Concept Paper

Secure the Future Kisumu 2013 Conference

In the lakeside City of Kisumu Kenya January 2013 On 7TH to 10TH January 2013

Contact Persons: Michael Ogweno, Anthony Ochieng, Brian Magwaro Email Address: securethefuture@hotmail.com Tel: +254 732 612 481/ +254 729 460 699 BUDGET: Ksh 2,440,000 US Dollars 28,710

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Partners List
Save the Future Conference

Destiny Vision Youths

Blue Cross Youth CBO

Bluegill General Agencies

Ziwa Arts Gallery

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Kisumu Youth Network Forum
Kisumu Youth Network Forum is an umbrella group of young people from different NGOs, CBOS and youth groups who are committed in embracing inter generational, cultural and communal dialogue as a tool to share and bring lasting changes within their communities. The organizations mission is to promote sustainable practices to solve environmental challenges thereby creating job opportunities and also promote a peaceful coexistence among the different communities. Objectives of the Organization 1. To improve the physical environment by engaging the skills, creative intellect and abilities of young people in activities that care and conserve the physical environment. 2. To advocate for a peaceful coexistence among the different communities 3. To strengthen the capacities of community-based groups to efficiently provide waste management services, create job opportunities, and improve the environment. 4. Provide Space and Opportunity for young people in Kisumu East District between the ages of 12-35 years where they can constructively interact with each other and their environment to promote self awareness and growth. Member Organizations Background: Destiny Visions Youth Is a registered Youth Community Based Organization which employs a skill building concept involving reaching young people with activities that are cost effective, sustainable, youth- led and which also appeal to the aspirations of the youth; that of achieving independence, freedom, and personal growth through constructive interdependence, cross generational dialogue, acquisition or improvement of life skills and leadership. The organization operates within Kisumu city and was started after the 2007 - 2008 post election violence in Kenya as a wakeup call for the youths with a mission of mobilizing a progressive community of young people that upholds human rights and united in tackling slum youth poverty and promotion of peace and reconciliation in Kisumu County and a vision of creating a community free from discrimination, idleness, hatred, incitements and violence. Through partnerships with GIZ, YDF, ESPERANCE Rwanda, National Cohesion and Integration Commission NCIC, MYSA, TYSA, Face of Kenya and many more, we have been able to implement projects using football as a tool to promote peace between communities with the pitch Play for brotherhood promote solidarity. Blue Cross Youth CBO The Blue Cross Youth Community Based Organisation is registered with the Ministry of Gender and Social Services as a Community Based Organisation (CBO) since 2009. It is part of the Blue Cross Kenya, a National volunteer-driven membership organization registered under Societies Act of the Kenyan Laws. Blue Cross Kenya is in turn affiliated to the International Federation of Blue Cross (IFBC), based in Switzerland, which seeks to engage young people in constructive coalition builiding with view to achieving sustainable development as a measure of social cohesion, self empowerment and responsible choice making. In addition to implementing its own youth led activities in Kisumu, Blue Cross Youth CBO also coordinates Blue Cross Kenya activities in Western Kenya Region. Blue Cross Youth CBO exists (mission) to mobilize, through partnerships, a community of young people constructively engaged in the collective achievement of self determination, social cohesion and entrepreneurial progression, as a strategy to tackle global youth poverty. The organization envisions Empowred young people at the fore front of sustainable developmenmt

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Secure the Future Kisumu 2013 conference Background Information The bulk of the population in Kisumu slum areas work in the informal sector with monthly incomes ranging from Ksh 3,000 to 4,000. Work places are located in the downtown and industrial areas distributed into three belts; the Central industrial area, Otonglo, and Kibos. However, these only provide about 30 per cent of employment opportunities a situation compounded by the collapse or relocation of manufacturing industries such as Kisumu Cotton Mills and Kenya Breweries (Cities without Slums report) Low incomes and job insecurity is the biggest challenge Kisumu slum residents have to face. Those in formal employment often find themselves out of work as employers lay them off after three months to avoid employing them on a permanent basis as required by law. Notable is the lack of basic infrastructure and services to support investments; in cases where they are available, they are inadequate and dilapidated. As indicated by population census, the youth comprises the bigger percentage of the national population in Kenya and the worst hit by unemployment issue. This is a fact that increases their frustrations and vulnerability to criminal gangs that are often used by politicians to champion their selfish political interests, the significance of this can be traced in the 2007/2008 post election violence in Kenya, at the center point in the conflict was lack of economic empowerment of the youth and negative ethnicity among the different communities in Kenya fueled by politicians. With the next general election forthcoming in March 2013 and much having not been achieved to date in the efforts towards addressing the root causes of the conflict to ensure reconciliation, cohesion and sustainable peaceful co-existence. The scars of the previous violence are also still fresh since many internally displaced persons are still in the IDP camps. The recent indictment of key political leaders by the ICC who are perceived to bear the greatest responsibility in the 2007/2008 chaos has to some extent increase the socio-political volatility in Kenya and therefore bringing back the fear of a reoccurrence of a similar violent scenario witnessed in 2007/2008. There is therefore a need for a sustainable solution to Poverty among youth and Negative ethnicity. In an article published on 03/12/2012, titled Red Flag up on next elections by The Standard,(Kenyas most read National Newspaper),, government officials and development partners expressed concern that unity has not been cemented among Kenyans after the previous post-electionsand speakers warned of possible recurrence of bloodbath fuelled by ethnic rivalries unless healing and reconciliation is first entrenched. Secure the Future Kisumu 2013 Conference comes in with a niche of the combination of peace campaign approach towards peaceful elections in the forthcoming general elections and also a rapid and feasible youth economic empowerment approach that will enhance economic independent peace ambassadors in the transition and future ethnic challenges. The conference also aims at promoting awareness in environment conservation by giving a chance to the youth from around the world to share their practical ideas that can be implemented by low income communities to conserve environment and create jobs. The conference targets to have 20 international business personalities, leaders, educators and conflicts prevention experts as facilitators during the conference. There will be a closing outdoor activity of planting of 1,000 trees in Nyalenda which will be taken as an opportunity to reach out to the other young people who did not take part in the conference with messages of peace and reconciliation.