Youth from 100 nations to meet, discuss social problems

NEW DELHI - Over 300 youngsters from across the globe are all set to meet here next month to discuss various challenges facing their respective communities, think of possible solutions and try to implement these back home.

The meet will be organised by Oxfam International, an organisation of 14 NGOs.

Titled Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP) programme, the meet will be an eight-day affair starting Nov 22 and will see participation from a hundred countries, including New Zealand, Britain, Spain, the US, Germany, France and Mexico besides India. All the participants would be aged between 18-25.

“The event aims to provide a platform to the youth to discuss problems in their community and country, deepen their understanding of the issues, underlying poverty and injustice and give them an opportunity to work together to find solutions to these problems and go back and implement their plans,” an Oxfam official said in a statement.

The Indian participation will see 20 youngsters, including students, working professionals, volunteers and entrepreneurs.

Among the issues that the Indian participants will be discussing are education for the girl child, village development through active citizenship using information technology, health issues and identifying sports talent at the grassroots.

“At the end of the event, the participants will go back, refine their project plans and continue to be supported by Oxfam to develop their skills and ability to implement their plans. Based on the needs, Oxfam will conduct skill-building workshops and also provide online and networking opportunity over three years,” the official said.

“Some selected participants will also be provided with grants to undertake community based projects over the next three years,” the official added.