Two teams from Girls Kick It! played in last week's girls' football tournament in Gulu. The two-day tournament, organized by Canadian students from the Concordia University Volunteer Abroad Program, included twelve teams from secondary schools and community organizations. GKI brought 18 players from Gulu Town and 18 players from Paicho IDP camp.

The Gulu team played first on Saturday morning, facing strong opposition from the Red Cross community team, which included several former GKI members. The Paicho team played next, putting up a great defense against another community team. The game was intense, and despite the countless shots blocked by the goal-keeper, Paicho was defeated.

On Sunday morning the two GKI teams faced one another in a friendly match. Both teams played well, with Paicho going on to the semi-finals, where they ultimately lost to the Red Cross. The girls returned home excited about the prospect of another tournament and ready to train hard in preparation to meet their future opponents.

This summer GYPA will send 40 American students to Africa to meet with their counterparts in Uganda and Cameroon. These Immersion trips will give American students the unique opportunity to explore the role of youth in development, peace-building, and health promotion first-hand. Our goal is to expand international youth networks, encourage greater understanding about Africa, and inspire an ongoing dialogue and partnership between young American and African leaders. Participants will engage in discussions regarding conflict resolution, economic development, post-conflict rehabilitation, HIV/AIDS, and gender issues, among others. Students with backgrounds or interests in any of the above fields are encouraged to apply!

Interested students may apply to just one or all three of the programs. Applications, accepted on a rolling basis, are due no later than Tuesday, April 3, 2007. Please feel free to contact the Program Coordinators listed below with any further questions. Thanks!

Cameroon Immersion: Youth, Development, and the MDGs (June 10 — 26, 2007)

Cameroon has largely existed under the radar of the international community since achieving independence because it remains one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries in West Africa. However, Cameroon also demonstrates many of the same challenges as its neighbors; every day its population faces complex issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, poor infrastructure, and corruption. In September 2000, world leaders came together to establish a global commitment to achieving responsible, sustainable change. The UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set standards regarding education, health, and the environment, among others, that Cameroon is working to achieve. This Immersion will explore how Cameroonian youth are at the forefront of development efforts, and are utilizing creative, pragmatic, and innovative tools to achieve the MDGs and improve their country.

Fifteen American students will be selected to participate in the Cameroon Immersion. They will meet with their counterparts to explore the political, economic, and social successes as well as challenges facing Cameroon. Participants will meet with leaders in government, civil society, and the international NGOs who are experts in West African development. Additionally, participants will engage in community service projects alongside Cameroon's Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP), a group dedicated to educating youth and the general public about human rights and conflict resolution. Students will also have the incredibly unique opportunity to interact with delegates to the first African Youth Forum for Peace, a conference in Yaoundé that will mobilize youth leaders from across the continent as peace-builders.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)

Contact Carrie Stefansky (carrie@gypafrica.org) for more information.

Uganda Immersion: Youth, Development, and Peace-Building (July 2 — 18, 2007)

Uganda faces dramatic challenges, including poverty, political marginalization, and HIV/AIDS; however, it is also at a crossroads. This fall, peace talks brought about a cessation of hostilities in the 20-year civil war in northern Uganda. Now is a critical time to examine the many questions that remain regarding reconstruction and rehabilitation and, particularly, the role youth can play in solving them. What factors brought about a transformation in the conflict? What role do Ugandans see for the international community in the post-conflict environment? How can Uganda help to provide stability of the Great Lakes region? What steps need to be taken to protect and provide for vulnerable populations, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, and orphans?

The Immersion will provide a first-hand look at Uganda through dialogue, cultural exchange, and direct service. Students will gain a unique perspective on issues such as economic development, democracy-building, and transitional justice. The program will include opportunities to meet directly with community-based organizations, international non-governmental organizations, and other young leaders in Kampala and northern Uganda.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)

Contact Carrie Stefansky (carrie@gypafrica.org) for more information.

Uganda Immersion: Youth, Development, and Health (August 2 — 18, 2007)

Uganda was one of the first countries in the world to come face-to-face with the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic; it was also one of the first to respond successfully to control its spread. As a result, Uganda has been heralded as a model across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Uganda Immersion will focus on the following questions: What role did the Government’s strategy play in combating HIV/AIDS? How has the international community assisted in Uganda’s fight against other dramatic health challenges such as malaria and tuberculosis? What effect does the 20-year civil war in North Uganda have on the various health problems facing the country? What tools do grassroots and civil-society organizations utilize to improve access to health care and treatment? How are women and children affected differently by health crises? What can you do to help?

The Immersion will also examine many other interrelated issues facing Uganda, such as post-conflict development, poverty alleviation, and democracy-building. Participants will have a unique first-hand experience in Uganda by interacting with a wide variety of people on the ground. The program will include direct service with community-based organizations, international non-governmental organizations, and young leaders from Kampala and northern Uganda.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)

Contact Katie Spencer (katie@gypafrica.org) for more information.

For information about past trips, please visit our Student Global Ambassadors page.

Last month the Jerusalem Post featured GYPA's new Helping Hands Medical Fellowship delegation:

For the second straight year, Israeli doctors and health care professionals will be heading to Namuwongo, Uganda on the Helping Hands Medical Fellowship to volunteer their time for a community in need.

The first delegation will be leaving December 3 and returning February 5 in an effort to build the Ugandans' capacity to sustain a higher level of health.

Read the whole article or contact Sharon Wolf, GYPA's Israel liaison, at sharon@gypafrica.org for more information.

Buy This Bus Campaign!
GYPA’s Soccer Programs Need Your Support to Buy this Bus!

In their tournament debut at the Homeless World Cup in Cape Town South Africa, Gomo Tong FC representing Uganda, finished 21st out of 48 teams. Among others, Gomo Tong defeated Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark, and Ghana. Upon returning to Uganda Gomo Tong FC received invitations to participate in soccer matches, trainings, clinics and educational programs.

Unfortunately, the team is unable to accept the invitations because we do not have transportation.

As a result, GYPA USA launched “Buy This Bus” an effort to raise $20,000 to purchase two official team mini-buses for Gomo Tong FC and Girls Kick It!, GYPA’s soccer initiative targeting girls in Northern Uganda (www.girlskickit.org).

Where is the money allocated?

Each bus will be maintained by the coaching staff and team members. The mini-buses will enable the team to participate in country-wide activities, but also, during “off-days” the mini-buses travel throughout the streets of Kampala and Gulu as a special hire taxi-service. All daily taxi fares will be reinvested in the maintenance of the mini-buses, and Gomo Tong FC and Girls Kick It (www.girlskickit.org)! Programs. With the total amount raised, GYPA seeks to acquire driving permits for players and offer opportunities for vocational training in auto mechanics.

Breakdown of costs:
$16,000 for two mini-buses;
$4,000 for driving permits/insurance and vocational training

We can’t do this without you!
We need your help to support Gomo Tong Football Club and Girls Kick It!

A secure online donation can be made at GYPA's website: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr

October 9, 2006

In this African Perspective, Andrea Rose, travels to Cape Town, South Africa for a rather unusual event.

With the 2010 World Cup in sight, 500 excluded and socially marginalised football players from 48 nations have recently been competing for the Homeless World Cup.

The hope is that through this street soccer tournament, perceptions of what it means to be homeless might be shifted.

21 year old Sara Angwech who lives in a displaced person’s camp in Gulu, Uganda, is one of the players from the 13 African countries who made the journey to South Africa to compete.

But can football really change people’s lives?

Also, hear Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu's views on whether this is the right way to help Africa’s homeless people.

To listen to the radio feed visit: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/african_perspective.shtml

The following interview with Charlayne Hunter Gault appeared on AllAfrica.com
October 6, 2006. "New News from Africa - Looking Beyond Death, Disease, Disaster and Despair."


allAfrica.com%20%20%27New%20News%27%20from%20Africa%20-%20Looking%20Beyond%20Death%2C...pdf

In January 2007, GYPA will be sending 25 American to join 25 Ugandan students in Kampala and Gulu, Uganda for the Global Kimeeza II: The Role of Youth in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda. At the same time, 20 Americans and 50 Sierra Leoneans will come together in Freetown, Sierra Leone for GYPA's first Youth Summit in the country: The Role of Youth in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone.

Both immersion trips will give participants an opportunity to explore first-hand the post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation processes at work in these countries. The purpose of both summits is to engage and promote youth from the United States and Africa as leaders in the efforts to rebuild these two war-torn countries. Participants will participate in discussions regarding conflict resolution, economic development, rehabilitation and reintegration, HIV/AIDS, transitional justice, and gender issues, among others. Students with backgrounds or interests in any of the above fields are encouraged to apply!

Interested students may to apply to either one or both of the programs. Applications are due no later than November 1st, and applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please refer to www.gypafrica.org to obtain the official program descriptions and to fill out an application, or contact the Program Coordinators listed below. Thanks!


Global Kimeeza II: The Role of Youth in Post-Conflict Reconstruction (January 2nd-17th)

This fall, peace talks brought about a cessation of hostilities in the 20-year civil war in Northern Uganda; now is a critical time to examine the political situation and engage in the practice of reconstruction and reconciliation. The goal of the Kimeeza is to provide a platform for Americans and Ugandans to explore the important role that youth play in post-conflict reconstruction by sharing ideas, approaches, and strategies.

The Second Global Kimeeza will focus on three important domains that are necessary to rebuilding a thriving northern Uganda:
1. Youth as Peacebuilders;
2. Justice and Forgiveness; and
3. Poverty Relief and Economic Development.

This historic initiative will help establish a stronger relationship between the youth of the United States and Uganda. Ultimately, it is our goal to build bridges of greater understanding and inspire an ongoing dialogue between today’s young American and Ugandan leaders – tomorrow’s global decision makers.

Please contact Katie Spencer for more information or an application (katie@gypafrica.org).



Youth Summit: The Role of Youth in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone (January 2nd-16th)

The Summit to Sierra Leone will give American students the unique opportunity to explore first-hand the post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation processes at work in a country whose decade-long civil war ended only five years ago. The purpose of the Summit is to engage and promote youth from Sierra Leone and the United States as leaders in the efforts to rebuild this war-torn country. Participants will attend meetings in Freetown with Sierra Leonean students focusing on the role of youth in conflict resolution and post-conflict development.

The Summit will focus on the following major themes:
1. Conflict Analysis, Management, and Resolution
2. Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
3. Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development

We will also have in-depth discussions on topics such as democracy building, US-West African relations, and HIV/AIDS. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to travel to areas in the north and east to obtain a more in-depth perspective on how the country was affected by the conflict.

Please contact Carrie Stefansky for more information or an application (carrie@gypafrica.org).