Poverty has been the greatest shame and scandal of our era. At the UN Millennium Summit in 2000,189 world leaders promised to end poverty by 2015, which translates into committing themselves to the realization of eight Goals they agreed on during the Summit, that is the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs).They signed the Millennium Declaration, promising to 'free men, women and children from the dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty', committing developed and developing countries alike to eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Millennium Declaration is a commitment made by the 189 world leaders during the UN Millennium Summit in 2000 to ensure the respect of human rights, ensure peace as well as development to make the world a buoyant one by the year 2015.

Indirectly or directly, the youth of today are affected by the first seven goals of the MDGs; and as such, the onus is on the youth to take actions that are geared at augmenting what our leaders are doing.

A look at the MDGs and the time frame left for their realization shows that there must be more action and more youth participation.

Often, majority of the population think erroneously that achieving all the Goals by 2015 is the sole responsibility of politicians, affiliated and related institutions or organizations and International bodies such as the United Nations (UN), International Labour Organization (ILO) and that the layman politician or civilian has little to do. Young people have a role to play in the realization of the MDGs. The beauty of the MDGs is their synergy: we cannot achieve any of them unless we work on all of them at the same time. Young people under 25 are half the population of the world. Without us, how can the world end poverty by 2015 as agreed on during the UN Summit in 2000? We the young people of today believe in the MDGs because it best opportunity to stamp out the dehumanizing face of poverty and also make our future and that of life of generations to come a better one. We think that the world can achieve the MDGs with the resources at its disposal-the technology, finance, etc.

Young people all over the world are making a difference, but a more active participation is needed. You have to be part of this historic movement against poverty, because 'it is our world and our future'.

The UNMDGs in a numerical order are:

• Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education
• Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women
• Goal 4. Reduce child mortality
• Goal 5. Improve maternal health
• Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability
• Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development

It is not in the United Nations that the Millennium Development Goals will be achieved. They have to be achieved in each country by the joint efforts of the Governments and people." - KOFI ANNAN, IMMIEDIATE PAST UN SECRETARY GENERAL

When you start your own projects, we hope you will share your stories with us so they can inspire others. Remember you're not alone, young people have already started speaking out and demanding their governments keep the promises they made. We need you to join in and get involved! With all our voices combined, the world will hear us and do just as we say!

Send us information on the progress of your vision or project to:

info@ypwc.org

OR Young People We Care (YPWC)
P.O. Box SN 369, SANTASI-KUMASI.GHANA