We are Non-Governmental Organization who recognize the youth as a valuable resource and they must be harnessed for national development. The youth are acknowledged as an important human resource with the potential to contribute significantly to national development and therefore must be accorded such recognition, prepare and be prepared to actively be involved in development. Our Vision:
A world w
ithout poverty and disadvantage in which young people work together to grow, learn, create and lead to fulfill their potential in building a fairer world. Our Mission:
To fight global poverty and disadvantage by working in partnership towards an empowered youth impacting positively on community development and to have a society that factor in every young person’s need and guarantees their human rights. Main Thematic Areas:
Livelihood Development
Education
Governance, Democracy and Leadership
Health and Sanitation
Other Mainstreaming themes:
Networking and Partnership
Arts and Culture
Sports and Recreation
Science, Research & Technology
Values and Principles
The AYISC believes in upholding the following values and principles which are particularly important in the development of strong communities, individuals and overall good character and citizenship. AYISC, adapt these core values and expanded upon their meaning in empowering youth. The key principles and values of our organizational policy are:
Caring: We show youth we care by Creating a Safe and Positive Atmosphere. Responsibility: As a youth serving agency, it is our responsibility to promote and practice positive and active youth Involvement. Patriotism: Love for country should be inculcated as a core value in the youth. Self-Reliance: As future leaders, the youth should be imbued with the spirit of self-reliance to harness their potentials, creativity and initiative. Honesty and Integrity: Honesty and Integrity are imperative for the youth in their personal and national development. In order to Provide Assistance to youth we build an open and honest relationship with them. Participation: The views of the youth and their participation in national development must be sought. We will consciously and consistently involve young people in decision making. Equity: We shall at all times recognize the rights, responsibilities, and equality of opportunities for the youth. Access: We shall ensure equal opportunities for the youth, including marginalized groups and provide them adequate access to programmes and services regardless of gender, geographical location, and socio-cultural circumstances. Leadership: The youth must be challenged with opportunities to actively lead in matters that affect them, their communities, and the nation. Good Governance: We will demonstrate principles of good governance such as accountability, transparency, and integrity. Gender Mainstreaming: We will actively promote gender mainstreaming in the implementation of all policies and programmes. Respect: The youth must strive to attain their aspirations based on respect for freedom, justice, democratic rights, values, work ethic, and our cultural heritage and uphold human rights. We show youth that we respect them and their ideas by providing them with the opportunity to be in leadership roles. Coordination and Collaboration/partnership: We shall consciously and consistently pursue partnerships with the youth to promote self - awareness and social cohesion. Thematic Areas (What do we focus?):
AYISC operational focus is informed by the direct engagement with the deprived rural people and communities. AYISC core objective is to improve the quality of life of the deprived and vulnerable youth. The focus is therefore integrated and complementing. We focus on four main portfolios – Livelihood Development (LD), Education and Skills Training (E & ST), Health and Sanitation (H & S), Governance, Democracy and leadership (GDL) – key components of the transition to adulthood - that have also been recognized by major international agreements (such as the UN Millennium Development Goals) on development priorities. These four essential building blocks for young people are interrelated. It is rare that one factor alone impedes youth from reaching their potential. For example, young people who go hungry are more likely to have health problems and to have difficulty concentrating in school; and lack of education impedes future work opportunities and the need to work takes many young people out of school. We recognize the importance of addressing youth as whole individuals, not just as a ‘social problem’ or issue to be solved. We are best positioned to develop holistic approaches that address young people’s multifaceted needs which are key to sustainable change. Theme 1: Livelihood Development
The largest wave of young people in history – 1.7 billion strong – will enter the global labour force over the course of the next decade. An estimated 85 million young men and women are currently unemployed, representing roughly 44 percent of the total 180 million jobless worldwide, and a demoralizing waste of their assets and talents. Chronic poverty passes from generation to generation unless young people acquire the tools and have the opportunity to earn a living wage. Work is not only critical to survival; it helps define who we are and enables us to contribute to family and societal wellbeing. For those who are unsuccessful at obtaining gainful employment or income, the consequences can be devastating, including poverty, alienation and more likely involvement in high-risk or illegal activities. Effective livelihoods opportunities help young people to develop a range of capacities including literacy and numeracy, technical, entrepreneurial, practical, social, and managerial skills. The prospect of earning an income creates a sense of economic independence, self esteem and purpose that empowers youth to look to the future. The sense of possibility associated with earning an income increases young people’s likelihood of dismissing risky propositions in exchange for income or gifts. To improve livelihoods for youth, our approaches are to run:
• Programs enhancing the employability, income generation potential and financial literacy of young people, including access to credit and promotion of savings.
• Micro entrepreneurial programs that recognize the importance of providing more than just financial support to young entrepreneurs (e.g., coaching, supplementary education, social support, mentorship)
This first focus, livelihood is to provide young people with employable skills to enable a decent life capacity to rise up productive children capable of contributing and leading the nation. On livelihood we give attention to:
- Youth and Employment: The problem of youth unemployment and underemployment is a major developmental challenge. Employment creation remains a major priority in the AYISC development agenda and it is the goal of AYISC to compliment the efforts of the government by providing the youth with opportunities for employment and labour market information. In this connection, the organization aims at;
• building the capacity of the youth to discover wealth-creating opportunities in their backyards and environment;
• enabling the youth to have access to reliable and adequate labour market information;
• creating opportunities for young people to take advantage of available jobs; and
• training and preparing the youth for the global market.
- Entrepreneurial Development: Entrepreneurial development, among other factors, propels and accelerates socio-economic development. However, its development is limited to a small section of the youth. AYISC realizes the need to mainstream entrepreneurial development into our activities to give it the necessary impetus. Such entrepreneurial development will be achieved through:
• integration of entrepreneurial skills into youth development activities
• facilitation of access to credit for the youth
• creation of corps of young entrepreneurs to serve as role models
• celebration of successful young entrepreneurs. Theme 2: Education and Skills Training
Research shows that investments in education bring important benefits for the individual and the family, as well as improved returns for the larger community. As the level of education increases, so does the chance to hold a steady job, have a healthy life and support a family. The results can be measured. Better education, especially among adolescent girls, results in lower infant mortality, fewer unwanted pregnancies and the reduction of violence. It can safeguard youth against HIV and other diseases, which leads many to call education the
“social vaccine.” The right to education is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and every subsequent major international human rights agreement. Despite such widespread recognition of the right to education, huge gaps remain in the provision of basic education. According to UNESCO Education for All Global Monitoring Report (2008), around the globe, 72 million children are out of school. Overcrowded classrooms, poorly trained teachers and inadequate supplies conspire against learning. Those who attend school often finish their education lacking basic skills. 57% (41 million) of the youth not in school are girls, who face greater and unique obstacles to obtaining education (such as unwillingness to invest in daughters’ education, violence in and on the way to school, and lack of time due to household expectations around chores and other labour). Education and skills training are critical to the development of a young person’s productive and responsible life. The main goal of AYISC is therefore to ensure the development of a knowledgeable, self reliant, skilled, disciplined, and a healthy youth with the capacity to drive and sustain the socio-economic development of the nation. The outcome of Education and Skills Training is expected to;
• make development and delivery of education and skills training more responsive to the labour market.
• increase access to post basic education skills training;
• arrest the issue of school dropouts by developing programmes that will keep pupils and students in school until they complete relevant levels of education;
• make learning a life-long vocation;
• use education to narrow the gap between young persons and their environment;
• provide apprenticeship training for out-of-school youth
In improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth, we adapt approaches that:
• Focus on basic and secondary education. Improving basic and secondary education requires attention to quality as well as access, especially paying attention to retention and levels of learning.
• Close the gender gap. We work to eliminate gender disparities. Our programs are gender-sensitive. We also work to overcome unique barriers to girls’ education, and eradicate discriminatory messages or treatment.
• Offer relevant education that prepares youth for their future. We employ methodologies that are culturally appropriate and geared to learners’ needs, including their participation in a globalizing economy. These include computer skills, English, life skills as well as approaches that respond to students’ lives and possibilities.
• Support inclusive education to reach the most disadvantaged. We reach those least likely to benefit from other education programs, such as “second chance” education programs that offer essential tools for literacy and numeracy and help older adolescents realize their full potential. Theme 3: Governance, Democracy, and Leadership
Society’s full potential is realized when young people are valued: communities that embrace young people, support their development, and take their voices and visions into account are in the best position to overcome poverty and cope with the challenges of development. Around the world, many young people are already working, volunteering, leading social change efforts, and otherwise playing positive roles in their families and communities. Yet in many communities, young people—and particularly young women—remain an untapped resource, since they lack opportunities to contribute, to be mentored, and to learn by doing, and because they rarely have a say in decisions that affect their lives and the lives of those around them. Based on our belief in young people’s right to full citizenship, dignity, and respect and our faith in young people’s inherent capacities, we implement strategies that give young people opportunities to become present and future leaders. We aim at developing young people’s leadership by building their confidence, self-esteem, critical thinking skills, and speaking power; expanding their opportunities for participation in collective processes; and channeling their innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial capacities into actions that enrich their lives, deepen their relationships, and educate and improve their communities. Such strategies demonstrate that with the right support and investment, young people can overcome adversity and become effective agents of development and positive change. We will prioritize strategies that promote youth participation, community involvement and service, and that tap into and build leadership potential. AYISC will also engage and support young people in developing their communities, including educating and mobilizing their peers to safeguard the well being and promote the contributions of youth. Good governance and civic responsibility are basic ingredients for national development. The key principles of good governance include transparency, accountability, and protection of rights under the rule of law, empowering vulnerable groups, as well as enhancing decentralization and access to information. In this respect, we will inculcate in the youth democratic values and principles for their active participation in governance. This will be achieved through education of the youth in the principles and practices of good governance and the promotion of their active participation in decision- making at all levels. Theme 4: Health and Sanitation
Adolescence ushers in a new set of health challenges for young people, given their emergent sexuality, reproductive capacity, and increased vulnerability to a range of health risks and social and family pressures. As they navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescents often must shoulder adult responsibilities and grapple with adult decisions, yet many lack access to the comprehensive information and services—as well as the social safety nets—that would allow them to reach adulthood in good health. Adolescence is also a time when behaviours are often set for life, and when the consequences of risks taken can be life-changing: up to 70 percent of all preventable deaths globally result from health-related patterns and behaviours that began during adolescence. In addition, half of all new HIV infections occur among young people between 15 and 24 years of age, with young women facing infection rates 1.6 times higher than young men. During this critical stage of their lives, young people can most benefit from comprehensive health education, positive role models, strong social support networks, and access to respectful, youth-friendly health services. In addition we adapt strategies across our portfolios that build young people’s capacity to make positive, informed decisions about their bodies during their adolescence and throughout their lives. Providing education, leadership and employment opportunities help create assets; build self-esteem; foster parent-child communication; strengthen relationships with teachers, health providers, and other adults; expose young people to positive values; and engender a stronger sense of purpose, direction, and self-worth. Beyond expanding young people’s immediate options, such investments yield ongoing returns, as they lay the foundation for healthy adulthood. AYISC will mainstream health related activities into its programs. There are numerous health challenges which adversely affect the productive lives of young people. Some of the health problems occasioned by negative behavioural patterns and life styles are:
• Sexual and reproductive health-related diseases including HIV & AIDS infections, teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and parentage.
• Drugs and substance abuse.
• Poor hygienic practices. AYISC will mainstream the following themes into its activities. Theme 4: Networking and Partnership (Mainstream)
In Ghana many registered youth groups and organizations are operating independently. Networking and partnership have been identified as a strategic option for building synergy among the youth groups. The need for networking stems from the fact that international youth - oriented organizations have began the process of youth networks and partnerships to enable the youth all over the world to exchange ideas and experiences that will enhance their development. Accordingly, we seek to provide the requisite environment to enable recognized youth organizations to network with each other productively within and outside the country. This may be achieved through exchange programmes, including internship in sister- working organizations, organized tours, youth camps, intra and inter district / regional educational, cultural and sporting competitions and exchanges. Theme 5: Arts and Culture (Mainstream)
Arts and Culture depicts the life of a people. It is an important vehicle for appreciating and understanding the heritage of the people. It represents a sense of identity, self-respect, and the medium through which generations learn and transfer progressive skills, techniques of social relations, and survival. Accordingly, we will mainstream youth participation in arts and culture for integration and cohesion through the following measures:
• The promotion of northern regional arts and culture through dancing and drama during trainee graduation ceremonies and districts activities.
• The transfer of cultural values through traditional socialization structures; and
• The creation of cultural awareness among the youth as a social, political, and economic development strategy at the AYISC training centers. Theme 5: Science, Research and Technology:
Science, Research, and Technology are the prerequisites for the youth to join the global scientific revolution. In this respect, the goal of the organization is to build the capacity of the youth in science, research, and appropriate technology, by instituting regular science and mathematics quizzes, fairs and clinics, and supporting activities in these areas through competition and award systems in school at the community, district and regional levels. Theme 6: Sports and Recreation (Mainstream)
Society’s full potential is realized when young people are valued: communities that embrace young people, support their development, and take their voices and visions into account are in the best position to overcome poverty and cope with the challenges of development. Based on our belief in young people’s right to full citizenship, dignity, and respect and our faith in young people’s inherent capacities, AYISC invests in strategies that give young people opportunities to become present and future leaders. Our grants are aimed at developing young people’s leadership by building their confidence, self-esteem, critical thinking skills, and speaking power; expanding their opportunities for participation in collective processes; and channeling their innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial capacities into actions that enrich their lives, deepen their relationships, and educate and improve their communities. Sports and recreation enhance one’s physical well-being, and self-esteem, while contributing to socio-economic development in the form of improved public health. Our goal is to promote youth participation in sports, recreation, and positive leisure activities through the promotion of competitive sports such as inter-school and college competition and the expansion of sports and recreational infrastructure as well as the effective co-ordination of programmes for social cohesion. Accordingly, AYISC in collaboration with other stakeholders will promote extra-curricular educational activities through the provision of youth centers and other recreational facilities in all regional capitals and district centers, and ensure the active participation of young people with disability in sports and recreation. In addition, sports tourism will be employed to educate the youth to appreciate our national diversity and break down barriers that inhibit national cohesion and integration.
