Regional Meeting: North America

Date: August 16th 2008

Attendees: 24

Creation of a Ministry of Youth – to legitimize the importance of youth

Priority: 

To create a national network of youth led development groups, projects and funding opportunities

We would like to ensure the following specific priorities as a part of our recommendation:

-Involving youth in policy and decision making:

            Hiring a high percentage of youth;

Valuing the input of youth in government decision-making processes;

Providing youth with the experience of national and international policy making;

Favoring the good interaction of youth and the federal government and all of its agencies;

Demystifying the political process and making it more accessible to youth;

Promoting the democratic participation of youth in society;

- Supporting global, human rights, social, and environmental education in school curriculum;

- Getting schools and communities to work together; favoring a comprehensive education to   good citizenship;

- Promoting inclusive youth dialogue within the country and around the world:

            Expanding national and international youth exchange programs;

            Increasing the funding and accessibility of these programs;

            Promoting intercultural and intergenerational communication through regional, provincial and national forums;

-Giving youth the hands on experience necessary to succeed in the work force:

            Expanding mentoring and internship programs                     

- Involving youth in their communities:

Building new community centers;

Increasing the funding to community centers;

Staying informed, through surveys and other methods, to the needs of youth in these community centers.

Recognizing and employing the arts as a main strategy to reduce criminality violence, drug abuse and others.

Make Youth a Priority by Including Youth Oriented Programs in the Federal Budget

Priority: Increase funding opportunities for youth services, programs, and projects to ensure the well being of youth from every socioeconomic status as responsible citizens

We would like to ensure the following specific priorities as a part of our recommendation:

-Diverting all taxes on cigarettes to drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention and treatment services;

-Increasing government funds to arts programs for youth;

- Funding Public Service Announcements on Millennium Development Goals.