FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Afghan Youth Against Poverty

Poverty is one of the root causes of human calamity, if not eradicated, it will eradicate us!

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On 15 Aug 2007, Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) Afghanistan Coalition organized a peaceful walk entitled “Afghan Youth Against Poverty” in major cities of Afghanistan. Youth, wearing loose shirts on which the title of this walk (Afghan Youth Against Poverty) was written; carrying banners and posters that included their explicit demands for eradication of poverty engulfing youth all over Afghanistan, walked their way up from Ministry of Higher Education to Afghanistan National Assembly in Kabul city. While walking, they were chanting slogans to demand their rights
from the Islamic Government of Afghanistan such as “Afghan Youth Committed to Fight Against Poverty”, “Youth Are the Backbone of a Nation, Do Not Let Them Grow weak”, “Poverty is the Mother of Crime” and many more slogans related to poverty and youth. This event was simultaneously organized in other major cities of Afghanistan such as Hirat, Ningarhar, Kunduz, Daikundi and Takhar by coalition members of GCAP Afghanistan.

This event was part of International Youth Day celebration (12 Aug). Preparation for this day started two months ago. To find the problems causing poverty among youth; a research was conducted by GCAP Afghanistan Coalition Members in Hirat, Kunduz, Takhar, Daikundi, Kabul and Ningarhar provinces. Youth from different walks of life were interviewed. After collection and analysis of the information, among many problems; two major burning issues were identified as the main and major problems Afghan youth are faced with. They are:
1. unemployment among well-educated, less educated and uneducated youth;
2. and lack of quality education opportunities for those youth who would like to continue their education.

Last year 60,000 high school graduates registered for university entrance examination. Only around 24,000 of them got into universities and other higher education institutions. Due to lack of capacity of at universities and other higher education institutions in Afghanistan, the remaining youth (36,000) were not able to fulfill their dreams for higher education. Unemployment rate in Afghanistan is unbelievably high and there will be very few chances of meaningful employment opportunities for only some of these youth. What will happen to the remaining youth who could not make into the universities? Will they turn to crime? Will they be the victim of drug addicts? Will they…?
Uneducated youth may not fulfill their moral and ethical duties for reconstruction and development of Afghanistan effectively and efficiently. GCAP Afghanistan Coalition believes if government and other actors in Afghanistan do not pay undivided and serious attention to solving these problems, the present crises will worsen. This will decrease hope among already hopeless youth and prevent them from active contribution to the reconstruction and development of their country Afghanistan.

When the walk reached its climax which was in front of the National Assembly, youth representatives delivered speeches, underlining and emphasizing problems of youth and asking government and other actors to address these issues seriously. They also performed a road drama highlighting the problems of youth. A brief press conference was organized to answer the questions of the media. Finally, they passed a resolution and submitted to concerned government ministries and the Nation Assembly of
Afghanistan.

The End

Contact Person:
Sayed Ihsanullah Dileri
Event Coordinator – GCAP Afghanistan
Tel: 0799325171
Email address: sdfkabul@ceretechs.com

What is the Global Call to Action against Poverty?

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is the largest anti-poverty coalition that the world has ever seen - whose organizations together represent more than 150 million people globally. The campaign, bringing together charities, trade unions, faith groups, grassroots movements and women’s groups across 100 countries, is aiming to make a breakthrough on poverty in 2005. GCAP is calling on world leaders to honor their promises as stated in millennium development goals (MDGs) on combating extreme poverty. More specifically, GCAP demands:

• More and better quality aid to poor countries of all continents
• 100% debt cancellation of all poor countries
• Trade justice
• Public Accountability

GCAP Afghanistan Coalition:

GCAP Afghanistan Coalition was formed during 2005 and Sanayee Development Organization SDO voluntarily accepted to host its secretariat and be one of its members. SDO along with coalition
members that include national and international organizations organized a number of events.

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