Youth voices and collective voices ensure the ownership and participation of the sustainable development goals most importantly the integration of the East African Community.  Launched in 2018 by the Faraja Africa Foundation in partnership with the European Union, Akina Mama wa Africa, Action Aid, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Parliament of Uganda, GIZ, EACSOF, the East African Legislative Assembly, Tunaweza, Success Hands, and other partners, the 6th East African Youth Parliament (Virtual) is a flagship cross-border advocacy program. In order to support a coordinated regional governance framework, it seeks to incorporate young perspectives in significant decision-making processes, ranging from national to regional legislative procedures.

 

“Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and youth engagement in key decision-making processes” is the theme for this year’s Inte

Verify your eligibility by seeing if you meet the requirements listed below. A young person from East Africa, either male or female, will be between the ages of 18 and 35 on November 12, 2023. 1. -Fill out the application. 2. -Publish a social media post using the hashtags #EACYouthParliament23 on any platform of your choosing. 3. -Follow the Faraja Africa Foundation and the East African Youth Parliament on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter at @farajaafricafdn, like the Faraja Africa Foundation page on Facebook, and follow the Faraja Africa Foundation on Instagram. (In your post, mention or tag @FarajaAfricaFdn and #EACYouthParliament23.)

Application Procedure

CLICK HERE TO APPLY: https://forms.gle/pTVRTNa3SD7MV26v8

Deadline: November 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. For additional details and questions, send an email to info@farajaafricafdn.org

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)

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.

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.

The Vijana Assembly was opened by the Clerk to the EALA on 14^th 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 the East Africa Parliament, Rt Hon Martin K. Ngoga was present on 15^th 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.

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.

International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August as adopted by the United Nations under resolution 54/120 in 1999. It is an opportunity for governments and civil society to draw attention to youth issues worldwide. During International Youth Day, concerts, workshops, cultural events, and meetings involving national and local government officials and Youth Organizations take place around the world to commemorate this important day.

This day is set aside for young people to take center-stage and express their ideas, thoughts, imaginations and innovations as well as bring to light their hopes and aspirations.

Undoubtedly, current global sophistications have made today a very promising and exciting time for young people be alive considering the numerous opportunities that abound for them to tap into, albeit the challenging circumstances and some negative cultural and mass practices that define the young people’s narrative and lived realities.

To commemorate International Youth Day 2019, we – the Youth led and Youth focused organizations including Youth Aid Africa, Faraja Africa Foundation, European Union, Action Aid Uganda, Plan International, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Restless Development, National Youth Council, International Republican Institute, Global Platforms, Rose Namayanja Foundation and others, to organize activities to commemorate this day.

Aware that the theme for this year is “Transformation Education”, the aforementioned organizations are hosting the second Youth Moot Parliament, the first having been hosted last year.  Over 350 Young people from across the country will convene in the parliamentary chambers on the 9^thof August 2019 to debate, and make resolutions on critical issues like; unemployment, quality of education, youth meaningful inclusion in governance, EAC regional integration/free trade & movement, among others to be mentioned. The young people will also take into account the national and international commitments Uganda has signed to like; the African Charter on Elections democracy and good governance, Agenda 2063, sustainable development goals, the African Youth policy among other taking into account the Agenda 2030 commitments to which Uganda is signatory and NDP II aspiration From the comprehensive study on the State of the youth, that will be launched on Friday 9^thAugust, during the Youth moot sessions and consultations with various sectors of young people who include; youth in informal sector, students, youths leaders, youths in religious sector, youth in business, youth with disabilities, the young people request government and other stakeholders to fast truck the following issues;

We the young people call upon all stakeholders; Government, Development partners, Civil society, Cultural institutions, Parents, Religious leaders as follows;

1. Review the Prof. Ssenteza Kajubi Report on Education and invest in improving the quality education at all levels and implement economic policies and programs that contribute to the creation of employment opportunities for all.
2. Government should urgently ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance that promotes effective and meaningful participation of young people in planning and budgeting at local government level

This Charter encourages youth participation, building of strong democratic institutions and is cardinal in ensuring that Uganda and Africa are stable, and prosperous.

1. Government should urgently look into the issue of Electoral Reforms, with major focus on , nomination fees, the role of the army and police and impartiality of Elections observers
2. Government through parliament to urgently amend the National Youth Council (NYC) Act to include effective representation of People with disabilities (PWDs). And appropriate funding to the said National Youth Council to improve their operations across the country.
3. Parliament to urgently discuss and legislate on matters relating to sex offences against young people in institutions of higher learning, work places, homes and public places.
4. Parliament and Government to urgently look into matters relating to Externalization of labor and the continued exploitation, mistreatment and unfavorable working conditions of young Ugandans abroad and accordingly legislate on the same. In addition, parliament needs to urgently look into issues of decent work and decent pay for young girls and women in domestic homes, hotel industry, and tourism among others. Government to urgently address the economic needs of young people to ensure economic inclusion. Part of the money that was appropriated to Uganda Development Bank for recapitalization should be earmarked as funds for young entrepreneurs with special youth – friendly access procedures for inclusion. Tax holidays should also be given to young entrepreneurs, the same as is given to foreign investors as a way of boosting local investment for better transformation.

We wish to celebrate all the young people doing amazing works around the world. We congratulate the young people of Uganda, Africa and the world upon making it to the International Youth Day celebrations of 2019.

Let’s transform Education for responsible citizenship.