On Monday 29th 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.
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.
Author: Ms.Sharon Nantanda, Program Officer SELF_Faraja Africa Foundation
Over 400,000 young people are released into the job market every year in Uganda according to the World Bank; the majority of whom live under the poverty line. This number is expected to increase by 1,000,000 youth in the next year but that hasn’t equated to the jobs available. This is the same plight most African countries are facing. Recently, we have seen most of the African states going into lockdown, with no businesses operating thus limiting young people and their family adequate access to basic needs. Mostly, we discovered how poor our saving culture has been.
Usually, it’s not the first thing on young people’s minds. We depend highly on a gig-economy hence as young people we practice hand-to-mouth. We enjoy ourselves with the little we earn and have absolutely no financial responsibilities. We have not been taught to seriously take the art and importance of saving at an early stage. Which explains the difficulty we are facing in this COVID19 lockdown driven financial crisis. It’s said, “…wealth collected in small quantities accumulate…” and also, its key to note that if you can’t save in the days of 1000 shillings, you will never save in the days of 1,000,000 shillings. Hence, its key to note that savings are important drivers of economic growth of one’s self.
As young people, we should make it point to build our saving culture by starting with the little we have. Because it’s from these savings that we are able to build capital for future investments if we intend to create a business. This intern will help us get the income and attain personal financial goals. There are three relationships we should cultivate when it comes to money and that is;
How to make the money
How to keep/save the money
How to grow/invest the money
A successful livelihood and financial freedom depend on how you handle that above three. Having a good saving culture as a young entrepreneur is essential to helping you grow your money, invest in bigger deals and more. It also increases your capacity to make more money. Once you make it a habit you will not overspend on unnecessary things that do not need hence, helping you optimize your resources.
Savings means that as a young person you have a fallback plan, insurance (assurance of sustainability). That’s because just as wisdom is a defence, so is money. Building your financial literacy knowledge is key and reducing access to bank accounts will ease your journey in saving. This is the fastest way to fight poverty, unemployment and grow more youth businesses owners who also promote the country’s economic growth (social entrepreneurs).
Therefore, as young people it’s imperative we embrace saving as a lifestyle. For if we are to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal in fighting poverty, we all have a role to play. No matter how hard or difficult it may be, building a wall of savings will always help create a smooth and secure future. As Faraja Africa Foundation, we are committed to ensuring we facilitate the process of social engagement and economic empowerment of young people, but this begins with you, so save today. Remember, time is money, using it well is a form of saving and investment.
By Sharon Nantanda, Program Officer
The Social Entrepreneurs and Leaders Fellowship (SELF)
Faraja Africa Foundation in partnership with Restless Development, YOULead and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy; are hoping to capture short1-2 minute videos of young people like yourself sharing how COVID-19 has affected you (young people in East Africa). Please respond to the following question:
“What has been the biggest impact of COVID-19 on your life, and how have you been coping with it?”
Send Videos via WhatsApp on: +256772472724
Guidance On Content of the Video
Keep the video personal; it makes for a more powerful message. As long as you feel comfortable doing so, speak specifically about your life – not that of young people generally and all in English. Here’re some tips on filming:
Record yourself with your phone in landscape mode or using your computer camera, and position yourself in the middle of the frame and talk directly into the camera. (It would be nice if you can have the camera pointing up at you – because it makes people perceive you with more authority.)
Be sure to leave enough headroom (i.e. a little bit of blank space above your head in the frame), and prop your phone up/position your laptop camera to frame you well and ensure the camera is stable. If filming with your phone, make sure your camera on your phone is on the top corner not the bottom (manually check this on your camera).
Record yourself in a quiet location like at your desk
Count to three seconds before you speak – and when you are done saying what you way to say, hold your gaze into the lens and count to three in your head before you press end the recording.
Once you’ve recorded the first take, watch it back with headphones and check it looks and sounds good. If not – re, record it. (Remember it can’t be longer than 2 minutes 20 seconds or you can post it on twitter.)
NOTE: Will be using these videos in a couple different ways: on a COVID-specific page hosted on our and partners website or other platforms; on our socials as part of a social media campaign; in key quotations included in our report; and potentially, in policy discussions that we organise to talk about the findings from both this and our survey.
Send Videos via WhatsApp on: +256772472724
Consent and Copyright
All participants who will submit material to the us will be consenting and acknowledging that the we and out partners (mentioned above) may use their pictures, videos and other content produced during this campaign for purposes above and work.
Together with the Africa World Heritage Fund and partners above, we wish to commemorate the Africa World Heritage Day (AWHD) is an opportunity for people around the world to celebrate one of Africa’s most precious resources: its irreplaceable cultural and natural heritage. The annual celebration of the AWHD on 5th May was proclaimed by the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2015. It aims to increase global awareness about African heritage and to mobilise enhanced cooperation for its safeguarding. Faced with contemporary threats such as widespread poverty, climate change, uncontrolled development, political instability and now COVID19, many of these wonders are in danger. It is, therefore, more urgent than ever that this heritage is protected and preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.
Therefore, to mark the fifth (5th) edition of this international day, our African States Parties are encouraged during this difficult period of COVID-19 pandemic, to find innovative ways to champion African World Heritage protection and promotion by digitally hosting a wide range of activities related to diverse aspects of World Heritage, with the active participation of local communities and the youth. Under the theme Youth, Entrepreneurship and Heritage Sustainability in Africa.
African World Heritage Day Celebrations – 5th May 2020
The main AWHD celebrations will comprise a social media campaign, #TogetherApart4AfricanHeritage or #OurAfricanHeritage, from 25th of April to the 25th of May, and a webinar (online seminar) on the 5th of May.
The Social media campaign will harnessing the power of audio, photos, videos and creative professional writing we intend to use online available resources such as social media to gather and share the voices of young people, local communities, professional and influencers on the significance of AWHD and their innovative ways of promoting African heritage during difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The social media campaign will be championed by Faraja Africa Foundation. Participants will answer thematic question in their messages such as
What does AWHD (5th of May) mean to you and your community?
How has the AWHD been celebrated by the youth in your community in the past years?
How has the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic impacted your community’s way of life and livelihoods?
How has COVID-19 pandemic affected heritage-related business or organization in and around World Heritage in your community?
What innovative approaches can be adopted by various stakeholders (youth, site managers, policymakers, local communities) in response to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic to safeguard and promote African World Heritage?
How can the general public be involved in celebrating AWHD while staying at home to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus?
On the 5th of May, the Chairperson of the Chairperson of the African World Heritage Fund, will host an online seminar/debate. This 1h and 30min event will gather 200 participants from Africa and in the diaspora, mostly youth, and the discussion will be led by a diverse panel comprising policymakers, young entrepreneurs, local community leaders, and representatives from key AWHF partners such as UNESCO and ICCROM. The webinar will consist of interactive oral presentations from youth participants and experts from different fields (e.g. business, leadership, heritage, etc.) combined with discussions from the participants.
Guidelines for Capturing Photos and Filming Videos
Device to use: Use a professional video camera or a mobile phone with a high-resolution camera.
Format: High Definition (HD), ensure you set the phone to 1920×1080 or less depending on phone power.
Orientation: Landscape not Portrait (phone must be turned to the side horizontally and not vertical)
Background Setting: Film in a quiet place for good sound provision and speak clearly. Avoid contrast. If the background is sunny, you should be in the sunshine; if the background is in the shade, you should be in the shade too.
Filming: If needed, find someone to hold the phone/camera steady or use a camera stand, to avoid a shaky video. Stand close to the phone/camera.
Length: You can take multiple videos and create a single montage that illustrates your point effectively: the footage should depict with your image clearly shown up-close and not from a distance, this will ensure your voice is heard and are in focus and should not exceed 59 seconds.
Language Structure of Testimony: 85-90% in French or English and 10-15% in other language (Arabic, Portuguese or any African language). For example, start your testimony in English or in French and conclude briefly in any other preferred African language.
Consent and Copyright
All participants who will submit material to the G-Suite platform will be given a written consent form acknowledging that the African World Heritage Fund and the implementing partners (mentioned above) may use their pictures, videos and other content produced during this campaign for non-commercial purposes.
Voting of the East African Youth Parliament Speakers
Faraja Africa Foundation with partners; EALA, European Union, Action Aid, YouLead, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, International Republican Institute-Uganda, EACSOF, Wajibika and Voice of Youth Tanzania organised and mobilised one hundred and twenty young people from the six East African Community member states at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in Arusha, Tanzania for the second East African Youth Parliament sitting also known as the “Vijana Assembly.” The East African Youth Parliament is an invented creative advocacy space institutionalised by EALA where young people get to directly interface and push policy recommendations on topical issues that affect them.
The journey to the Vijana Assembly started last year with the first Assembly sitting as this relevantly done this year with the National Youth Parliament in Uganda and Burundi, and other East African states opting for national dialogues and other pre-YouLead Summit activities. These activities brought together different youth voices from all over East Africa, which were summed up to the national position papers. These papers were then presented at the YouLead Summit 2019 in Arusha for further scrutiny, and the most pressing and crosscutting of the issues therein were included in the order paper of the Vijana Assembly 2019.
Rwandan Youth Speaker
Youth Member moving a motion
This year’s Vijana Assembly was under the theme “Embracing holistic integration”with specific objectives of finding safe space for young people freely debate on critical issues leaving no one behind; youth participation in the integration, youth and governance challenges in the region, climate change and sustainable development, tax justice and entrepreneurship for young people, harmonization of education system in East Africa in line with Agenda 2063 African and East African integration. It is imperative to observe that the Vijana Assembly comprised of young people from the different civil societies, student leaders from different institutions of learning, youth in business, National Youth Councils, and those from different political parties across East Africa.
Deputy Clerk Officiating the opening of the Assembly
The Four elected Speakers with the Rt. Hon EALA Speaker at the Center
The Vijana Assembly was opened by the Clerk to the EALA on 14th November and run under the rules of the House. This included complying with the first order of business, that is, swearing in of all members, and thereafter election of Speakers to chair the different sittings. The four Speakers to the Vijana Assembly were elected from Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan; and comprised two ladies and two gentlemen. Uganda and Tanzania obtained the positions of the clerk to the Assembly, whilst handing over the speakership position to the newly elected. It’s important to note that the house overwhelmingly voted one of the speakers as a person with disability (PWD) Rt. Hon Ashuara Michael who is Deaf from Kenya. She chaired the last session with translation for the members. This move was deliberate by the young people, stating that disability does not stop us from collectively progressing hence leaving no one behind, all can lead.
The Speaker of EALA Rt. Martine Ngoga officiating the Closing of the Vijana Assembly
Youth Speakers led by Rt. Hon Ashura handing over the Youth Petition to the Speaker of EALA
The Speaker of the East Africa Parliament, Rt Hon Martin K. Ngoga was present on 15th and participated in the debate, once calling the participants to order over proceeding without introducing themselves on the floor as East Africans from Uganda, Kenya…etc. He congratulated the young people on leaving no one behind in his words saying, “…as young people you have made a statement not only to EALA but the entire world, that disability isn’t an excuse for leaving brilliant minds behind, this has been the most inclusive engagement in these EALA chambers…”
He later officially closed the 2019 Vijana Assembly, where he challenged the young people to fully embrace the integration of East Africa. He noted that he was hopeful that in the near future, a good number of the young people at the Vijana Assembly would be either member of the EALA or even Speaker. He committed that the EALA would ensure that the perspectives of the youth are reflected in the legislative, representative, oversight work, and further pledged to promote youth empowerment.
Official Group Photo of the East African Youth Parliament 2019
The four Speakers of the Vijana Assembly led by Rt Hon Ashura Michael then presented a Petition to the EALA Speaker, which contained the resolutions from the two day Second East African Youth Parliament sessions before the Assembly was adjourned sine die by the sitting Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ashura Michael from Kenya at 17:30 hours and the members were invited to a photo shoot with the Rt. Hon Speaker, Martin K. Ngoga.
As Faraja Africa Foundation, with partners, we are committed to building an engaging and sustainable programme to follow up on the petition to EALA and key recommendation actions made by the young people in the following order;
Members to prioritize the ratification and domestication of ACDEG. That Member states allow the use of different currencies across the East African Community member states. That member states prioritize the issue of security in South Sudan. That EALA passes a resolution to have National councils formed in Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan. That member states expedite the formation of the East African Youth Council. That member states allow the use of different East African countries’ currencies across the region. That education engagements be carried out to harmonise the education system and implement a uniform tuition policy across East Africa. That member states priory the elimination of work permits for citizens of member states and that EALA makes it a law to have a youth representative from each country to the EALA. More information will be shared after our further deliberations with EALA on how these issues can be presented on only on the floor of EALA but also on the East African Community Council of Ministers meeting and above all, the Summit of Presidents.
Savings means that as a young person you have a fallback plan, insurance (assurance of sustainability). That’s because just as wisdom is a defence, so is money. Building your financial literacy knowledge is key and reducing access to bank accounts will ease your journey in saving. This is the fastest way to fight poverty, unemployment and grow more youth businesses owners who also promote the country’s economic growth (social entrepreneurs).
Faraja Africa Foundation in partnership with Restless Development, YOULead and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy; are hoping to capture short1-2 minute videos of young people like yourself sharing how COVID-19 has affected you (young people in East Africa). Please respond to the following question:
The main AWHD celebrations will comprise a social media campaign, #TogetherApart4AfricanHeritage or #OurAfricanHeritage, from 25th of April to the 25th of May, and a webinar (online seminar) on the 5th of May.
