NotíciasNews from da América Latin America Latina eand Caribe the Caribbean• Número •8 Number• Dezembro/janeiro 11 • June/July 2004-2005 2005

75th Anniversary Conference in Brazil Issues Call to Action

The conference Partner- Meeting gathers leaders of the projects sup- ity of youth to develop forums and actions ing with Youth to Build the ported by the Foundation, to facilitate intra and intergenerational dia- Future, held at the Latin governments youth activists from social logue; American Parliament (Par- movements, lawmakers and • Empower alternative socialization latino), in São Paulo, Brazil, and civil representatives from a vari- spheres to enhance youth's initiative and from May 30 to June 1, society from ety of civil society organiza- its cultural creativity. issued a Call to Action tions. Among the main points The points listed above appear here in directed at governments, the continent incorporated into the final the same wording as they were voted at companies and civil soci- to define text are: the plenary session of the conference. ety organizations from • Develop programs and However, they will be published together around Latin America and public policies actions that improve the with the other items in an annotated edi- the Caribbean. The docu- for youth economic autonomy of tion with notes by the panelists, and this ment contains 25 items and youth, including dignified will be released as the final document. is intended to promote work and access to land, regional development policies that take credit and technical assistance; Cultural Program – Also occurring dur- into account the needs and interests of • Promote a democratic and participa- ing the 75th Anniversary Conference youth. The Latin American Conference is tive system of education that strengthens was the festival Youth: The Art of Trans- part of the Kellogg Foundation's 75th the organizational and participatory forming, which brought together social proj- anniversary commemoration. capacity of youth in the comprehensive ects drawing on a variety of artistic Panelists received a file of five docu- development of their community; expressions. The festival was intended ments centered on youth to help guide • Promote the visibility of a positive to draw attention to the strategic role the discussions in the thematic working youth image and youth actions through that art and culture can play in the devel- groups organized at the event that the various social media, avoiding stereo- opment process. “Art helps strengthen debated the topics Public Policies, Sub- typical imagery; intergenerational relations, encourages jectivity, and Youth Movements and Orga- • Develop institutional mechanisms to the recovery of traditions and the relay- nizations. incorporate the organized and effective ing of knowledge that is part of a com- The Call to Action was voted by the participation of youth in the conception, munity's cultural identity,” said Andrés event's 250 participants and contains formulation, implementation and evalua- Thompson, Kellogg Foundation Program the proposals approved by a two thirds tion of laws and public policies in general; Director for Latin America and the majority. Comprising the group were • Recognize and strengthen the capac- Caribbean.

INTERVIEW | Hanmin Liu

Kellogg Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Points to Progress

Hanmin Liu has been a member of the Kellogg Founda- What can society learn from its youth? tion's board of trustees since 1996 and is currently its Chair. Youth possess a natural tendency in favor of change. They He founded the United States-China Educational Institute are full of energy. They have the resolve to get a lot of things (USCEI), in San Francisco, California, and the Wildflowers done. They are not resigned. This is why they do not accept Institute, of which he is both president and a member of the board as irreversible realities situations that are often considered so of trustees. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Union by adults. for Experimenting Colleges and Universities and a doctorate How does the Latin American Conference link up with the other sem- in dental surgery from the New York University's School of inars organized by the Foundation in 2005 Dentistry. Dr. Liu is a member of the Asian American Pacific The topics of these meetings were chosen from a diagnosis of Islanders as well. the main problems encountered in the countries and regions where the Kellogg Foundation operates through its support for innova- What did the Foundation expect from the 75th Anniversary Confer- tive social projects. The seminars will serve to help us make adjust- ence in Brazil? ments in our vision on these issues and will enable thousands of We wanted to hear from the youngsters themselves their con- people to get involved in the debate. They will have a multiplier cerns, to encourage them to share their experiences and, sub- effect on the actions of the Foundation, injecting new energy into sequently, develop the strength to meet the challenges they have the actors participating in these projects and also contributing ahead of them. to the growth and qualification of the youth involved with them. Number 11 • June/July 2005

Documents and Panel Open Debate at Conference Five documents delivered to panelists at the Kellogg Foun- ican Parliament (Parlatino). Thereafter, the panelists discussed dation 75th Anniversary Conference were the starting point for the topics that had already been raised, suggested others discussions at the event's working groups: Addressing the and finally selected those they agreed should be submitted to Topic: Preliminary Document, presented by Andrés Thomp- the plenary session to determine which points should be con- son, the WKKF Program Director for Latin America and the tained in the conference's final document: the Call to Action. Caribbean; The Context of Youth in Latin America: Interrogations, The Kellogg Foundation document reconfirms the premise of Searches and Perspectives, by Bernardo Kliksberg; Youth in Latin the work developed in Latin America and the Caribbean, America and the Caribbean: Social Dimensions, Subjectivities according to which youth should participate also as leaders in and Life Strategies, by Dina Krauskopf; The Youth of Today: (Re) the development process as a means of overcoming the inte- Inventions of Social Participation, by Regina Novaes and generational cycle of poverty. “Youth are important actors Christina Vidal; and Morphology and Scenarios of Youth Pub- when it comes to advancing the struggle against poverty. The lic Policies: An Interpretation of the Regional Profile and the Latin question is not how to transform youth – but rather how youth American Expectation, by Yuri Chillán. can contribute to transform society.” The five documents in their The content of these documents was presented by their entirety are available on the Kellogg Foundation website: authors during the panel held in the auditorium of the Latin Amer- www.wkkf-lac.org.

Bernardo Kliksberg Dina Krauskopf

The Context of Youth Youth in Latin America and in Latin America: Interrogations, the Caribbean: Social dimensions, Searches and Perspectives Subjectivities and Life Strategies A sociologist by profession, with a doctorate in economics and A member of the Ibero-American Youth Organization's business administration, Klinsberg is an adviser to the United Network of Specialists in Youth Policies and a professor Nation (UN), the Organization of American States (OEA), Unesco, emeritus from the University of Costa Rica, Dina Krauskopf Unicef and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), among raised the discussion on the construction of youth identity. others. In the text he prepared for the conference, he draws atten- “The juvenile stage has become a sufficiently lengthy chrono- tion to the role youth can play in the development of Latin America, logical period for acquiring a sense of oneself, and should while also warning about their escalating marginalization. “Youth rep- not be seen merely as a transition into adulthood,” she resent 40% of the region's population, they are the future, and they claimed. “Youth can incorporate unpredictability and inno- possess an enormous potential,” he said. “Nearly 25% of youth between vation, absorb the rhythm of the times, and cope with uncer- the age of 15 and 29 are in neither the job market nor the educa- tainty. For youngsters that grow up in exclusion, the prolon- tion system. They are excluded.” Kliksberg drew attention to what gation of life does not constitute an existential promise. (...) he calls the intergenerational trap: “Only one out of five children of “Societies need to rely on their youth, their capacity to learn, parents who have not completed their primary education will man- to flexibly recycle their skills and attitudes, their creative age to complete theirs. The other four won't. Youth reproduce the joy and their vital energy.” hardship of the parents. This weighs very heavily on their future.”

Regina Novaes and Christina Vidal Yuri Chillán The Youth of Today: Morphology and Scenarios of Youth Public (Re) Inventions of Policies: An Interpretation of the Regional Profile Social Participation and the Latin American Expectation An anthropologist, professor from the Federal University of Rio A lawyer and the former secretary general of the Ibero-Amer- de Janeiro and the current deputy secretary of the Brazilian gov- ican Youth Organization, the Colombian Yuri Chillán decided to ernment's National Youth Department, Regina Novaes associates discuss the topic of public policies. According to him, youth became youth participation with the future of democracy and the develop- a significant topic on an international level in the 1980s and grad- ment of Latin America. “It is the youth that will define the continu- ually became incorporated into national agendas. “International ities or changes in society and its institutions,” she said. The organizations, cooperation agencies and various sectors started anthropologist notes that the topic that most appeals to youth to reserve the role of protagonist for the young population,” these days is social inclusion. “Young people build historically recalled Chillán. Latin American countries have made headway unparalleled methods of participating,” she said. Foremost among with youth policies. Nevertheless, the lack of comprehensive laws these methods are: socioenvironmental sustainability; quality generates a tense environment determined by the heterogene- teaching and the quest for new ways of economic inclusion; cul- ity of the proposals designed to attend to the young population. ture and peace, as an outcome of the concept of human rights; the “The agencies responsible for youth have not resolved their use of art and culture as instruments for building the public sphere; institutional vocation and are paying the consequences of a and, finally, the employment of new information technologies as instru- redefinition of the role of the State, which did not define its posi- ments for creating virtual networks and digital inclusion. tion where youth was concerned,” he noted.

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Images of Latin-American Seminar

1 5 1 Opening of the Kellogg Foundation 75th Anniversary Conference in Brazil, held in the Parlatino. 2 Hanmin Liu, Chair of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, giving opening speech. 3 Youth, among them Michael Campbell, from Cedehca, discuss their problems and perspectives for change. 7 4 Cultural Festival: moment 5 Yuri Chillán, Regina Novaes, Andrés 2 of sparkle and festivity. Thompson, Dina Krauskopf and Bernardo Kliksberg, during the panel that opened the debates in the Parlatino. 6 and 8 Working group meets to discuss and formulate proposals. 7 Youth documents, in video, the 6 history of the conference.

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4 8 Photos Isis Ponciano and Sérgio Sibrian

75th Anniversary of Kellogg Foundation Seminar Program

Upcoming Seminars Already Promoted Seminars Partnering with Youth to Build A Celebration of Youth Engagement Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: the Future Across Time and Culture Schools of Public Health Respond São Paulo, Brazil Battle Creek, Michigan – 10/17-19/2005 as Engaged Institutions – 5/30 to 6/1/2005 Houston, Texas – 2/9-11/2005 Caring for Aids Orphans and Able to Play: Mobilizing Communities Vulnerable Children The State of 21st Century Rural America: for Children of All Abilities Robben Island, South Africa Implications for Policy and Practice Lansing, Michigan – 11/9-11/2005 Washington, DC – 3/20-22/2005 – 6/8-10/2005

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Number 11 • June/July 2005

INTERVIEW | Michael Campbell Nicaraguan Leader Calls for Debate on Common Problems Michael Campbell, 24 years old, is Assistant of “The myths that What is the human rights situation in Latin America? Programs and Projects at the Center for Human The situation, both in Nicaragua and in the rest Civil and Autonomous Rights (CEDEHCA), a label youth as of Latin America, is constant struggle to create min- founding member of the Youth Establishing New irresponsible and imal opportunities for a population that is, in its major- Horizons Movement (JENH) and a student of ity, young, poor and rural. Although there have been Political Sciences at the Thomas More University, indifferent are major human rights breakthroughs in the region over Nicaragua. He also acts as a JENH representa- false. The reason the past few years, the marginalization affecting tive in the UNDP Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua the majority of the population that has no access Human Development First Report 2004 Advisory they are not to education or quality healthcare and that does Council. Since its creation, JENH has organized not participate or benefit from the political, social a series of campaigns in the region to raise actors in the and economic life of these countries is still very evi- awareness among young people about their development of dent. Indigenous peoples and afro-descendents rights and the role they can play in the develop- suffer the most from human rights violations. They ment of their communities. With the support of the society is their are rendered invisible in censuses, ridiculed by the Kellogg Foundation, the movement has expanded marginalization” media, their lands are taken from them by supposed into all the municipalities along the country's agrarian reform programs, they do not appear in Caribbean coast and in the capital, Managua, engaging school textbooks, nobody knows about their contribution to actively with political parties, the National Youth Commission, society – and their cultures and customs are continually eroded the Regional Youth Councils, and in other important circles. Camp- by race mixing. bell took part in the Kellogg Foundation 75th Anniversary Con- Youth are usually the major victims of violence. Why does this occur? ference in Brazil, one of the topics of this interview. In a region with such inequalities and that is so unstable polit- ically and economically speaking, youth are not seen as sub- How would you assess the results of the 75th Anniversary Con- jects but as objects - pawns that can be used strategically for ference in Brazil? political and economic benefit. The most important aspects of the conference were the What is worse for youth: poor quality education, unemployment, reaffirmation of the Foundation's commitment to continue to discrimination in its many forms or the lack of prospects for personal identify and support creative and innovative youth programs development? aimed at the development of their communities, countries I am convinced that the myths that label youth as irrespon- and regions; the opportunity to meet people and share expe- sible, indifferent and uninterested are false. Marginalization is riences, perspectives and best practices concerning youth in the only reason why youth are not the leading actors in the devel- the region; and the liaison established between the participants opment of society. The underlying problem young people face and organizations, which will contribute to the development is discrimination and the different ways it is manifested. Discrim- of new and better working methodologies and encourage ination determines opportunities for dignified employment, a qual- actions on a regional level, in which we would all work together ity education, quality healthcare, political participation. It also to tackle common problems and needs. determines attitudes and prospects for personal development.

Youth's Organizational Role Contributes to the Success of the Conference Youth were not only the main video cameras. The group was and also a lesson in organiza- A colleague of Lima's, 22- topic of the 75th Anniversary comprised of 17 young peo- tion,” he said. Although the event year-old Nazaré Martins, said Conference in Brazil, they played ple selected from among Brazil- took place in Brazil, Spanish - the she was pleased to have been a decisive role in its organiza- ian youth movement activists language spoken by the major- invited to participate in the con- tion and infrastructure. They and members of SERTA, a proj- ity of the 250 participants - was ference. “It was great to get to were responsible, among other ect supported by the Kellogg the official language. Lima noted know new cultures,” she sum- things, for the event's secre- Foundation in Northeast Brazil. that since he had already come marized. “We exchanged e- tarial work, orientating partici- For 20-year-old Janílton Lima, into contact with the language mails and telephone numbers. pants on the scheduled activ- participation in the conference through SERTA, he experienced From this meeting we learned ities, assembling the kits of was a unique experience. “It no difficulty interacting with the some important lessons in lead- working materials and docu- was a big incentive for the inde- Spanish-speaking participants. ership, humility, commitment menting the event with still and pendent organization of youth “I learned a lot of new words.” and partnership in work.”

Brasil México República Dominicana Contact the editor – Alameda Rio Negro, 1084, conj. Campos Elíseos nº 345, Oficina Calle Beller #50, Send your comments and 31, Centro Comercial 702, Col. Chapultepec Polanco, Esq. Cuba, piso 3, suggestions on the Interaction Alphaville, 06454-000, Barueri, SP. 11560, México, D.F. Santiago de los Caballeros. newsletter to: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.wkkf-lac.org.

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