You are invited to participate in the 2006 Annual General Meeting of the International Young Professionals Foundation.

Date: 18th of December 2006

Time: 5pm - 6pm (to be followed by social drinks and dinner)

Venue: Mezzanine Meeting Room, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

The Agenda for the meeting includes (stay tuned for links to the documents for the agenda):

* Presentation of IYPF Annual Report for 2005/2006
* Financial Report for 2005-2006 Financial Year
* Election of Directors
* Discussion of future directions of the IYPF

All IYPF members or friends are more than welcome to attend the AGM, although only IYPF paid members will be eligible to vote.

Please RSVP to iypf [at] iypf [dot] org by Thursday 14th December if you are attending.

For those unable to attend, we encourage you to appoint a proxy to attend and vote on your behalf. The forms enabling you to do this are available to all paid members. If you have not received them via e-mail, contact us via iypf [at] iypf [dot] org.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty In The Philippines
By Gilbert P. Hoggang

Here in the Philippines, poverty eradication was a mouth word of the government since 1997. On the same year the Social Reform Act was enacted as another strategy to combat poverty, creating the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) under the office of the president to coordinate all the government line agencies and Civil Society Organizations to converge together in the implementation of anti-poverty programs and activities. It also gather together 14 marginalized and impoverished sectors of society to be represented in the council to sit down with government and discuss and plan Anti-poverty programs for the poor. I sit at the council for the Indigenous Peoples sector. The convergence program is not working well. It may work at the national level discussion but it does not work at the regional and local level since local government units does not understand the mechanism or, mechanisms for implementation is not enough. The ever changing of secretaries and undersecretaries of the commission also does not jump start the program. The poor sector of society does not feel that there was an anti-poverty program going on.

Yes, we might have a day for eradicating poverty, we might celebrate it every year, but still, poverty is there.

In the Philippines, I noticed that we, the poor people depend much on products that are produced by Multi-national companies, most of it, imported from developed countries. Yes, it is quite cheap, so the government agree to it. This is Globalisation maybe, open market trade. It changed the culture of the people. Instead of working hard to produce their needs, people are now going on the cheap, instant, and very fast to use products-from food to everything. We are now dependent on the cheap products that it seems, right now, poor people can still afford. They are everyday and every minutes being flashed on TV, and being repeatedly announced on radio with prominent people and personalities promoting it. In my small poor village, I observed that the former upland farmers who's forefathers have built hundreds of years the Banaue Rice Terraces, have lost their identity as proud farmers, because it seems they do not know how to work in the farm without the imported fertilizers and dangerous pesticides as well as the capital (credit) to start their farm work. These have buried them to poverty. All their harvest are use to pay all the inputs.

What am I doing? Am trying to go back to the old ways, of doing agriculture with my own pace, reduced or cut spending on expensive inputs by using locally available materials, diversify and integrate production against mono-culture being promoted by companies, and am sharing this to some farmers in my community and to other communities in the region who request my help. I work with some Civil Society Organization friends in the region (Indigenous Peoples Support Group -R02), and with my small knowledge, we conduct trainings to poor indigenous peoples communities on sustainable agriculture and forestry. We are collecting indigenous materials from seeds to seedlings; let the communities propagate, plant and multiply it, pointing out the importance of producing our own needs rather than being dependent on the products of others.

We are now on training poor communities to be organized and be dependent by themselves- just provide the necessary opportunities for them to learn. If given the opportunity, the poor community can decide by themselves, what they want to be, and what development path they want to go.

(and World Human Rights Day 10 Dec)

December 1, World AIDS Day Around the Corner!

Its that special time of the year once again, specifically set apart, when we have the opportunity as one village and Young Professionals in particular contributing in the fight against HIV and AIDS, to remind and remember, conscientise, act, network, advocate and revitalise our IYPHAN and our HIV and AIDS work on the ground!!

Below is an update on the World AIDS Day Campaign for 2006. We will be posting more updates on this event and we encourage members to share information about their planned activities for the day, to this forum (http://groups.takingitglobal.org/YP-HIV-AIDS / http://projects.takingitglobal.org/YP-HIV-AIDS), as well as direct to the World AIDS Day Campaign support team at www.worldaidscampaign.org.

Also kindly be reminded that IYPF will be running a special on World AIDS Day in our upcoming newsletter so lets have your views and opinions rolling in so we may share and exchange knowledge and ideas on what’s going on around the world as a result of youth and young professionals activism, advocacy and practice around HIV and AIDS!!

Keep in touch guys and gear up for this crucial moment as we continue to make a real difference!!

Rassel Chisango, IYPHAN Coordinator
rasselchisango@iypf.org



What are you doing for World AIDS Day 2006?

Please let us know your plans for World AIDS Day so we can share the information with colleagues around the world and post events on our website. Below is a brief update on World AIDS Day 2006 and a request for information about your event and activities plans for the day.

As you have hopefully heard by now the theme for World AIDS Day this year is accountability. The theme and the materials to support it have been developed by the World AIDS Campaign support team based on their ongoing work around World AIDS Day.

A number of lessons have been learnt from previous work on World AIDS Day, and far more energy was invested early in the year to make World AIDS Day 2006 a success. The most significant aspect of this World AIDS Day is the degree to which it has been based around the inputs of a wide range of civil society partners. During World AIDS Day 2006, we hope to achieve the following objectives:

1. Enhanced accountability from political leaders on their promises on AIDS.
2. Supporting a broad movement of civil society organisations campaigning to develop their sense of joint identity and common purpose.
3. Generating a greater public awareness of, and engagement with, the problem of AIDS worldwide.

In order to assist in World AIDS Day campaigning, resources will be provided by the World AIDS Campaign support team including: a CD-Rom action pack with campaigning information and communications materials, World AIDS Day posters, website with a World AIDS Day events calendar, information and a web forum, a series of press releases, World AIDS Campaign newsletters, networking opportunities and a media pack.

World AIDS Day Action Packs, which include World AIDS Day posters in a choice of English, Spanish, Russian or French languages, and a CD-ROM in all four languages, will be ready in early October. They will also be available to view and download on our website by the end of the week. If you would like to receive a copy of the Action Pack, please contact us at worldaidsday (at) worldaidscampaign.org and indicate your preference in language. Please note, there is a limited supply of materials and materials will be sent out on a first come, first serve basis.

To find out more about World AIDS Day 2006, please go to www.worldaidscampaign.org or email us at worldaidsday (at) worldaidscampaign.org.




Submit Your Contributions for IYPF’s December 2006 Newsletter Theme – AIDS & HIV and Human Rights

Our December newsletter will focus on HIV & AIDs and Human Rights. 1 December is World AIDS Day and 10 December is Human Rights Day. See some more info below, above and some ideas for activities you can be involved in or organise locally.

For the December edition, send us any stories on your activities and projects, resources and information of use to young professionals, and anything else that you believe can inform and inspire young professionals around the world to create a better world for current and future generations that relates to HIV & AIDS and/or Human Rights. Send all your contributions to newsletter@iypf.org by the end of December 2006.

1 December - World AIDS Day

Thousands of campaigns around the world are preparing local and national events to raise awareness of HIV and to call on leaders to keep the promises they have made to tackle the AIDS pandemic. The theme of accountability, with the slogan, “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise”, was chosen in consultation with civil society campaigns to stress the critical need to meet current commitments to increase the global response to AIDS and reach universal access to treatment, care, and prevention by 2010.

For more information, please visit
www.unaids.org/en/MediaCentre/PressMaterials/FeatureStory/Interview _Marcel_van_Soest.asp

10 December- Human Rights Day

In celebration of Human Rights Day 2006, the UN Cyberschoolbus is holding a Poverty and Human Rights essay contest for young people between 8 and 18 years of age. Entries must focus on the link between human rights abuses and poverty and select one of two topics: (1) pick one article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and use an example from real-life to illustrate how the violation of this right is a consequence of living in poverty and include any suggestions you may have on how poverty can be reduced so that this right is not violated; OR (2) pick one article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and use an example from real-life to illustrate how the violation of this right can cause poverty. Include any suggestions you may have on what can be done to protect this right so that it does not lead to poverty. Entries for the Human Rights and Poverty Writing Contest 2006 must be received by email to cyberschoolbus@un.org no later than International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2006. For more information visit UN Cyberschoolbus at: http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/humanrightsday2006/guidelines1.asp

Want to experience success like Barefoot Power? (see here http://iypf.tigblog.org/post/65455)?

The IYPF offers a free advice and support service to IYPF members to assist them in getting their idea from conception to reality. As part of this, we link them to funding programs – like we did with Barefoot Power and BiD – and assist where necessary with the application forms and process. If you are interested in taking advantage of this, 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.

Note the following annual funding opportunities for your ideas!

Development Marketplace 2007
Deadline: 17 November 2006

The World Bank’s Development Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grant program that identifies and supports emerging development ideas. Since its inception in 1998, DM has awarded roughly US$40 million to more than 1,100 projects through Global and Country-level Marketplaces. These small-scale projects not only deliver results, but many have the potential to be expanded or replicated elsewhere.

The 2007 Global Development Marketplace (DM2007) will be held in collaboration with the Health, Nutrition and Population team of the World Bank. The objective of DM2007 is to recognize and support innovative approaches for achieving better health outcomes for poor people.

Proposals are welcome from all development innovators—civil society groups, social entrepreneurs, private foundations, government agencies, academia, the private sector, as well as staff from the World Bank and other donor organizations. The deadline for all proposals is November 17, 2006.

More information is available here:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/OPPORTUNITIES/GRANTS/DEVMARKETPLACE/0,,contentMDK:21059278~menuPK:2895744~pagePK:180691~piPK:174492~theSitePK:205098,00.html


Echoing Green Accepting Applications for Fellowship Program
Deadline: December 1, 2006

Echoing Green (http://www.echoinggreen.org/) provides first-stage funding and support to visionary leaders with bold ideas for social change. Echoing Green seeks to identify, fund, and support the world's most exceptional emerging leaders and the organizations they launch. Through a two-year fellowship program, Echoing Green helps social entrepreneurs develop new solutions to some of society's most difficult problems.

Echoing Green has an open application process for its fellowship program. Anyone who meets the program's eligibility requirements and has a compelling and innovative idea for social change is welcome to apply. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Projects must be the original idea of the applicant and must be independent and autonomous. The applicant must be the primary decision maker for the program's development and management. Projects must be in a start-up phase. To be considered a "start-up," the applicant may have been running the organization full-time for up to two years, and Echoing Green's financial support should qualify it as a major/primary early funder. Applicants must make a full-time commitment to the project's development. Partnerships (no more than two individuals) may apply.

Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens. However, if the applicant is not a U.S. citizen and does not have legal status to work in the U.S., no services in connection with their fellowship may be performed in the United States.

It is strongly recommended that potential applicants complete the fellowship program's online Pre-Application Questionnaire before beginning the application process. The questionnaire is designed to help potential applicants decide whether their idea is a good match for Echoing Green. The Echoing Green Web site also provides background information on the fellowship, profiles of fellows, and complete application instructions, and an FAQ.

http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005014/echoinggreen

Bring Light to the Poor
By Salwa AbdulTawab

A plan to bring low cost lighting solutions to the poor in developing countries won a major prize in this year’s Business in Development (BiD) Challenge.

The project presented by Australia’s Barefoot Power Pty Ltd. gives villagers an access to renewable electricity. It uses an innovative business model to gradually build a power system, which would stagger investments in accordance with kerosene expenditure.

The idea sparked two years ago. Stewart Craine, a renewable energy engineer and entrepreneur, was a volunteer in Nepal, where 1% of rural households have access to electricity. He suggested the idea to his employers, but they were not interested. Now he is starting in Papua New Guinea

Rural families in the Pacific spend two to three Australian dollars every week on kerosene. The aim is to redirect this expenditure towards more sustainable energy sources and provide dramatic improvements in lighting services.

Traditional solar lighting systems cost 250 US dollars or more, which require loans to cover the three to five years payback periods. The Barefoot business model splits the solar system in two.

Offshore outsourcing to a low cost labour market like China helps offering products of appropriate quality and affordable cost.

In the first year, a villager takes a lighting kit and battery charger for sixty US dollars cash, which can be paid back to the bank in one year. The solar panel is added later, with a one to two years loan, if required.

The target here is to support good payment habits, to start investing in micro hydro and gasifier mini grids, in three to five years.

Barefoot Power is planning to provide services to one million people over the next five years. The company started with Papua New Guinea and Fiji, and is developing a global network of interest. Testing covered 100 rural households and 200 more are expecting the services over the next two months.

“My plan contributes to two main Millennium Goals,” Stewart Craine says. “The first is developing global partnerships. At least 100 local distributors will be active and 3000 village energy enterprises will be created, through linking quality, low cost original equipment manufacturers directly with local NGOs.

“The second is improving environment and housing through the increase of families living in safer domestic conditions,” Craine adds. “We are providing a clean alternative to the usual diesel generators. Kerosene consumption will decrease by 10,000 tons a year, reducing CO2 emissions. Fire incidents will drop. Children will be able to study for more hours.”

The BiD Challenge is founded on promoting small business in developing countries as a direct way to improve living standards. Barefoot Power was selected from 1600 nominations. The prize amount will add to the total they need to start the project.