By Chris Szigetvari, the Australian World AIDS Day 2005 Project Team

If you are reading this newsletter wondering how you can make a difference, then I hope this is the final inspiration that will guide you into action. Making a difference is as easy as having 3 key factors: a cause, a team, and the drive to do your best.

World AIDS day 2005 was held on December 1. If you didn't know this,you are not alone. The theme for Australian World AIDS Day 2005 was "Let´s talk about it", because unfortunately this tragic human epidemic has been swept under the carpet. "Out of sight, out of mind" does not address the issue of AIDS devastating parts of this world and HIV does not discriminate.

During the International Young Professional Summit 2004, met talented and driven Rassel Chisango. Rassel is the projects coordinator of Royal Youth Organisation (RYO). He is also the Metropolitan Harare Provincial Executive Secretary for the Zimbabwe AIDS Network. The need for AIDS education/advocacy funding with proceeds going directly into local operations is a worthy cause that cannot be ignored.

Rassel put the word out there, and a team of like-minded individuals formed in no time to champion the cause. I had the privilege of working with Nicky Seaby (Canberra), Britt Jacobsen (Brisbane), Tam Nguyen (Victoria), Caitlin James (Brisbane) and Cameron Neil (Canberra). Although leagues apart, it was easy to communicate and coordinate via email, Australia Post, and mobile phone.

The drive and dedication of such a great team was amazing to watch in action. Rassel sent us 150 hand-made "I-care AIDS" ribbons that we sold in the name of fundraising to friends and colleagues around Australia. Our presence was felt at our workplaces and through lunchtime fundraising events. We raised awareness with our close family and friends by seeking their support. We even linked with the
Engineers without Borders conference held in Melbourne.

With this dedicated team of young professionals, we raised AUD $664.70 as a result of World AIDS Day 2005. RYO will be using these funds to invest in some income generating projects in the Zimbabwe community. The ultimate aim is for RYO to be self-funded. The outcomes from this project will go a long way in Zimbabwe, and we hope that the funds raised will be the start of something great in Africa. If you would like to join the AIDS network please do so at http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YP-HIV-AIDS. We encourage you to create similar opportunities in your community.

www.iypf.org/member-projects.htm

Are you a member of IYPF?

Do you have a project that you are trying to initiate and develop?

Could you benefit from IYPF approval status, support and networking?

If you answered "Yes" to each of these questions, the IYPF Implementation team might be able to help you.

What we do:

1.IYPF approval status: your idea becomes an "IYPF-approved" project if assessment proved it meets out criteria. An outline of your project gets listed after that on our website. IYPF approval might back you in other applications for support and funding.

2.Support: Once approved, a Member Projects Assistant (MPA) will be assigned to you. This MPA will work closely with you by email. They will work on understanding your needs as the leader of your project, and on helping you research and find support where possible.

3.Networking: As a leader of an IYPF approved project, you become part of an exclusive network of other IYPF project leaders and IYPF Implementation team. Network benefits include direct communication with others and access to resources and support within that network.

What we do not do:

• We do not provide funding
  
• We do not take over the leadership of your project - you continue to lead your own project
  
• We do not meet with you personally nor talk to you over the phone -in almost all cases, our support is via email
  
• We cannot solve all your problems!
  

How to get started?

Start with checking the IYPF website (www.iypf.org). Go to the Member Projects section. Verify that your project can meet the approval criteria. Then apply for IYPF membership (if you haven´t done so already). Start writing your project proposal, using the template on the website. If you have any questions, contact us at memberprojects@iypf.org

What happens next? You will usually get a response to your question within a week. The receipt of your submitted proposal will be acknowledged and evaluated by our team. Full evaluation against our criteria will be applied by an evaluation panel, after which you will get a feedback. If your project is approved, you will get the support outlined above in "What we do".

Contacting us: All requests, inquiries and proposals for the IYPF Implementation team can be sent to memberprojects@iypf.org

Alexandra Meldrum
IYPF Implementation Team Leader


International business plan competition for poverty reduction and profit

The BiD Challenge is more than a simple business plan competition. It functions as a centre for knowledge and networks. Best plans win up to 25.000 Euro start-up capital. Experts of Dutch companies, banks and NGO's will screen and coach the submitted plans from all over the world.

Business plans should be submitted online at www.bidchallenge.org
before the Round 1 deadline on March 20, 2006.

The BiD Challenge boosts Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) in developing countries. BiD believes SME development is a key to economic development and poverty reduction. SME development not only creates jobs and income, it is a 'drive' for innovation, income distribution, knowledge and expertise.

Deadline for Round 1 is March 20, 2006.

For further information on the BiD Challenge go to
www.bidchallenge.org

This information was sent to all IYPF members. The Member Projects Team will support IYPF-approved projects to apply for these kinds of opportunities!

Download it here:http://www.iypf.org/news.htm#latest

And welcome to another exciting year full of promise, opportunity and challenge for the IYPF as an organisation and for all of you as our global family and network. From all at the IYPF, we hope each of you have enjoyed a successful and exciting start to the year and we are excited to be working with you as we create a better world for all through our actions in 2006.

It has certainly been a busy start to the year for the IYPF directors and team. Both have been meeting to get their plans and priorities sorted for the year. You will read more about the 2006 goals and key activities in the next edition of the newsletter. There has also been a lot of recruitment and staff movement over the last 3 months, with a new Board starting, new appointments to the Communications Team,creation of a Local Events Team and a new Legal area of the organisation, development of a team and plans in Latin America,amongst others. You will read about some of our new staff and staff movements in this volume and in future editions we will introduce you to other new members of the team. We are also looking to fill some other positions that you may be interested in - further details in the newsletter!

So what else can you expect in this edition of the newsletter? If you are involved in or have ideas about projects to help create a better community and world, then read about how IYPF can support your idea and assist in making your initiative more successful. We are looking for new applications now! There is information on IYPF and partner activities in Latin America, and an insightful article about the Earth Charter Initiative and its recent +5 event and reinvigoration of its Youth activities.

Gabrielle has compiled a lengthy section on HIV & AIDS to follow up World AIDS Day in December with contributions from our HIV & AIDS network members. Salwa has interviewed Tracey Smith, a leading 'downshifter' and 'slow activist', to get a better insight in to the world of downshifting. To cap it all off are some thoughts on poverty reduction and the World Bank, futures and how we are working to make the future we want, and a collection of opportunities and resources.

All up with think it´s a great edition, with much to inform and inspire you. Next month we will have even more, along with a new editor and some more writers. We also want your feedback and input so please get it to us via iypf@iypf.org.

From all of the team here, and the Communications Team in particular, we wish you all the best for the month ahead and look forward to hearing your stories as you pursue a better world for all.

Cameron Neil
CEO, IYPF