations and youth in the educational power of the Web. Here is your opportunity to work with them and take the curriculum into your schools. As members of the press, you know this is possible. You will have training material for your community Help give Africa’s youth a voice. Let’s hear you roar, “I am Africa. This is my story…” Secretly you have always wanted to do more than report, you want to change the world, and now you can. There is a myth in the press “That we report on the world, not shape it.” That may have had some truth in old TV and print, but it is a myth on the Internet today. This Africa-wide YouTube contest for youth called “I am Africa. This is my story…” is your chance to to use your media to make a positive global impact. Your sponsorship is greatly needed for us to get the words out. However, your personal skills are also needed to help your local youth tell their story. Perhaps you are under 35 and have your own story, then here is your platform to tell it. What you will receive with press sponsorship: 6. Contest “CyberGuide” Certificate and private web page. 7. A private page on “I am the Story” Ning Social Network. 8. Mention in an African youth contest video, if you choose to assist in its development. 9. Your media can link to educational storytelling material for readers. You have your own local contest and awards. Many thanks to Southern Africa Telecentre Network, Chrysalis Campaign and Youth Skills for Development for sponsoring the launch of this project and UNESCO their support. So we encourage you to place your story online for the entire world to witness the wonder that is Africa and the future it is building. Together, let’s save some lives. ...Originally posted on http://ys4d.posterous.com