AfriCamp

At 5 years old, when anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said with confidence that I wanted to be an airhostess. It was funny, yes because they wondered where this little lady got this idea from and why I would want to do it. Little did they know that I had seen it on TV. I, of course wanted to look cute in the fancy airhostess dress, travel around the world, meet different people every day and go shopping. When I sat in a plane for the first time, I experienced turbulence, and after seeing the urgency with which the airhostess ran to strap herself into her seat, I think I changed my mind.

That was one of my childhood dreams. That encounter did not stop me from dreaming, but rather through that, I realized that if I could dream of becoming an airhostess before even having the opportunity to sit on a plane,then there is no limit to what I can dream. Dreaming bigger dreams for myself is one which has brought me here to speak to you this morning.

Growing up in the Ghanaian society, I was exposed to 3 different types of dreams.

The first one, which I believe we struggle with the most, is our parent’s dreams for us.

Believe it or not, mama might have her own dream for you and so will daddy. In most cases mama cosigns everything daddy says and says things like, “your father is right you know” or “ you better listen to what your father is saying”

• Sometimes they have visions of what they want you to be even before you are born and they try everything to steer you in that direction whether you want it or not.

• Other times because mummy’s dream was to become a doctor when she was younger and didn’t have the opportunity, she believes you were born to redeem that dream for her even if you can’t stand the sight of blood.

• Sometimes because the neighbours son who daddy doesn’t think is smart enough just got his MBA, daddy will stop at nothing to ensure that you get a law degree just to prove to the neighbour that he also has smart children.

In most of these cases, the parents want to impress their peers and also prove to the world that they are great parents by dreaming the futures of their children for them and usually end up neglecting what the child really wants. They get offended when the child does not have interest in the future they have chosen for them and threaten that their future is ruined if they do not do as they say.

The second dream is Our society, which has also been responsible for making us give up on our dreams

First, by ranking careers.

When I was choosing a course to pursue in high school,i attended Wesley Girls High Sch, courses like Science were given a higher preference while visual arts, my ultimate choice and others like home economics were viewed as third and fourth choices. The courses people choose when they had exhausted all their options. Sometimes, when people didn’t gain admission into the science courses, they would choose visual arts only as a way of getting admitted into the school of their choice. This ranking of careers and courses by society prevents people from choosing careers they really enjoy. It discourages people from developing their natural talents and pushes people into careers they have no ability for.

My late mother was a home economics teacher and she excelled at it. She was the best at cooking, baking, broiling, sewing, knitting, designing and the list goes on. But her talent and passion for these arts were not appreciated and as a result, she always looked at it as her fall back career and not her passion. This is because growing up, she was expected to become a doctor and when she couldn’t do it, society did not celebrate her natural skills and success in home economics. Rather saw it as a those skills often learned by housewives. But then again a talent in Home economics has built billionaires like Martha Stewart.

The society is also biased towards careers based on gender. A friend of mine told me about his guy friend who is a Nurse. He finds himself always being called Male Nurse knowing they could just call him Nurse and it would have been just fine.

The Ultimate dream which could easily be overlooked because of all the dreams mentioned above is Our Own Dream

• Our passion

• It is What comes natural to us

• It is What wakes us up in the morning

• It’s a dream that requires some level of sacrifice and

• It is an individual dream, but that which will benefit society as a whole.

• There is a wise saying that “It takes one person to kill an elephant, but the whole community consumes its meat”

In the African society one persons problem is everyones problem, we support and love and care for each other like a community should. That is the dream I grew up to know because of my parents, and it is the dream I yearned to live even before I set off to the USA to pursue my undergraduate and masters degree. As an international student, I realized that most of my fellow international students friends came purposely live what we all knew as The American Dream. Even though some people had no idea what it was.

I also realized that only a few people in America were living the life they really wanted. While the rest of the masses were slaving their lives, helping others live their dreams as they were struggling to feed their families living from pay check to pay check.

• Besides the fact that I got tired of being asked if I rode and elephant to go to work in my country.

• I sat and wondered if I could live my true dream at home, so I wrote a list of all the things that could enhance living my dream in Ghana. I realized that in going back to my homeland Ghana to live the African dream:

• I can have a Stable job

• I can take long Vacations and enjoy my hard earned money

• I can have the help of my family with Childcare, especially being that my dream is to have twins.

• I can count on the Support of family when I go through crisis

• I wouldn’t have to worry about having an Immigrant status which restricts me from great opportunities that I may be highly qualified for.

• I wouldn’t have to worry about being illegal and looking for a green card.

Then I thought, why should we even live in someone else’s dream ? why cant we create our own? We, Africans come from a continent which has bred some of the brightest and innovative people in the world like Wole Soyinka and Kofi Annan.There is a saying that “The offspring of an elephant would not be a dwarf” We come from greatness and are therefore destined for greatness. Knowing what the American dream has become should rather enhance our idea of an African dream and not dismiss it.

Something within me just wouldn’t let me sleep, because deep within me I felt the need to help young people create THE AFRICAN DREAM which was why I founded my organization, the Africa mentor network. An organization whose goal is to inspire, mentor and network the next generation of Africans while bridgind the gap between the young and the old, the rich and the poor in our society. We Africans, really have it all. We just don’t know it or let me say realized it. We have everything it takes within us and in our continent to create a powerful dream for us and the generations to come.

I realised that the greatest obstacles facing us and deterring us from achieving our African Dream is Our Culture

• We are not confident in our own culture. This limits our creative thinking. We always try to copy other peoples ideas and overlook all the resources we have within our own environment.

• The societies emphasis on age and the perception of a child as being young and inexperienced, puts a limit on the child’s manifest abilities.

• Gender, Social class and Disability are also critical obstacles within our culture.

• Then there is Laziness, where we Want quick results without hardwork, for example SAKAWA, and also using other obstacles as an excuse and Simply, Not trying

Based on my experience In the US, I realized that most of the successful people were successful because they had the right motivation and inspiration from role models in their lives. Unfortunately, a lot of us here lack

• Role Models , people who will take us into their care, motivate and inspire us as well as those who lead by example, lets not forget to give a shout out to our corrupt leaders.

• Unfortunately, sometimes we encounter discouraging parents and peers

While we may blame everyone around us for why our dreams will not manifest, there are a few things that I have learned that has helped me achieve my dream and will leave with you.

1. Have Faith in your Dream. Know what you want and go for it! Don’t give up because someone told you, your idea can’t work here. It’s your dream, not theirs

2. Have a Plan for fulfilling your dream

3. Write down what your dream is

4. Being Determined to do whatever it takes to make the dream come to pass

5. Be Willing to share your ideas with others with people who will motivate and encourage you to succeed

6. Be Aggressive and be willing to do whatever it takes to make your dream work.

7. Be professional

8. Use social networks and all networks of friends and family wisely

9. And Simply, ASK! Don’t assume people will know what you need.

• So…How do you want to be remembered?

• What is your passion?

• What will it take to attain it?

• Where would you start?

• Who would you take along with you and how far would you take them?

• So…. what is your African Dream? One of the greatest mentors I have had in my life, Dr Joseph Silver said to me that “The real expectation is not only to make a living, but the ultimate goal is to make a difference!!! you are positioned well to do just that.

” – YOU ARE THE AFRICAN DREAM”

Compatriots, youth leaders, role models, great men and Women of Africa:

I am glad to announce to you that today March 29, 2010, just a week ago from our great Africamp Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, our advocacy for the domestication and adaptation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the African Youth Charter; and the promotion of the usage of the Social Media tools and techniques through the internet; took the pages of major dailies like the Analyst and Inquirer Newspapers with the headline: “NAYMOTE CALLS FOR THE ADOPTATION AND DOMESTICATION OF IMPORTANT AFRICAN’S CHARTERS” in Monrovia, the Capital of Liberia.

With reference to the organizing the Debate, We have communicated with all participating Schools, Administrations and Judges. The program is slated for April 8^th 2010 and will be held at the one of Liberia’s oldest government high School named in honor of a fallen President Williams V.S. Tubman. There will be four high schools participating namely: Williams V.S. Tubman, Calvary Baptist, Soltiamon, and G.W. Gibson High Schools.

The topics to be debated are as follow:

1. Can Liberia hold free, fair and democratic elections in the absence of a better electoral system including the threshold bill?
2. Are young people capable of making meaningful contributions in consolidating democracy and sustainable governance in the midst of unfolding Challenges?
3. Final Topic: Is Democracy best suited to consolidating peace in post conflict societies?

The teams are expected to debate the pro and con of all of the above mentioned topics.

They will be awarded a cash price total five thousand Liberian Dollars ($5, 000.00LD) from which the 1^st winner will be given $3,000.00LD and the 2^nd $2,000.00LD.

My fellow partners in progress once again I am very grateful for the opportunity afforded me through the Africamp to acquire some of the new skills and knowledge which I am using effectively to enhance my work in Liberia. I am optimistic that all of our efforts together will definitely transform our individual countries and our mother continent Africa.

I promise to keep you guys informed as events unfold.

Until we meet again, let’s keep the spirit of Africa Alive!!!!!!!

Your humble servant,

S. Aaron Weah-Weah, III

Program Associate

NAYMOTE-PADD

Tel: +2316908077/+2317908077

AKA Villa Boyz Speaker

“The past is our heritage, the present is our challenge and the future is our collective responsibility”

“Le passé est notre héritage, le présent est notre défi et de l’avenir est notre responsabilité collective”

-  Bongo Patrick

“I’m following GULU UNIVERSITY ELECTORAL COMMISSION 2010 and think you’ll be interested in it as well. To check it out, follow the link below:”

Je ne fais que suivre GULU UNIVERSITY COMMISSION ELECTORALE 2010 et pense que vous serez intéressés à lui aussi bien. Pour le vérifier, suivez le lien ci-dessous:”

http://guec2010.blogspot.com/?psinvite=ALRopfU-o5E7kzORvs0a73fh1J0-mtG0IpK0o9t1qJNiOs0YM3o37sdws46Q5EpFwfpW27ItKFEvt8CLae7ozUfglfHa4jqN3w

-  Jackson Odong

“That was well coordinated, result oriented, and objective achieved mission. Thanks 4 ur guidance, time, and organization. I believe my objective 4 coming to da camp was sucesfuly met, above all learnt more than I could imagine and networked and created a new pool of proudly and opti-african young leaders…thanks, thanks.”

“Cela a été bien coordonnée, orientée vers les résultats, et objectif de la mission réalisée. Merci 4 ur conseils, du temps et de l’organisation. Je crois que mon objectif 4 en venant au camp da a été atteint, surtout appris plus que je pouvais imaginer et en réseau et a créé un nouveau bassin de fierté et Opti-Africain de jeunes leaders … merci , merci. ”

- Mohammed Aadan

“AfriCampers! I have been blessed to meet each one of you, your stories has been both moving and inspiring. I am ignited, fired up to claim my rights and take up my responsibilities as enshrined in the African Youth Charter and would not hesitate to go beyond that call. “

“AfriCampers!  J’ai eu la chance de rencontrer chacun de vous, vos histoires a été à la fois touchant et inspirant. Je suis mis à feu, tiré au-dessus de revendiquer mes droits et assumer mes responsabilités en tant que consacrés dans la Charte africaine de la jeunesse et je n’hésiterais pas à aller au-delà de cet appel. ”

-  Mohamed Abdimalik

“For many years we have talked of African Unity and the United States of Africa; if there is one opportunity that stands out more than others is AFRICAMP.”

“Depuis plusieurs années, nous avons parlé de l’unité africaine et les États-Unis d’Afrique, si il ya une chance qui se démarque plus que les autres est AFRICAMP.

-  Gerald K. Karuhanga

“Yes, our generation has the role of doing the Africhange, we are able to.

We are as good as the generation that from 1960 to 1980… liberated Africa from Colonialism and brought us to independence. Again, today, we need to forget our own interests and fight for the independence of our people.”

“Oui, notre génération a le rôle de faire le Africhange, nous sommes capables. Nous sommes aussi bons que la génération qui de 1960 à 1980 … Afrique libérée du colonialisme et nous a apporté à l’indépendance. Encore une fois, aujourd’hui, nous avons besoin d’oublier nos propres intérêts et de lutter pour l’indépendance de notre people”.

-  Hleli Luhlanga

“I have been opportune to participate in conferences, forum, and trainings, but I have never seen the spirit of young people so strong despite cultural, religious and language barriers, like I experience at the AfriCamp. I whole heartedly wish the experience I gathered from all of the future leaders of Africa will remain with me for the remaining part of my life.”

“J’ai été opportun de participer à des conférences, forum, et les formations, mais je n’ai jamais vu l’esprit des jeunes de manière forte en dépit de l’expérience culturelle, religieuse et les barrières linguistiques, comme je l’AfriCamp.

Je souhaite de tout cœur l’expérience que j’ai tirée de l’ensemble des futurs leaders de l’Afrique restera avec moi pour le restant de ma vie. ”

- Aaron Weah-Weah III

“I love my country and I’ll fight it until the end of my life. When
side of my brothers, brother Angolans the most disadvantaged,
excluded from the social democratic game”

“J’aime mon pays et je vais le battre jusqu’à la fin de ma vie. Quand
côté de mes frères, mon frère Angolais les plus défavorisés,
exclus du jeu social-démocrate”

- Hossi

Traduction en français ci-dessous pour les francophones

Dear Participants of Africamp, Compatriot, love ones, one and all:

First I must hasten to acknowledge the effort of Open Society Institute-Youth Initiative and the AfriCamp Team; Ronald, Alexandra, Edgar, Rudo and all of those whose names I didn’t mention, for bringing young people of Africa together to meet, dialogue, brainstorm and identify Africa’s problems and find a permanent remedy that will bring about growth and development on the African continent.

I have been opportune to participate in conferences, forum, and trainings, but I have never seen the spirit of young people so strong despite cultural, religious and language barriers, like I experience at the AfriCamp. I whole heartedly wish the experience I gathered from all of the future leaders of Africa will remain with me for the remaining part of my life.

With reference to the commitment I made upon my return to my native land Liberia, I am presently writing a press release calling for the adaptation and domestication of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the African Youth Charter that will be published in all Liberia’s major local dailies this week. I will scan the release in the papers and share with you on Africhange and www.idebate.org/africamp. I am also being hosted on Friday at STAR Radio FM 104 on the program “Youth Forum” to discuss my experience at the AfriCamp in Nairobi, Kenya and the message to my fellow youth and the Government of Liberia.

Concerning the debate, as I mentioned to you Ronald, Clive and my colleagues from Namibia, I was highly fascinated by the way it was conducted and I have persuaded my institution to include debates as part of the activities for our school democracy club. As I speak, I am presently planning a debate next week on a topic that will be surrounding our upcoming 2011 elections. The topics are being developed, but I will share it with you through our Africhange website as soon as we agreed upon something.

It is my ardent hope that we as young people keep up the spirit and support each other efforts in bringing growth and development to our mother continent. As we all are aware of the illiteracy rate in Africa, so it is upon those of us who have seen the light through education to stand up for our illiterate mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and bring lasting change to Africa. Like the hero of our time, a Kenya descend, America’s first Black President Barrack Obama would put it, a change is what we need and if we can do it, we must fear not to say “YES WE CAN!!!!!

May God bless us all

Aaron Weah-Weah III

Youth Activist

…………………..

Chers participants à Africamp, compatriote, les amoureux, tous et chacun:

D’abord, je m’empresse de reconnaître l’effort de l’Open Society Institute-Initiative de la jeunesse et de l’équipe AfriCamp; Ronald, Alexandra, Edgar, Rudo et tous ceux dont les noms que je ne mentionne pas, pour réunir les jeunes de l’Afrique ensemble pour répondre, le dialogue , remue-méninges et d’identifier les problèmes de l’Afrique et trouver une solution durable, qui devrait amener la croissance et le développement sur le continent africain.

J’ai été opportun de participer à des conférences, forum, et les formations, mais je n’ai jamais vu l’esprit des jeunes de manière forte en dépit de l’expérience culturelle, religieuse et les barrières linguistiques, comme je l’AfriCamp. Je souhaite de tout cœur l’expérience que j’ai tirée de l’ensemble des futurs leaders de l’Afrique restera avec moi pour le restant de ma vie.

Se référant à l’engagement que j’ai faite lors de mon retour dans mon pays natal Libéria, j’écris actuellement un communiqué de presse appelant à l’adaptation et de domestication de la Charte africaine sur la démocratie, des élections et la gouvernance et la Charte africaine de la jeunesse qui sera publié dans toutes les Libéria grands quotidiens locaux cette semaine. Je vais analyser la libération dans les journaux et de partager avec vous sur Africhange et www.idebate.org/africamp. Je suis également l’hôte, vendredi, à star de la radio FM 104 sur le programme “Youth Forum” pour discuter de mon expérience au AfriCamp à Nairobi, au Kenya et le message à mes jeunes collègues et le gouvernement du Libéria.

Concernant le débat, comme je vous ai parlé Ronald, Clive et mes collègues de la Namibie, j’ai été très fasciné par la façon dont il a été mené et j’ai convaincu mon établissement afin d’inclure les débats dans le cadre des activités pour notre club de la démocratie scolaire. Comme je parle, je me prépare actuellement un débat la semaine prochaine sur un sujet qui sera entourant nos élections 2011 à venir. Les sujets sont en cours d’élaboration, mais je vais le partager avec vous via notre site web Africhange dès que nous nous sommes entendus sur quelque chose.

C’est mon vœu ardent que nous, jeunes, maintenir l’esprit et se soutenir d’autres efforts visant à mettre la croissance et de développement pour notre continent mère. Comme nous sommes tous au courant du taux d’analphabétisme en Afrique, c’est aussi sur ceux d’entre nous qui ont vu le jour grâce à l’éducation de se battre pour nos mères analphabètes, pères, frères, sœurs et apporter des changements durables à l’Afrique. Comme le héros de notre époque, une descente au Kenya, en Amérique du premier président noir de Barrack Obama serait-il dit, un changement est ce que nous avons besoin et si nous pouvons le faire, nous ne devons pas craindre de dire “YES WE CAN !!!!!

Mai Dieu nous bénisse tous

Aaron Weah-Weah III

Jeune Activiste

(Villa Boyz Speaker)

The beauty of a broken Swaziland / La beauté d’un Swaziland cassé,

The laughter of a sad Uganda / Le rire d’un Ouganda triste,

The cry of a happy Ghana / Le cri d’un Ghana heureux,

The screams of a brave South Africa / Les hurlements d’une Afrique du Sud Courageuse

The peace of a terrified Kenya / La paix d’un Kenya terrifié,

Show me love / Me montre l’amour,

I will share Congo’s pain / Je partagerai la douleur du Congo

Care to adore / Je prendrai Soin d’adorer

Nigeria I will mention / Nigeria que je mentionnerai,

Bless my unity / Bénit mon unité,

Zimbabwe where are you? / Zimbabwe où es-tu?

We seek what we know not of / Nous cherchons à connaître ce que nous ne connaissons pas

Yet its fullness we comprehend / Pourtant son abondance nous englobe

Our passion races / Nos courses de passion,

Against its own d epth it paces / Contre son propre profondeur s’arpente,

In memory we are reminded / Dans la mémoire nous sommes rappelés,

In deep sorrow we are grieved / Dans le profond chagrin nous sommes affligés,

We are torn, collected an d woven / Nous sommes déchirés, serein et tissé

Not perfect alright / Pas parfait bien,

Still hopeful and right! / Toujours optimiste et juste !

by jUdItH oKEtCH

Francophones la traduction est ci-dessous,

Friends and founders of Africhange 2010

What a gallant time the hills of Lukenya witnessed last week!! - 23 countries from all over Africa and over 100 of our continent’s young leaders bringing their voices together to say that NOW is the time for change; NOW is the time for Africa’s youth to unfurl their potential to bring true democracy and good governance to this land. What an honour it was to share this time with you. What an honour it was to be seated amongst you- watching history in the writing with my own eyes.

Now that everyone is safely back home and rested, I would like to officially extend my congratulations to you all for your wonderful participation and contributions, which collectively helped make this edition of AfriCamp such a resonant success. Your passion and involvement inspired many who were there and we shall carry it with us for many years to come.

AfriCamp Team requests you to share with us your workplans for 2010. We are interested in seeing how you intend to translate the lessons you drew from AfriCamp into your efforts back at home.

On this note, please write a 350 word blog on your AfriCamp Experience and send it to ekangere@gmail.com In this blog, we would like you to share with us what the Africamp meant to you, what you learnt, what had the biggest impact on and what(if any) life changing moments you experienced. These blogs will be shared with the rest of the world on the website and related media.

Intro

(In French) (En français)

Chorus

AFRICAMP,

TOGETHER WE’LL CHANGE THE FUTURE

AFRICAMP,

TOGETHER WE’LL SAVE OUR CULTURE

AFRICAMP.

TOGETHER WE’LL

JUST YOU AND ME

WE’LL MAKE THIS DREAM COME TRUE, YEAH!

Verse 1

I SEE THE TEARS IN YOUR EYES

DESPERATION IN YOUR FACE

YOU KEEP RUNNING FROM DISGRACE

ALL YOUR FAMILY’S GONE

THEY TOOK YOUR HOPE, YOU’RE ALONE

THERE’S NO TOMORROW FOR YOU

Bridge

SWAZILAND, SENEGAL

NAMIBIA, DRC

ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE

UGANDA, NIGERIA

TANZANIA, SOMALIA

LIBERIA, ZIMBABWE

AFRICAMP OOOOOOH…………………………….

CHORUS

Verse 2

AFTER ELECTIONS RESULTS

THERE IS BLOOD ON THE STREETS

WHERE IS THE LOVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE AT

YOU SEE HOW TIGHT IS THIS DRAMA

YOU LIVE AND FEEL ALL THIS TRAUMA

IT IS KILLING US

Bridge

GAMBIA, COTE D’ VOIRE

SIERRA LEONE, BENIN

SOUTH AFRICA, GHANA

SUDAN KENYA

BURKINA FASO, TOGO

MALI, GUINEA

SISI WOTE AFRICA

CHORUS

Ragga

FIRE AFRICAMP

BUILDING EXPRESSIVE ADVOCACY FOR YOUTH

AN ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIVE EVENT

TRANSFORMING ALL THE YOUTH IN AFRICA

EMPOWERING THE YOUTH

FIRE AFRICAMP

BUILDING EXPRESSIVE ADVOCACY FOR YOUTH

AN ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIVE EVENT

TRANSFORMING ALL THE YOUTH IN AFRICA

WE’LL KEEP IT BLAZING

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