On Monday 29^th November.2021, Faraja Africa Foundation is celebrating 5 years of youth work as well as unveiling our new strategic direction for the years 2021-2025 at Silver springs hotel Bugolobi.

Since 2016, we have been driven by our mission of “molding young African leaders who are socially and economically empowered” and vision of ”facilitating the process of youth empowerment by creating platforms for meaningful economic, social, and political engagement”, which has led us  to the enormous growth and success above all.

The  purpose of this event is to celebrate our organizational achievement and successes over the past 5 years, gain strategic positioning, and share our new strategic direction to both existing and developing partners. In the same spirit, we shall be Launching Faraja Television, a broadcasting company that focuses on exposing young people on matters of social justice and youth engagement. This is however an addition to Faraja social enterprise.

Join Us Celebrate !!!

#FarajaAt5

#FarajaDtvLaunch

Katika kuelekeza nguvu kazi ya kutatua changamoto za vijana kwa njia ya uwasilishwaji wa hoja za kimantiki katika njia ya bunge, vijana kutoka Tanzania chini ya mradi wa Bunge la Vijana Afrika Mashariki siku ya leo tarehe 15^th Oktoba 2021, walikutana chou kikuu Dar es salaam na wengine kwa njia ya mtandao, hususani watu wa mkoani kam Geita, Kagera, Chato, Tanga, Simiyu , bukoba nk. Kumchagua spika wao wa Mkutano na makatibu wenye dhamana ya kuendesha mkutano na kukubaliana kwa maadhimio ya uwasilishwaji wa hoja kwa ajili ya matekelezo katika Bunge la Vijana Afrika Mashariki.

Mradi Huu, ukiwa Chini ya  Taasisi ya Faraja Africa Foundation wakishirikiana na Bunge la Afrika Mashariki na taasisi zisizozakiserikali kama success hands na Tunaweza. Mheshimiwa spika mteule wa mkutano huu aliyeshinda kwa kura 94% ni Mhe.Novatus Marandu akifwatiwa na naibu spika aliyeongoza kwa kura 87% Mhe. Khayman Yakuti.

Katika Mkutano huu,Hoja tatu zilijadiliwa na kufikiwa makubaliano ya kuwasilishwa katika Bunge la Vijana Afrika Mashariki mnamo tarehe 11-12 Oktoba 2021. Hoja zilizojadiliwa ni kama zifuatazo:

1. Hoja ya Azimio ya Vijana ya kuiomba serikali kuondoa sheria ya makato ya tozo za mialmala ya simu kwa kuwa si Rafiki kwa watu wakipato cha chini, vijana wa vyuo vikuu na wanaoishi vijijini.
2. Hoja ya Azimio la kuiomba serikali kushughulikia changamoto za unyanyasahi wa kijinsia wa nyumbani na ukatili wa kijinsia zinazowakabili Watoto, wasichana na wanawake katika wakati wa janga hili wa UVIKO-19.
3. Hoja ya kuiomba serikali kuunda benki ya maendeleo ya vijana kwa ajili ya kuwasaidia vijana ambao hawakopesheki na taasisi za kibenki na kupata mkopo wa riba nafuu.

Hoja hizi kwa ujumla wake, zilijadiliwa na mapendekezo yalitolewa katika mstakabadhi ya namna sahihi, changamoto za vijana katika ngazi hizo kuu tatu zinaweza kutatuliwa.

Pamoja na makubaliano yakimkakati yaliyojadiliwa katika siku hiyo nchini Tanzania ni Pamoja na;

1. Serikali kutengeneza mazingira Rafiki katika swala zima la kurepoti matendo ya unyanyasaji wa kijinsia hususani huongezeko la mda wa kazi mpaka masaa 24 kwenye dawati la jinsia.
2. Serikali kutengenza mazingira rafiki katika uombaji wa mkopo kwa vijana kutoka ngazi ya halmashauri mpaka ngazi ya kutengeneza kitengo cha benki ya maendeleo ya vijana.
3. Serikali kuangalia kwa jicho la tatu swala la elimu hususani yenye kukidhi mahitaji ya karne ya 21 kwa kuimairisha teknolojia na elimu.

Kama Taasisi, Faraja Africa Foundation Pamoja na wadau wamaendeleo tunaamini  katika Nguvu ya kijana kutatua changamoto zake mwenyewe kupitia Nyanja sahihi ya Uongozi uliowekwa kwa njia ya mazungumzo.

By Thekla Axel Schulte

Country Coordinator Tanzania

 

 

The East African Youth Parliament is a cross-border advocacy flagship program initiated by Faraja Africa Foundation in partnership with, European Union, Action Aid, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the East African Legislative Assembly and other partners that started in 2018. It aims at having youth voices in the key decision-making processes, right from our national to regional legislative processes, inspiring a coordinated regional governance framework. The East African Youth Parliament not only offers an opportunity to unite the youth in the region but also build their capacity in leadership, policy, and cross-border advocacy. Most importantly give them a platform to engage with key policymakers; Members of Parliament, Ministers, and Heads of State towards making responsive youth/people-centred policies.  

OPEN CALL FOR 2 DAY PLENARY – EAST AFRICAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT 2021.

Today, the East African Youth Parliament not only offers an opportunity to unite the youth in the region but also build their capacity in leadership, policy, and cross-border advocacy. Most importantly give them a platform to engage with key policymakers; Members of Parliament, Ministers, and Heads of State towards making responsive youth/people-centred policies. This year, we have yet an opportunity on the 11^th -12^th November 2021 to convene the 4^th East African Youth Parliament at the East Africa Legislative Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania under the theme; “Youth at Crossroads: Quest for descent livelihood amidst the threat of Climate change and the COVID 19 Pandemic.” 

Over 100 young people will be selected to meet physically and 100 digitally deliberate on policy issues, push for ACDEG and social justice issues back in the charter to solve youth challenges directly engaging with the East African Legislative Assembly in the EAC. The two-day sitting will bring national youth councils, student councils, civil society leaders, regional parliaments, ministry reps from the region and EALA. Increasing the advocacy platform for meaningful advocacy, since resolutions and petitions out of the sitting inform discussions at EALA. 

Application Procedure

Check your eligibility – do you fulfil the following Prerequisite?

A young East African (female or male) between the age of 18 – 35 years as of December 31st 2021? Then;

1. Complete the application form CLICK HERE

2. Make a social media post on any social media platform of your choice with hashtags #EAYouthParliament21 

3. Follow East African Youth Parliament and Faraja Africa Foundation; Twitter – @FarajaAfricaFdn | Like Page on Facebook – Faraja Africa Foundation | Follow on Instagram – @farajaafricafdn| and on LinkedIn-Faraja Africa Foundation

(Mention or tag #EAYParliament #VijanaAssembly21 and @FarajaAfricaFdn in your post.

Deadline: 1st November 2021 at 11:59 pm EAT.

For more information and inquiries, email info@farajaafricafdn.org

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

CLICK HERE TO APPLY (LINK)

The Vijana Legislative Assembly-Tanzania is a platform that builds up to the East African Youth Parliament initiated by Faraja Africa Foundation. Vijana is a Swahili word to mean youth, and the assembly is aimed at fostering safe spaces for increased youth participation in parliamentary and legislative processes, civic and political affairs within the EAC partner states.

This is a call for participants in Tanzania to join in and be part of processes that contribute to the strengthening of participatory decision-making that enables pursuits for employment and increased access to empowering social services for the youth in Tanzania on the 15th October 2021. We are proud to partner with Voice of Youth Tanzania, Tunaweza and other partners.

The 2021 Vijana Legislative Assembly Sitting will engage 100 youth in leadership both physical (30) and (70) in Virtually all regions in Tanzania.

The Vijana Legislative Assembly aims at:

▪   Creating a safe and inclusive youth space for decision-making on democratic and political issues.

▪   Increase youth participation in policymaking, developing of youth-focused policies, and increasing youth civic engagement and advocacy.

▪   Draw the attention of key decision-makers to the issues pertinent to young people’s livelihood and affirmative Government funding to minimize the effects of the COVID pandemic on youth.

▪   Ensure follow-up on the progress and actions are taken on issues raised in the 1^st Vijana Legislative Assembly (2020) including an inbuilt accountability mechanism that ensures that issues of the young people have a result-driven focus as well.

1.     Develop strategies for enhancing the quality of youth engagements in political processes at all levels and improving youth development and mentoring opportunities for effective engagements in civic and political decision-making processes

ELIGIBILITY

1.     A Resident of Tanzania aged between 18-35years.

2.     A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, or public/government service.

3.     Demonstrated knowledge and interest in social justice issues affecting youth in Tanzania.

4. Understanding of the Focus and Goals of the Vijana Legislative Assembly of Tanzania Sitting.

5. Fully tested and are COVID19 free 24hrs to the event (for physical participants)

CLICK HERE TO APPLY (LINK)

We are proud to announce the opening of a youth digital broadcasting television; Access to information is increasingly becoming expensive for young people and so is media visibility in amplifying their voices. Keeping the young people more marginalised yet they have a lot to not only share but engage in but with fewer opportunities for expression. As traditional media houses continue to disregard young people’s creativity and relevance, the latter have turned to non-traditional media such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter to share their ideas and thoughts. Which has also given room for the mushrooming of FAKE NEWS.

Hence increasing the need for developing youth-centred and media-driven solutions in this digital age where timely communication is key. With a focus on creating a youth-centred space, Faraja has created a digital television and platform to amplify African young people’s voices and creativity. Faraja Television (also known as FarajaDTv / FDTv) is opened therefore for all young people in Eastern Africa and the rest of Africa.

Faraja Television’s programming module is to reach out to her audiences through the already existent digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, satellite cable, website and other platforms. In so doing, creating a platform that can get young people’s voices amplified to the right audiences, in a timely and digital savvy medium; for civic awareness/engagement, promotion of the social entrepreneurial culture, African heritage among other youth developmental initiatives. It is a youth channel targeting not only a young audience but also that of key decision-makers (inter/governmental actors, civil society, private sector, etc.) and development practitioners. This will help aid in bridging the gap and developing youth-centred policies, programs and well facilitate the development process of young people.

Therefore, FarajaDTv seeks to create a platform for youth to inform, inspire, and empower each other through relevant, trustworthy, and regional-class quality television programs and services. Television is an open platform for all young people regardless in East Africa and not limited.

For more information, Follow us on Twitter @FarajaDTv for up-to-date news and for live shows please visit https://farajadtv.com \

Faraja Africa Foundation in partnership with Irise Institute East Africa has joined the Period Equality Network (TPEN) in digitalizing the access to menstrual hygiene management of young girls in Uganda amidst the covid-19 pandemic.

The project that will take a period of three months will be capturing stories of young girls, persons with disabilities, community leaders, persons in charge of children affairs from 5 different towns and districts including Kawempe, Mutungo-Biina, Kasese, Rubirizi and Buikwe. These will focus on the coping mechanisms of access to menstrual hygiene management amidst the pandemic, and the roles played to ensure young girls have access to sanitary towels, and information aligned with menstrual hygiene.

This project that aligns with Faraja Africa Foundation’s youth livelihood program will be implemented digitally on our social media platforms with support from platforms of our sister companies, Faraja Digital and Faraja Television. The goal with these will be to create awareness by holding tweet chats and Twitter spaces, live discussions on YouTube or Facebook to see to it that issues affecting young girls in line with menstrual hygiene are addressed and looked at.

Join us today as we digitalise issues in line with menstrual health and hygiene and come up with SMART resolutions in addressing such issues in Uganda.

By Patricia Maganda.

PRESS RELEASE: Friday 27^th August 2021, Arua, Uganda: EU, Faraja Africa Foundation flag off digital ambassadors in West Nile

The European Union in Uganda together with its implementing partners, Advance Afrika and Faraja Africa Foundation have today rewarded a group of digital ambassadors in the Arua district.

The event that took place on Friday 27^th, August 2021 at Heritage Courts saw 10 young people rewarded with tablets that would enable them to digitalize their businesses, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We believe in creating an accelerator system that can reboot businesses in the West Nile Region, during the pandemic. The project is targeting 350 young people in the districts of Arua and Zombo, as they were hit the most, because of businesses closing in the wake of the pandemic. The programme will also target 200 inmates from Arua, Nebbi and Paidha prison units in Zombo districts and 300 truck drivers from Vurra in Arua District and Alangi & Jangokoro in Zombo district. This initiative includes a business accelerator, entrepreneurship skills, capacity building, digital skilling, and psychosocial support (for the inmates). At Faraja Africa Foundation, our focus is on the social and entrepreneurship skilling,” Emmanuel Wabwire, the foundation’s founder explains.

The Improving Economic Resilience of West Nile(IERC)  project is a two-year intervention that is spearheaded by Advance Afrika and Faraja Africa Foundation and funded by the European Union.

“Advance Afrika is focusing on addressing the negative impacts of COVID 19 during the lockdown hence empowering the vulnerable youth whose businesses were greatly affected. We support rehabilitation programs in prisons for instance training in entrepreneurship and life skills as well as setting up in prison projects with guidance from Prisons officials for instance tailoring, bakery and other hands-on skills to enable the inmates to properly reintegrate back into their communities,” says Emma Wachal, a project officer at Advance Afrika.

By Faraja Africa Foundation -Admin

CLICK HERE TO APPLY (Link)

The National Youth Parliament is an important political and legislative space and creative advocacy vehicle that brings together the National Youth Council (NYC), the Uganda National Students Association – UNSA, an activist network, You Lead Network, Platform for Youth Inclusion in Politics and young people from civil society organizations, the private sector and cultural institutions among others. Since its inception in 2018, it has been held around the UN International Youth Day as part of the commemoration engagements that play a vital role in amplifying youth voices to legislators.

This year through the Platform for Youth Inclusion in Politics (PYIP), in partnership with the Parliament of Uganda, European Union, ActionAid Uganda, Restless Development, Westminster Foundation, Advance Afrika and PYIP members are organizing the fourth National Youth Parliament on 17th September 2021; under the theme “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health,” adopted from the UN International Youth Day 2021 theme. PYIP is a special purpose vehicle to galvanize joint efforts and collaboration towards youth inclusion in politics.

The plenary is a special sitting of the Parliament of Uganda, made up of 200 young leaders (across all spheres) and people and will represent the young people at the National Youth Parliament Sitting on 17th September 2021, which will take place both physically and online in a bid to ensure the government’s guidelines on COVID 19 are followed.

This is a call for youth representation across all districts in Uganda.

Do you want to speak up for young people? Do you want your voice amplified? Do not miss out on this opportunity.

Click the link here to fill out the form: https://forms.gle/7GgEw5ZCLbMioTmP8 and follow instructions to be part of the National Youth Parliament 2021.

For more information please email info@farajaafricafdn.org

The 2021 election period was characterized by violence in the pre-election period with unlawful arrests of the young people, voter and candidate intimidation, extremely high voter bribery, and assassinations of the lives of young citizens. According to the media, over 70% of the victims and perpetrators of violence were young people. More than half of these young people often don’t know the reason behind these demonstrations but join because of the bandwagon. Faraja Africa Foundation conducted town hall meetings in northern, eastern, and western Uganda, and from the assessment, it was concluded that young people from these regions often take part in violent acts because of news about injustices that have circulated on online platforms. These youth are easily triggered to participate in the demonstration because the news finds them idle hence with a lot of time to participate. The poverty state of these youth also makes them susceptible to being coerced financially for an amount as low as 1000 UGX to distort peace in their communities. During the assessment, it was also captured that the unemployed young people also “utilize” the electoral period to make as much money as possible even if it means disorganizing the campaign of an opponent of the candidate that has paid them.

However, through these town hall meetings and radio talk shows Faraja Africa Foundation was also able to find out that whereas young people participate in these acts of violence. They are also aware of how unsustainable and destructive they can be to the community. Faraja Africa Foundation got some of these young people to commit to an 8-month district-level peace campaign both using local and digital means. Contrary to the common notion, young people from these districts are informed about digital platforms like social media as tools of advocacy. These young people and some stakeholders in Soroti, Mbale, Gulu, and Ntungamo districts vowed to take it upon themselves to engage other youths they influence, other stakeholders in the national and local governments in their respective capacities to pursue conversations around conservation peace, encouraging advocacy and round table discussions rather than violence in resolving conflict especially during the post-election period. In this respect, the “each one teach one” practice where the stakeholders who attended the training were encouraged to train about 100 young people in their areas of influence in both the formal and informal sector.

The participants and stakeholders of the town hall meetings and stakeholder’s meetings that took place in Eastern Uganda, Western Uganda, and Northern expressed their interest in being part of the campaigns channeled towards a peaceful post-election. Sincere gratitude to the International Republican Institute and Faraja Africa Foundation for giving young people the opportunity to be part of change and peacebuilding in the country during the post-election period. This will enable them to share knowledge and skills of conflict resolution with the communities from which they come.

The town hall meetings were engaging and opened their minds to procedures and discussions related to the significance of having a peaceful post-election period for sustainable development. The training in Conflict Resolution and Creative advocacy deepened their understanding and passion for conserving peace in their communities during the post-election period. Moreover, they learned the importance of perseverance in addressing the many challenges facing their inclusion of democratic spaces without resorting to violence.

Even though local communities living from which these stakeholders and young people may have not grasped the use of technology, they will share knowledge around peaceful conflict resolution at a community level and spreading the message that they are essential stakeholders in the conservation of peace in the communities. Young people are usually excluded in decision-making processes which is the highest cause of strikes and violence in their communities. Therefore, they proposed that State Parties and civil society organizations work with the already trained stakeholders and young people to raise awareness among youths in local communities through cross-generational conversations with the older persons and leaders,  training programs for more young people at the grassroots especially in the local languages, vigorous peace campaigns aimed that “leaving no one behind in bringing about peace in the post-election period, public policy workshops to educate more young people in their civic duties, internships and hands-on skills to eradicate poverty and unemployment which makes young people susceptible to voter bribery, tailor-made district-level online and physical engagement and campaigns to foster advocacy at a community level and campaigns and workshops to increase their capacity to advocate for the conservation of peace and sustainable management. We believe that peace-sensitive youths from local communities should be given priority in decision-making processes and employment. This will not only empower them but can also contribute to combatting voter bribery and monetization of politics that brings leaders who will not serve the interests of the young people in pushing their agenda.

Youth engagement in Uganda can also be enhanced by creating youth local committees both at national and community levels. They shall be responsible for developing a National Youth for Peace Committee as well as creating and monitoring peace awareness projects and activities in all the districts. Such committees will contribute to sustainable peace conservation as well as providing adequate information on young engagement and creating innovative local community-based activities that engage young people.

The young people were also concerned that in Uganda civic education for the young people is not emphasized in the school curriculum. They, therefore, recommend that the government introduce and/or emphasize civic education from basic to secondary levels. Education is paramount to building awareness and developing a passion for a civically educated society. The youth believe that civic education is a vital tool for involving youths proactively in civic-related issues. Furthermore, integration of political and civic education at institutions of higher learning is advised. This is to say that civic education should not be only limited to the role of the electoral commission within the country but should rather encompass stakeholders in the education sector to cover a wider range.

To fully reflect the ideas of all these young people in Uganda, they recommend that the outcomes of the project be combined with those of the next advocacy projects for sustainability.

By Edna Kanyesigye

Governance & Democracy Pillar

Entrepreneurship, it is a big deal today. Everyone seems to have a plan to start their own business, giving rise to a FOMO(Fear Of Missing Out).
As it is said, entrepreneurship is rather for risk-takers, in this case, enthusiasm with no grounding nor testing or clear research about your new business ideas could leave you with empty results rather an emptier wallet. For one to succeed and strive in the world of entrepreneurs today, there are a few tips and tactics you need to know. Development is in most cases is assumed with huge investments during field testing and research. I bring you a more realistic approach to entrepreneur start-up and field approach.

Research

Research, the reason for this is that you might be able to spot certain shortcomings or blind spots in your competitors, you don’t have to reinvent the idea but adding some different things to it can dramatically improve the basic concept. It is very important to conduct research before you invest time and money in your company, research the market to determine whether you have a chance to succeed. It is important to have research to study your sales potential and competition which is the simplest way for entrepreneurs to learn about market trends and sale opportunities.

Share Your Ideas

I know the feeling; you have thought of an amazing new business idea and you are reluctant on letting the big secret out. As much as you could use the feedback, the thought of someone stealing your idea is too painful to even consider. And so, you keep it all to yourself like attaining a website, logo, and all other startup essentials only to find that your idea flops hard. Believe it or not, sharing your idea further develops it and rather reduces the chances of idea theft. Sharing it is safe.

Pitch Your Idea to Fellow Entrepreneurs

A circle of entrepreneurs is always open to new ideas and always enthusiastic to help a fellow or start-up entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, always try to pitch your idea to fellow entrepreneurs, as experts in the field, they can truly help you flash out the details and come to a clearer understanding of your business potential. With this engagement, you might be surprised how willing other business people are in a known on the latest and great trade secrets, after all, it’s what entrepreneurs do for a living. As ingenious as you think your idea is, you might be surprised to learn it already exists out there somewhere but don’t panic instead of using this as an excuse to give up, use it as an opportunity to remould your idea to greatness.

Use of Social Media:

Social media is forward-moving. It is one of the powerful marketing tools that most entrepreneurs are embracing and taking advantage of to move their business to the next level. Social media gives you an opportunity to hear from what your customer prospects are interested in; it can also help you find out if your potential competitors are delivering a better service than your planning on delivering. Social media groups, your target market is just a few clicks away in online groups. Join forums and social media groups or Facebooks and ask them about your intended offering. start joining a startup incubator or accelerator program is a great way to connect with other entrepreneurs and get access to their business resources.

With the four tips shared above, your new idea will turn to great success with less or zero investment as it looks on the outside.

 

Author: Ms Sharon Nantanda
Programs officer SELF