Aceh Youth Council

Project INSPIRE: 5 Minutes to Change The World - Deadline 30 June 2011

2011-03-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Have an inspirational idea that can empower women, improve their livelihood, change the world?

Here is your chance to make it happen!

PROJECT INSPIRE: 5 Minutes to Change the World is a joint initiative by UN Women Singapore and MasterCard to help you create a better world of opportunities for women and girls in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

Sure, there are million dollar ideas out there. That’s not what we need from you.

We want you to get creative and make meaningful impact with the limited resources you have. Keep it real. And inspire others to do the same.

It’s about accessible, doable, measureable, sustainable.

Send us a video pitch with your idea to help empower disadvantaged women or girls, through education, skills training, financial inclusion, social entrepreneurship. You could win a US$25,000 grant to go out there and bring your vision to life.

Special recognition will be given to the Best Financial Literacy/ Livelihood proposal which will win a start-up grant of US$10,000.

What’s more, finalists will get the chance to come to Singapore to present their inspiring idea to an expert judging panel. You will also attend a workshop on sustainable social entrepreneurship and presentation skills training.

If you are 18-35 years old, passionate about making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of underprivileged women and girls, we want to hear from you!

Source: http://www.5minutestochangetheworld.org/

2011 INTERNATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - Deadline June 30, 2011

2011-03-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

2011 INTERNATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

- Organized by The Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO
- Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, Nikkei Inc., Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education
- Supported by Felissimo Corporation

As today's young people are crucial for the shaping of our future, it is imperative that they are enabled to develop to their full potential. UNESCO's objective is to help empower young people, reaching out to them, responding to their expectations and ideas, and fostering useful and long-lasting skills.

This annual essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world's youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world.

*** THEME:

"MY STORY OF INSPIRATION"
Many people experience inner change that motivates them to create a better world.
Please share your story of inspiration that has affected your life and changed you to make a change in the world.

*** GUIDELINES:

1. Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 30, 2011) in one of the following age categories:
a) Children (ages up to 14) b) Youth (ages 15 - 25)
2. Essays must be 800 words or less in English, French, Spanish or German; or 1600 characters or less in Japanese, typed or printed.
3. Essays must have a cover page indicating (1) category (Children or Youth) (2) essay title (3) your name (4) address (5) phone number (6) e-mail (7) nationality (8) age as of June 30, 2011 (9) gender (10) school name (if applicable) (11) word count.
Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group. Please enclose a list of participants' names and the name and contact information of the submitting teacher or director.
(Entries missing any of the above information will not be considered.)
4. Entries may be submitted by postal mail or online.
(IMPORTANT: To send your essay online, you must go to the online registration page at www.goipeace.or.jp and follow the required steps.)
5. Essays must be original and unpublished.
6. Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.
7. Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the organizers.

*** DEADLINE: Entries must be received by JUNE 30, 2011.

*** AWARDS: The following awards will be given in the Children's category and Youth category respectively:
1st Prize: Certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$1,200) ... 1 entrant
2nd Prize: Certificate and prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$600) ... 2 entrants
3rd Prize: Certificate and gift ... 5 entrants
Honorable Mention: Certificate and gift ... 25 entrants

* 1st prize winners will be invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan scheduled for November 2011.
(Travel expenses will be covered by the organizers.)

** All prize winners will be announced in November 2011 on the Goi Peace Foundation web site and UNESCO web site:

*** PLEASE SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO:
International Essay Contest c/o The Goi Peace Foundation
1-4-5 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093 Japan
OR Send online through: www.goipeace.or.jp

Prize winners will receive a cash award and will be invited to Japan for the award ceremony. Please see the complete guidelines below or at

To read winning essays from last year's contest, please visit http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/2010/index.html

Please kindly help disseminate this announcement through your websites, mailing lists, and publications. We look forward to the participation of many young people in your schools, communities and networks!

May Peace Prevail on Earth

The Goi Peace Foundation

source: Emailed by The Goi Peace Foundation (essay@goipeace.or.jp)

XIV INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

2010-02-02T15:25:00.000-08:00

INVITATION

Art Centre for Children and Young People [Hyvinkää, Finland] is organizing the 14th International Art Exhibition. We invite all children and young people throughout the world to participate. Art Centre for Children and Young People is an institute maintained by the Finnish Ministry of Education and the City of Hyvinkää. The Art Centre promotes art education and visual arts locally and globally working in co-operation with experts in the fields of art, culture and youth work. The Art Centre organizes exhibitions, collects artworks, educates and encourages to experiences in the world of art.

CATEGORIES under 7 years, 7-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-15 years and 16-18 years

THE THEME “ MY HOME ” should be treated openly and widely emphasizing the participant´s culture, environment and individual ideas.

INSTRUCTIONS

The works are not to be framed. Techniques: drawings, paintings, graphics, photographs, comics etc. The size is optional up to a maximum size of 42 x 60 cm. One work per person. Schools and groups may submit a maximum of 10 works.
A copy of the questionnaire should be fixed to the reverse side of each work filled with required details.

THE ARTWORKS WILL NOT BE RETURNED!

Art Centre for Children and Young People reserves all rights to use the artworks. The 14th International Exhibition will be held in Hyvinkää, Finland opening in September 2010. All the artworks will be added to the International Collection at the Art Centre for Children and Young People for research and educational purposes. The material will further be used in exhibitions both in Finland and abroad, thus supporting and forwarding children and young people´s visual culture, art education and multicultural world.
THE JURY consists of recognized artists and art educators. Medals or diplomas will be awarded in each category.

THE WORKS ARE TO BE SENT BY POST TO ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 31st of MAY 2010 TO:

Artcentre for Children and Young People
VILLA ARTTU, Kankurinkatu 4-6
FIN-05800 Hyvinkää
Finland

www.artcentre.fi

What Is Your Life's Blueprint? Be the Best of Whatever You Are!!!

2010-01-20T00:39:00.000-08:00

I want to ask you a question, and that is: What is your life's blueprint?

Whenever a building is constructed, you usually have an architect who draws a blueprint, and that blueprint serves as the pattern, as the guide, and a building is not well erected without a good, solid blueprint.

Now each of you is in the process of building the structure of your lives, and the question is whether you have a proper, a solid and a sound blueprint.

I want to suggest some of the things that should begin your life's blueprint. Number one in your life's blueprint, should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your worth and your own somebodiness. Don't allow anybody to make you fell that you're nobody. Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance.

Secondly, in your life's blueprint you must have as the basic principle the determination to achieve excellence in your various fields of endeavor. You're going to be deciding as the days, as the years unfold what you will do in life — what your life's work will be. Set out to do it well.

And I say to you, my young friends, doors are opening to you--doors of opportunities that were not open to your mothers and your fathers — and the great challenge facing you is to be ready to face these doors as they open.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great essayist, said in a lecture in 1871, "If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

This hasn't always been true — but it will become increasingly true, and so I would urge you to study hard, to burn the midnight oil; I would say to you, don't drop out of school. I understand all the sociological reasons, but I urge you that in spite of your economic plight, in spite of the situation that you're forced to live in — stay in school.

And when you discover what you will be in your life, set out to do it as if God Almighty called you at this particular moment in history to do it. don't just set out to do a good job. Set out to do such a good job that the living, the dead or the unborn couldn't do it any better.

If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be be the best little shrub on the side of the hill.

Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.

— From the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Six months before he was assassinated, King spoke to a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/special/mlk/king/blueprint.html

Oxfam International Youth Partnerships Program

2010-01-19T23:45:00.000-08:00

Applications are now being accepted for Oxfam International Youth Partnerships until the 12th February 2010.

OIYP is an Oxfam International initiative, managed by Oxfam Australia since 2000. OIYP strengthens young people’s ability to effect change in their community, and provides a base from which they can influence broader changes through engagement in a global network of over 1100 OIYP Action Partners.

Through a 3 year Program, OIYP will provide opportunities and support for 300 new Action Partners so they may demonstrate leadership and expand the influence of youth for positive changes locally, nationally and globally.

To launch the 2010 – 2013 OIYP Program, Oxfam will host an 8 day Kaleidoscope event in November 2010 in New Delhi, India. At this event, Action Partners are given the opportunity to connect with people across regions and cultures that are facing similar challenges in their own communities. This allows for the chance for a cultural exchange, as well as the exchange of skills and knowledge building and planning on how young people can contribute to changes in their own lives as well as the lives of others in their communities. The following two years includes a variety of online and offline learning and development opportunities including face to face workshops, cultural immersion programs, e-workshops, online discussions and networking opportunities.

For more information about the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships
(OIYP) Program, please visit our website www.oiyp.oxfam. org.

Who are we looking for?

Every 3 years OIYP goes through a rigorous process of recruiting and selecting a new group of 300 Action Partners. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be aged 18-25, able to speak English or Spanish conversationally and available to attend an 8 day event in November 2010, in New Delhi, India.

Core selection criteria:
• Commitment to finding new ways of working
• Evidence of commitment to positive, equitable
and sustainable change
• Ability to explain their own understanding of
the issues they’re working on
• A commitment to personal reflection and
developing self awareness
• Community or organisational support

OIYP is open to all nationalities, Indigenous and ethnic groups. It is open to young people with any level of education and who live in rural or urban areas. We have a strong focus on the participation of Indigenous young people and those marginalised in their communities.

For the 2010 – 2013 OIYP Program, Oxfam is specifically targeting young people who:
Are active on gender justice
From communities impacted by climate change
Living with a disability
Using innovative means to influence decision
makers (locally or nationally)
Are from minority Indigenous groups

Applying to be part of OIYP

Application forms in word and PDF format are available by visiting www.oiyp.oxfam.org and the English version is attached to this email. Applications will be assessed against selection criteria by Oxfam Australia staff; staff from other Oxfam affiliates; youth partners and current OIYP Action Partners.

Applications close on 12 February 2010.

Applicants will be informed of their selection by mid April 2010. At this point, we will inform successful applicants (Action Partners) of how OIYP will support them to attend the OIYP Kaleidoscope 2010 event. There is a limited scholarship pool which will be allocated to support travel costs for many of the top selected Action Partners. However some Action Partners may be required to fundraise for travel costs, in these cases OIYP will provide support letters and training on fundraising. There is no registration fee
for OIYP.

Contact:
Oxfam Australia | Level 3/25 Cooper St Surry
Hills 2010 | PO Box 1711 Strawberry Hills 2012
Tel: +61 2 8204 3909 | Fax: +61 2 9280 3426
www.oiyp.oxfam. org

source: Milist IFP Indonesia

Fellowship at UNFPA Special Youth Programme

2010-01-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

The Special Youth Programme fellowship consists of an initial 4.5 months fellowship at UNFPA Headquarters, New York, followed by a continued fellowship of another 4.5 months in the UNFPA Office in the country of the fellow.

UNFPA will recruit six young people to be Special Youth Fellows from 1 April – 31 December.

Objective
This programme is designed to give young people from developing countries opportunities to engage in policy development and programming; to help build the capacity of young people; and to sensitize both young people and UNFPA staff on partnering to address adolescent and youth issues.

During the course of the programme, fellows will:
Attend and participate in UNFPA and UN events and meetings as appropriate
Undertake research and writing assignments
Contribute to ongoing projects and programmes
Organize a final presentation to UNFPA HQ staff on their projects and fellowships in Headquarters
Interact with the New York local youth community on at least one occasion
Develop a relationship with the Regional and Country Office and provide updates on their activities during the HQ fellowship and provide updates to HQ during fellowship at Regional or Country Office

All selected candidates will be provided:
Cost of return travel from country of origin
Assistance with travel documents and visa requirements
Health insurance - Housing arrangements
Subsistence allowance (for meals and other basic needs)
A workstation and internet access
Opportunities to be mentored by UNFPA staff on issues of interest
Administrative assistance as required

Qualifications and Experience
Criteria: Candidates must have some programme experience in areas of UNFPA’s mandate. These areas include: young people’s sexual and reproductive health, reproductive rights, humanitarian response, population, gender, culture, human rights, HIV prevention, poverty reduction, and sustainable livelihoods.

Eligibility
Aged between 20-24 years old. Applicants born before 1 January 1987 will not be considered. No exceptions.
Residence and nationality of a developing country. Applicants from developed countries will not be considered for this programme, but are invited to apply for UNFPA’s regular internship programme.
Established interest and dedication to development issues through previous experiences or affiliation with a youth network or NGO working on development issues
Basic leadership and advocacy skills
Basic understanding of issues of importance to UNFPA and what the organization stands for - English language skills (written and oral)
Commitment to return to home country to undertake follow up work with young people

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this programme go to http://www.unfpa.org/employment/vacancy.htm and click on “Apply Online”. Please click on the vacancy for your region. Feel free to contact youth@unfpa.org for more information.

http://www.unfpa.org/employment/vacancy.htm

source: milist beasiswa Aceh

2009 INTERNATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

2009-02-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

- Organized by The Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO
- Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, Nikkei Inc., Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education
- Supported by Japan Airlines

The United Nations has designated 2001-2010 as the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World" and 2005-2014 as the "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development." Not only should young people benefit from these global initiatives, but they should be empowered to play a leading role in them. The theme of this year's International Essay Contest is "THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN BUILDING A BETTER WORLD." Young people from around the world are invited to submit their innovative ideas on this theme.

*** THEME:

"The role of science in building a better world"
Scientific progress has brought many benefits to humanity, while some applications of science have had adverse impacts. What kind of science and technology do you think is needed for realizing a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable world for all? Please express your vision for the future of science, including examples of studies or researches you wish to engage in.

*** GUIDELINES:

1. Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 30, 2009) in one of the following age categories:
a) Children (ages up to 14) b) Youth (ages 15 - 25)
2. Essays must be 800 words or less typed or printed in English, French, Spanish or German.
3. Essays must have a cover page indicating (1) category (Children or Youth) (2) essay title (3) your name (4) postal address (5) phone number (6) e-mail address (7) nationality (8) age as of June 30, 2009 (9) sex (10) school name (if applicable) (11) word count.
Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group. Please enclose a list of participants' names and the name and contact information of the submitting teacher or director.
(Entries missing any of the above information will not be considered.)
4. Entries may be submitted by postal mail or e-mail. (Email entries must be in text or MS Word format, with the cover page and essay sent together as one document.)
5. Essays must be original and unpublished.
6. Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.
7. Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the organizers.

*** DEADLINE: Entries must be received by JUNE 30, 2009.

*** AWARDS: The following awards will be given in the Children's category and Youth category respectively:
1st Prize: Certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$1,000) ... 1 entrant
2nd Prize: Certificate and prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$500) ... 2 entrants
3rd Prize: Certificate and gift ... 5 entrants
Honorable Mention: Certificate and gift ... 25 entrants

* 1st prize winners will be invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan scheduled for
November 2009. (Travel expenses will be covered by the organizers.)

** All prize winners will be announced in November 2009 on the Goi Peace Foundation web site (www.goipeace.or.jp) and UNESCO web site (www.unesco.org/youth).

*** PLEASE SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO:
International Essay Contest c/o The Goi Peace Foundation
1-4-5 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093 Japan
E-mail: essay@goipeace.or.jp

The same information can be found on the Goi Peace Foundation website:
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0901.html

To read winning essays from last year's contest, please go to:
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0802.html

2008 Int'l Essay Contest for Young People

2008-06-15T02:29:00.000-07:00

Organized by The Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO
Sponsored by the Earthrise Society
Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, Nikkei Inc., Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education
Supported by Japan Airlines.

The United Nations has designated 2001-2010 as the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World" and 2005-2014 as the "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. "
Not only should young people benefit from these global initiatives, but they should be empowered to play a leading role in them. The theme of this year's International Essay Contest is "My project to create positive change in my environment. How can I foster sustainable development in my community?" Young people from around the world are invited to submit their innovative ideas on this theme.

Theme:"My project to create positive change in my environment. How can I foster sustainable development in my community?"-— Please submit your innovative ideas and concrete plans/projects to address the social, cultural, environmental or economic problems faced by your community.

Guidelines:1.Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 30, 2008) in one of the following age categories:
a) Children (ages up to 14)
b) Youth (ages 15 - 25)

2.Essays must be 800 words or less, typed or printed in English, French, Spanish or German.

3.Essays must have a cover page indicating
(1) category (Children or Youth)
(2) essay title
(3) your name
(4) postal address
(5) phone number
(6) e-mail address
(7) nationality
(8) age as of June 30, 2008
(9) sex
(10) school name (if applicable)
(11) word count.

Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group. Please enclose a list of participants' names and the name and contact information of the submitting teacher or director.
(Entries missing any of the above information will not be considered.)

4.Entries may be submitted by postal mail or e-mail.
(Email entries must be in text or MS Word format, with the cover page and essay sent together as one document.)

5.Essays must be original and unpublished.

6.Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.

7.Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the sponsors.

Deadline:Entries must be received by June 30, 2008 scheduled for November 2008.

Awards:The following awards will be given in the Children's category and Youth category respectively:
1st Prize:Certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$840)... 1 entrant
2nd Prize:Certificate and prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$420) ... 2 entrants
3rd Prize:Certificate and gift ... 5 entrants
Honorable Mention:
Certificate and gift ... 25 entrants

* 1st prize winners will be invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan. (Travel expenses will be covered by the sponsors.)

** All prize winners will be announced in November 2008 on the Goi Peace Foundation web site (www.goipeace. or.jp) and UNESCO web site (www.unesco.org/ youth).

Please send your entries to:
International Essay Contest c/o The Goi Peace Foundation
1-4-5 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093 Japan

E-mail:essay @goipeace.or. jp

Source: Milist Pendidikan Aceh

JAL Scholarship Program 2008

2008-06-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

JAL Scholarship Program is recruiting University students. We are inviting those university students from Asia and Oceania who want to make a contribution to society, care about the environmental issues and have an interest in Japan, to come to Japan.

Introduction to the 2008 Program
- Theme : "The world in 20 years - problems and solutions"
- Duration : June 29 - July 15, 2008 (17 days)
- Program Contents :

1. Lectures for Globally Minded Citizens
2. Students will gain knowledge in such areas as Japanese culture, the environment and social issues. Student Sessions
3. Students will participate in group discussions based on the program`s theme. Asia Forum
4. The forum will be made up of lectures and a public symposium, as well as Japanese cultural experiences. It will take place in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. Field Trip
5. An overnight trip to a location outside of Tokyo. Homestays

The students will deepen their understanding of Japan by experiencing Japanese customs and lifestyles first-hand.

How to apply
All interested students with appropriate qualifications are invited to submit an application essay in English. The essay should be 800 words or less in length, and discuss an engaging issue that is based upon the program`s theme.

Application essays should be submitted to your nearest JAL branch office (or Japan Asia Airways in Taiwan). The JAL Foundation reserves the right to use the submitted essays for various purposes. The branch office committees will interview applicants who successfully complete the first round of judging. For more details regarding the program and application procedures, please contact your nearest JAL branch office shown below.

Japan Airlines branch offices
Australia Level14 201 Sussex Street Sydney,
NSW 2000
Email: jalscholarships@ jal.com

Indonesia
Wisma Kyoei Prince Building 2nd Floor
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 3-4
Jakarta Pusat 10220
Tel: 021-572-3235
Fax: 021-572-3236

Source: Milist Pendidikan Aceh

Junk Food for The Soul

2008-01-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that too much junk food is bad for your body and your health. Just like cookies, cakes, chips and candy do nothing to fuel your body; there are many things that do nothing to feed our soul. I call these things junk food for your soul. Junk food for your soul is anything that robs you of the ability to experience unconditional love and joy. Let's compare the junk food versus the healthy food for your soul.

____________ _________ ________

Junk Music, Movies
& Books vs. Inspirational
____________ _________ ________

Now remember, we are talking about healthy food for our soul. Have you ever walked into a movie in a good mood and walked out feeling down and out? That's happened to me several times. One time in particular was when I saw "Magnolia" with Tom Cruise. I was on a date with my now husband and I remember leaving that movie feeling very depressed and angry. To top it off, it caused a fight between us because my husband thought the movie was great. Movies, music and books tap into our emotions and have the ability to fuel the love in our soul or drain it. By choosing inspirational forms of art, you will lift your spirit and experience the love that is naturally in you. I'll never forget listening to this beautiful love song with my best friend in her media room. The power of the music, the words and the singer's voice was enough to drive both of us to tears. At the end of the song, we both just looked at each other with tears in our eyes. We could do nothing but hug each! other
because of the love we felt in that moment.

____________ _________ ________

Complaining vs. Gratitude
____________ _________ ________

It's much easier to focus on all the things we don't have or the things we don't like. Complaining that you don't have enough money or your husband doesn't help enough around the house keeps your energy at a very low level. If you can rise above and practice gratitude, you will raise your energy level and begin to experience love. Play a game with yourself. Keep an ongoing list of the top 3 things that happened to you today. I had a nice hot shower this morning. My husband kissed me goodbye before he left for work. I got to listen to some great music on the way to work. Throughout your day, try to replace one of the three things on your list with something even better. This will keep you focused on having an attitude of gratitude.

____________ _________ ________

Negative Thinking
vs. Positive Thinking
____________ _________ ________

Your thoughts determine your feelings and your feelings determine your behavior. So what's going to happen if you think negatively? You will experience negative emotions and your emotions will fuel negative behavior. If you want to feed your soul and experience unconditional love and joy, it all starts with your thoughts. How do you see yourself and the world around you? Do you see yourself as a beautiful child of God or do you beat yourself up with negative comments like "You're so fat" or "You'll never be successful"? Is the world around you filled with loving and trusting people or cynical and shady people? Your thoughts are very powerful and have the ability to shape your entire life. If you don't believe me, watch the movie "What the Bleep Do We Know"?

____________ _________ ________

Guilt vs. Grace
____________ _________ ________

If you struggle with guilt, you know it is hard to feel good about yourself when you feel guilty. Guilt implies that you have done something wrong. Sometimes we take on guilt that doesn't belong to us. Other times we experience guilt because we make mistakes. Making mistakes is part of being human. It is the way we learn more about what love is and what love isn't. Go easy on yourself and others. God gives us grace, and by extending that grace, we feed our soul and the soul of others with love.

____________ _________ ________

Anger vs. Forgiveness
____________ _________ ________

Unresolved anger is like poison in your soul. The other day, on Christian radio, it was explained that anger clogs your spiritual arteries. If you want to do a triple bypass on your spiritual heart, you must learn to forgive. It does you or the person you are angry at no good to harbor resentment. Forgiveness is like lifting a huge weight off your shoulders. It frees our heart and soul to experience the joy we deserve to feel.

____________ _________ ________

Victim/Martyr Attitude
vs. Empowerment Attitude
____________ _________ ________

A victim or martyr carries around an attitude that she is wounded and uncontrollable circumstances happen to her. A victim feels she has no power to change her life. This kind of attitude is so damaging to your spirit. It will shut you down and absolutely rob your joy. When you have an empowerment attitude, you are taking control of your personal happiness. You give yourself the power to choose how you are going to feel. You believe you can create whatever kind of life you want. To experience love and joy in life is a choice we all have. It is given to each of us at birth.

____________ _________ ________

Isolation vs. Connection
____________ _________ ________

As human beings, we need other people. It is through relationship with others that we learn about love. Community provides a place for each of us to give and receive love. If you spend a lot of time in isolation, your soul cannot be fed by the love of others. I remember when I was younger and most of my life was spent alone. I was an only child for a very long time and I learned to be independent and self-responsible. This carried into my adult years in a way that was unhealthy for me. I did everything alone - I counted on no one for help. When I went on a women's retreat, my tendency to isolate was pointed out to me. I remember a therapist asking me where I was going. I told her I was going to work out. She looked at me and said, "Alone?" I was a bit taken aback. Was there any other way? I have since learned that fellowship with loving people does wonders for filling my soul up. Isolation is lonely and loneliness is draining.

____________ _________ ________

Fear vs. Faith
____________ _________ ________

Your soul cannot breathe when you live in fear. Fear is crippling and will stop you from fully experiencing the joys of life. To be bogged down with worry and anxiety is like that sick feeling you get when you eat a ton of junk food. You can't move. Faith is like that fresh fruit salad that nurtures your body. It's light and refreshing. It enables you to move around freely with energy and love. One of my friend's children is battling a very rare disease called Langerhans Cell Hystocytosis. Through this struggle, they have been challenged with fear. They shared something that I think is very profound and speaks to the importance of faith. They once read that God's plan for us is like a piece of embroidery artwork. We only see the back side with all of the ugly knots, frayed strings, and twisted stitches that seem to make no sense. But God sees the front side - the side that is perfectly planned and executed - the finished product, so beautiful and clear.

So what do you want to feed your soul?

Junk food or healthy food?

From the Desk of GraceWatcher
Dr. Paul E. Jones B.A.M.Div.D. D.

*This article is sent by a wise friend*

The World Bank Essay Competition 2008 for Youth 17 - 25 Years Old

2008-01-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

Essay Competition 2008 is launched this January 2008!

Theme: What can you do to shape the city of your dreams?

Check for detail: http://www.essaycompetition.org/ soon so you do not miss the deadline.

We Wish You All the Best!!!

AYC Team

How to Control People???

2007-10-24T03:52:00.001-07:00

By Charley Reese

The difference between true education and vocational training has been cleverly blurred.

Here are a few tips on how smart people can control other people. If any of this rings a bell - Well, then wake up!

The first principle of people control is not to let them know you are controlling them. If people knew, this knowledge will breed resentment and possibly rebellion, which would then require brute force and terror, and old fashioned, expensive and not 100 % certain method of control.

It is easier than you think to control people indirectly, to manipulate them into thinking what you want them to think and doing what you want them to do.

One basic technique is to keep them ignorant. Educated people are not as easy to manipulate. Abolishing public education or restricting access to education would be the direct approach. That would spill the beans.

The indirect approach is to control the education they receive.

It's possible to be a Ph.D., doctor, lawyer, businessman, journalist, or an accountant, just to name a few examples, and at the same time be an uneducated person. The difference between true education and vocational training has been cleverly blurred in our time so that we have people successfully practicing their vocations while at the same time being totally ignorant of the larger issues of the world in which they live.

The most obvious symptom is their absence of original thought. Ask them a question and they will end up reciting what someone else thinks or thought the answer was. What do they think, Well, they never thought about it. Their education consisted of learning how to use the library and cite sources.

That greatly simplifies things for the controller because with lots of money, university endowments, foundations, grants, and ownership of media, it is relatively easy to control who they will think of as authorities to cite in lieu of doing their own thinking.

Another technique is to keep them entertained. Roman emperors did not stage circuses and gladiator contests because they didn't have television. We have television because we don't have circuses and gladiator events. Either way, the purpose is to keep the people's minds focused on entertainment, sports, and peripheral political issues. This way you won't have to worry that they will ever figure out the real issues that allow you to control them.

Just as a truly educated person is difficult to control, so too is an economically independent person. Therefore, you want to create conditions that will produce people who work for wages, since wage earners have little control over their economic destiny. You'll also want to control the monetary, credit, and banking systems. This will allow you to inflate the currency and make it next to impossible for wage earners to accumulate capital. You can also cause periodic deflation to collapse the family businesses, family farms, and entrepreneurs, including independent community banks.

To keep trade unions under control, you just promote a scheme that allows you to shift production jobs out of the country and bring back the products as imports (it is called free trade). This way you will end up with no unions or docile unions.

Another technique is to buy both political parties so that after a while people will feel that no matter whether they vote for Candidate A or Candidate B, they will get the same policies. This will create great apathy and a belief that the political process is useless for effecting real change.

Pretty soon you will have a population that feels completely helpless, and thinks the bad things happening to them are nobody in particular's fault, just a result of global forces or evolution or some other disembodied abstract concept. If necessary, you can offer scapegoats.

Then you can bleed them dry without having to worry overly much that one of them will sneak into your house one night and cut your throat. If you do it right, they won't even know whose throat they are cutting.

Thanks to Hamadi Dia for forwarding this valuable reading!

Mendidik Manusia atau Anjing?

2007-08-04T05:46:00.000-07:00

By: Ratna Megawangi - Pemerhati masalah sosial pendidikan

Perjalanan anak-anak kami masih panjang, sehingga kami belum tahu apakah mereka berhasil nantinya. Namun paling tidak, kami telah berusaha untuk mempersiapkan mereka untuk menjadi manusia yang
berpikir kritis dan mandiri, tidak mudah percaya dan diprovokasi, bisa mencari informasi dan mengolahnya sendiri, sehingga nantinya bisa mencari solusi terhadap berbagai masalah dalam hidupnya, serta mudah beradaptasi dengan lingkungan yang cepat berubah.

Tentunya juga dengan membekali mereka tentang prinsip-prinsip nilai dan etika. Terus terang, kami memang "melarang" anak-anak kami untuk mendapatkan ranking, karena sistem ini akan membuat seseorang terperangkap untuk mempertahankannya, sehingga merekahanya mampu berpikir dangkal, pragmatis, dan tidak kritis, akibat terbiasa menghafal dan mengerjakan soal yang jawabannya sudah baku sesuai dengan rumus.

Menurut Albert Einstein, dengan hanya mengajarkan anak menghafal mata pelajaran, tidak ada bedanya dengan melatih seekor anjing.
Menurut Einstein, "With his specialized knowledge-more closely resembles a well-trained dog than a harmoniously developed person."
Ternyata benar, dengan cara mengulang berkali-kali, anak kami sudah dapat melatih anjingnya yang berusia 4 bulan untuk duduk, loncat, dan salaman). Bukan berarti metode menghafal dan drilling tidak perlu(kognitif), tetapi dimensi lainnya juga harus dikembangkan (sosial, emosi, motorik, spiritual, dan kreativitas), sehingga seluruh dimensi manusia dapat berkembang secara seimbang(harmonis).

Namun, semua metode pelajaran di sekolah hanya diarahkan agar anak-anak dapat menjawab ujian, yang bentuknya memang hafalan, sehingga potensi-potensi lainnya tidak berkembang secara harmonis.

Albert Einstein sudah memberikan warning akan bahayanya sistem pendidikan yang terlalu menjejalkan anak dengan banyak mata pelajaran, yang menurutnya dapat membuat anak berpikir dangkal, bukan seorang yang independent critical thinker (New York
Times,October 5, 1952).

Menurutnya, "It is also vital to a valuable education that independent critical thinking be developed in the young human being, a development that is greatly jeopardized by overburdening him with too much and with too varied subject (point system). Overburdening necessarily leads to superficiality. Teaching should
be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty."

Kalau kita melatih seseorang untuk mempunyai fisik kuat, baik dengan olahraga atau berjalan kaki, maka dengan kekuatan fisiknya ia akan fit bekerja di mana saja yang memerlukan kekuatan fisik. Begitu pula, apabila kita mempersiapkan seorang anak untuk dapat
berpikir kritis, selalu ingin tahu, dan mampu mengolah informasi, maka ia akan berhasil dalam pekerjaan apa saja yang memerlukan orang berpikir.

Apalagi di masa depan apabila semakin banyak orang yang mempunyai akses terhadap internet (lima tahun yang lalu mungkin kita tidak
membayangkan kalau hand phone bisa dipakai secara massal sampai ke desa-desa. Hal yang sama sangat mungkin terjadi dengan internet, seperti yang sudah terjadi di Korea).

Artinya, tanpa menghafal pun, segala informasi dengan mudah dapat diakses. Mungkin ilmu yang didapat di sekolah banyak yang tidak terpakai dalam kehidupan anak kita nanti. Apalagi jaman akan terus berubah dengan cepat, sehingga apa yang dipelajari sekarang ini,
mungkin saja tidak terpakai dalam kehidupannya di masa depan nanti. Padahal sudah dipelajari dan dihafalkan mati-matian, sampai banyak yang stres dan mengalami masalah kejiwaan.

Menurut Peter Senge, sekolah-sekolah yang mendidik siswanya untuk patuh begitu saja kepada pihak otoritas dan mengikuti peraturan tanpa mempertanyakannya - tidak bersikap kritis - akan gagal menyiapkan para siswanya untuk menghadapi dunia tempat tinggal mereka yang kerap berubah.

Jadi, kalau kita mau menyiapkan anak-anak kita untuk cakap hidup di zamannya kelak, jangan biarkan mereka terperangkap dengan cara yang hanya bisa berpikir sesuai dengan yang telah diprogram (hafalan dan drilling), yaitu tidak kreatif, tidak kritis,tidak berani mengambil risiko, tidak proaktif, dan apatis.

Kasihan mereka, karena mereka harus hidup di masa depan yang begitu cepat berubah, sangat kompleks, serta penuh tantangan dan beban.
Seperti kata Einstein, mereka adalah manusia, bukan well-trained dog. *

a forwarded email by friend.

Youth Criminality, Are We the Looser?

2007-07-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

If you follow the news at the local newspaper in the last couple weeks, you will find out that several youths, less than 25 years, became the actors of sexual crime and they brutally victimized other youth fellows. Blaming the technology and globalization, these young fellows forced one young dating couple to perform “porn” actions and by using a high-tech cell-phone feature, they recorded it. Not long after that incident, two other groups of youths raped a young 14 and 16 years old girls ( http://www.serambinews.com/index.php?aksi=bacaberita&rubrik=1&topik=2&beritaid=31238 and http://www.serambinews.com/index.php?aksi=bacaberita&rubrik=1&topik=2&beritaid=31113 ). They were suspected practicing what they saw in porn movies. Today, the local newspaper publishes a reconstruction picture of how a young 20 year old female, throw away her own baby into the river behind her home ( http://www.serambinews.com/index.php?aksi=bacaberitaphoto&berphotoid=726&rubrik=8 )

How could these kinds of incident happen? Why did the young members of our community do such those crimes? Would you agree, if these incidents happened because of the failure of our community control system? Well, if so, then what has gone wrong with us? It is time for self-introspection, again!

Maybe, as a member of community, we do not do a good job in taking care each other anymore. We do not have time to remind and to educate each other anymore. Maybe, even worst, we start to see our neighbors as the "competitors" where instead of motivating or inspiring or offering solution for their problem, we put them down. We blame them for making mistakes and we set them aside because their attitudes do not please us. And we become more and more exclusive society by assuming that we are the best, the most truthful one and we come to conclusion that each of us should take care ourselves.

Maybe those speculations above are totally wrong, but have we ever asked ourselves, what have we done to our community that brings harmony? Have we tried hard enough? If we believe that one’s stupid actions can bring harm to the entire society, then why don’t we pay enough attention not only for our family members but also each member of our community?

Hopefully, we are not “the looser” type of persons who always has the tendency to “wash their hands” by solely blaming the perpetrators (and their family?), or the government, the technology, globalization, and even the victims, or whatever kinds of black-sheep that may exist when one incident happens in our society. Because the looser will do nothing but makes things worst. May us be blessed always.

Finding the “root” at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

2007-07-06T11:55:00.001-07:00

Washington DC (6/7/07), As I joined the crowded at the Mekong site of the Smithsonian Folklife Festivals, I felt like I was in Indonesia. This Mekong spot represents five countries, which are Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and China bringing the theme “Mekong River: Connecting Cultures”.

Here, I did not only see so many faces that similar to Indonesian but also their craft, food, music and performances. Particularly, they reminded me of my mom’s “Songket fabrics”, “Gado-gado”, “Patung candi”, “Wayang golek”, “Batak Dance”, and the “Dragon” (the dance performed by more than one person wearing a big dragon mask). I remember that one time ago, my teacher said that our ancestor came from Cham ethnic, who mostly live in Cambodia (?). I feel like this sightseeing is validating the history that I learned in the elementary school.

Although, I did not visit the entire spots of this Mekong, I will not recommend to travel this far to Smithsonian Folklife Festivals to see what this Mekong has to exhibit, unless you are in USA, or particularly if you are living in Washington DC area.

Their exhibitions are available right next to our door, the neighboring provinces of Indonesia. By visiting our neighbors, it means that we do not only maintain and strengthen the relationships with “neighbors”, and value their culture, but also improve their economic life or Indonesia in general through tourism.

Find more about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival:
http://www.folklife.si.edu/center/festival.html
http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2007/Mekong/index.html
Picture: http://www.folklife.si.edu/resources/2007Festival/Mekong_Home.jpg

Shared by: Julia Novrita (AYC Team)

The Mouse Trap

2007-06-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:
There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital , and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main Ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

REMEMBER,,,,
EACH OF US IS A VITAL T HR EAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;
OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.

One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a Friend.

Source: forwarded by a friend

Announcement of 2007 Goldman Sachs Foundation Prizes for Excellence in International Education

2007-04-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

The Goldman Sachs Foundation and Asia Society are pleased to announce the competition for the 2007 Goldman Sachs Foundation Youth Prize for Excellence in International Education. Up to five winners will receive a scholarship prize of up to $10,000 each and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to receive the award as part of Asia Society’s Gala Annual Dinner on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.

For additional information, please visit: http://askasia.org/students/gsfprizes.html#guidelines
DEADLINE: Monday, June 11, 2007 by midnight your local time

To be eligible to win, you must:

Be enrolled in a high school or equivalent in the United States, be an exchange student at a high school in the United States, or be a United States citizen enrolled at an American international school as of the end of the 2006-2007 school year.

Contest Question
Select a problem or challenge that affects both your local community as well as a community in another country.
Create an in-depth written, audio, video, or animated feature that compares and contrasts how these two communities have addressed the issue.

Explain why these approaches reflect the different cultural backgrounds of those involved, and what lessons the different communities could learn from each other.

We hope you enjoy this opportunity!

Best,

The Sponsored Programs Team

Kaitlyn Wood
Sponsored Programs Program Associate
AFS-USA, Inc.
One Whitehall Street 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10004

P: (212) 479.1165 | P: (800) 876-2376 ext. 1165 | F: (212) 299.9096 | E: kwood@afs.org

Source: AYC Team

2007 Goldman Sachs Foundation Prizes for Excellence in International Education

2007-04-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Announcement of 2007 International Essay Contest for Young People

2007-04-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

Young people from around the world are invited to enter the 2007 International Essay Contest.
We are pleased to announce that starting this year, this annual contest is a joint UNESCO-Goi Peace Foundation program.

The theme for this year's contest is "The role of media and information and communication technologies in building a peaceful world." The deadline for entry is June 30, 2007. First prize winners will receive a cash award and a trip to Japan.

Please see the complete guidelines below. The same information can be found on the Goi Peace Foundation website:
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0702_00.htm and on the UNESCO Youth website: http://www.unesco.org/youth

To read winning essays from last year's contest, go to http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/programs-17-00.htm

Please spread the information about the essay contest to young people in your network.

May Peace Prevail on Earth!

The Goi Peace Foundation

Source: AYC Team

Announcement of 2007 International Essay Contest for Young People

2007-04-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

Dear AYC Readers

Young people from around the world are invited to enter the 2007
International Essay Contest. We are pleased to announce that starting this
year, this annual contest is a joint UNESCO-Goi Peace Foundation program.

The theme for this year's contest is "The role of media and information
and communication technologies in building a peaceful world." The
deadline for entry is June 30, 2007. First prize winners will receive a cash
award and a trip to Japan.

Please see the complete guidelines below. The same information can be
found on the Goi Peace Foundation website:
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0702_00.htm and
on the UNESCO Youth website: http://www.unesco.org/youth

To read winning essays from last year's contest, go to
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/programs-17-00.htm

Please spread the information about the essay contest to young people
in your network.

May Peace Prevail on Earth!

The Goi Peace Foundation

Source: AYC Team

Inter-Civilizational Youth Engagement June 17 - 24, 2007

2007-03-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

The Interreligious Engagement Project (IEP21) is pleased to endorse and to participate in this exciting project: an international youth camp, to be held June 17-24 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The purpose of the gathering is to promote civilizational coexistence.

Objectives:
a) To initiate and foster closer relationship and rapport among youths of various world civilizations.
b) To develop a deeper understanding of global challenges and how to cope with them.
c) To identify and examine values which can contribute to peaceful co-existence of various peoples on the globe.
d) To experience and share the essence and spirit of the Malaysian pluralistic co-existence - the muhibah.
e) To create a core group of concerned individuals in order to promote civilizational coexistence in the future.

Date: June 17 - 24, 2007

Venue: International Youth Center, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

Participants:
About 150 youth between 20 and 25 years of age (both men and women) comprising from Malaysia (20), Asean countries (20), North East Asia (10), South Asia (10), Australasia (5), Latin America (10), Middle East (10), Sub-Saharan Africa (10), Central Asia (5), Europe (20), and North America (20).

Language of Communication: English.

Co-Organizers:
International Engagement Project 21 (IEP21), World Council of Muslim on Inter-Faith Relations (WCMIR), International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Muslim Youth Organization of Malaysia (ABIM) and International Youth Organization of Malaysia (IYC).

Sponsors:
Potential sponsoring organizations: Ministry of Youth, Malaysia; Tourism Ministry, Malaysia; Center for Civilizational Dialogue, Iran; Civilizational Center, Bahrain; etc. and other could be approached.

Participation is free. However non-Malaysian participants are expected to be responsible for their air-travel expenses to Kuala Lumpur.

For details click: http://iep21.org/forum/2006/12/21/a-key-global-initiative-inter-civilizational-youth-engagement/#more-39

News from: AI milist

Environment: Letter Written in the Year 2070

2007-03-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

This is the year 2070 I have just turned 50, but I my appearance is of somebody of 85. I suffer from serious kidney problems, because I do not drink enough water. I'm afraid I do not have much time left to live. I am one of the oldest people in this society.

I remember when I was a child of 5. Everything was very different then. There were lots of trees in the parks, houses with beautiful gardens, and I could enjoy having a shower for half an hour. Nowadays we use towels with mineral oil to clean our skin.

Before, women had beautiful hair. Now, we have to shave our heads to keep them clean without the use of water. Then, my father washed his car with water coming out of a hosepipe. Now, my son does not believe that water could be wasted that way.

I remember there were SAVE WATER warnings on outside posters, radio and TV, but nobody paid attention. We thought that water was to last forever. Now, all the rivers, lakes, dams and underground water beds are either dry or contaminated.

Industry came virtually to a standstill and unemployment reached dramatic proportions. Desalination plants are the main source of employment and workers receive part of their salary in drinkable water.

Assaults at gun point on the streets for a jerrycan of water are very common. Food is 80% synthetic.

Before, the recommended quantity of water to drink for an adult was 8 glasses a day. Nowadays, I am only allowed half a glass. We now have to wear disposable clothing, and this increases the amount of litter. We are using now septic tanks, because the sewerage system does not work for lack of water.

The outside appearance of the population is horrible: wrinkled, emaciated bodies, due to dehydration, full of sores caused by ultra violet radiation, now stronger without the protective shield of the ozone layer. Skin cancer, gastrointestinal infections and of the urinary tracts are the main causes of death.

Due to the excessive drying of the skin young people of 20 look like 40. Scientists investigate, but there's no solution to the problem. Water cannot be produced, oxygen is also degraded due to the lack of trees and vegetation, and the intellectual capacity of the new generations is severely impaired.

The morphology of spermatozoa in many men has changed. As a consequence, babies are born with deficiencies, mutations and physical deformities.

Government makes us pay for the air we breathe, 137 m3 per day per adult person. People who cannot pay are expelled from the "ventilated zones", with huge mechanical lungs driven by solar power. The air is not of good quality, but at least people can breathe. The average life expectancy is 35 years.

In some countries, where there are still some green zones crossed by rivers, these are guarded by heavy armed soldiers. Water became a very coveted treasure, more precious than gold and diamonds.

Where I live, there are no trees, because it seldom rains. When it happens to register some precipitation, it is of acid rain. The seasons have been severely affected by the atomic tests and by contamination from the 20th century polluting industries. We were warned to look after the environment, but nobody cared.

When my son asks me to talk about my youth, I tell him about the green fields, the beauty of the flowers, the rain, how pleasant was to swim and fish in the rivers and dams, to drink all the water we could, and how healthy people was.

He asks: Daddy! Why there is no water? Then, I feel a lump in my throat!

I cannot help feeling guilty, because I belong to the generation who contributed to the destruction of the environment or simply did not take into account all the warning signs.

Now our children pay a very high price!

I sincerely believe that within a short time life on earth will not be possible, as the destruction of nature reached now an irreversible stage.

How I would like to go back and make mankind understand… ...that we still had time to save our Planet Earth.

Article published in the magazine "Crónicas de los Tiempos“, in April 2002.

Source: http://www.slideshare.net/targetseo/happening-in-the-year-2070/

Announcement: International Children Art Competition - Kompetisi Seni Anak-anak Internasional

2007-03-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

“Penghargaan UNICEF untuk Penulis Muda Indonesia” 2007
(UNICEF Awards for Indonesian Young Writers)

Tema Lomba:

“Laki-laki dan perempuan, sederajatkah ?”

Tuliskan pendapatmu tentang kedudukan laki-laki dan perempuan.
Peserta lomba bebas mengangkat judul dan sudut pandang yang diinginkan.

Persyaratan:
1. Bentuk : Artikel.
2. Peserta: Berusia 12 – 18 tahun atau masih sekolah (SMP/SMA/sederajat).

1. Panjang tulisan : Minimal 4 halaman dan maksimal 7 halaman kertas A4, huruf Arial 12pt, dan spasi 1,5.
2. Sertakan data diri: nama dan keterangan sekolah/kelas (disertai bukti diri: kartu pelajar/KTP) dan tuliskan alamat yang bisa dihubungi sejelas-jelasnya (alamat/telepon sekolah + kode pos, alamat/telepon rumah + kode pos).

3. Artikel dikirim ke: Yayasan Kesejahteraan Anak Indonesia (YKAI)
Jl. Teuku Umar 10 Jakarta 10350,
Telp. (021) 3902600; 3905747 dan 3905150
HP. 0818660654 (Susan);(021) 93810517 (Aya)
Fax. (021) 3106977, 31927316.
E-mail: ykai@indosat.net.id

Artikel harus sudah diterima panitia paling lambat tanggal 29 Maret 2007.
4. Juri terdiri 5 orang, yang berasal dari harian Kompas, Majalah Cakram, UNESCO, UNICEF, dan YKAI.
5. Pemenang akan dihubungi oleh panitia.
6. Dua orang akan menerima “UNICEF AWARDS FOR INDONESIAN YOUNG WRITERS”.
7. Penyerahan hadiah direncanakan pada tanggal 3 Mei 2007.
8. 20 naskah terbaik akan dibukukan.
9. Ketentuan juri tidak dapat diganggu gugat.

Kontak:
Yayasan Kesejahteraan Anak Indonesia
Jl. Teuku Umar 10 Jakarta 10350
Telp. (021) 3902600; 3905747; 3905150
(021) 93810517 (Aya)
08129464364 (Yuyun)
0818660654 (Susan)
Fax. (021) 3106977, 31927316
e-mail: ykai@indosat.net.id

Source: milist IACSF

Lessons Learned: Plan Your Future

2007-03-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

Winners never quit, Quitters never win" (Anonim)

Penemuan terbesar dalam generasi saya adalah bahwa kita dapat merubah hidup kita dengan merubah pola pikir kita" (William James)

Hidup Sukses Tanpa Menyerah
Sukses Itu Pilihan! Menyerah adalah Kegagalan

Apa yang terbesit dibenak ketika dua kosakata sukses dan gagal muncul bersamaan dibenak? Hmmm....pastilah gagal menjadi musuh besar setiap orang. Sebaliknya, sukses menjadi impian seluruh umat manusia. Loh emang ada orang yang gak pengen sukses? He...pasti dia bukanlah makhluk di bumi ini.

Acapkali kita merasa bahwa sukses bukanlah milik kita. Hati-hati loh dengan prasangka diri sendiri sebab sering kali pikiran seperti itu yang membuat kita terhambat untuk maju. Si Om Galileo bahkan pernah mengatakan "Hati-hati dengan pikiran Anda".

Jangan sesekali kamu mengeluarkan kata “Ah, mana mungkin saya dapat melakukan itu” atau “Gak deh, itu pasti bukan punya saya.” Atau “Mimpi kali ye saya bisa seperti itu” atau ...... jangan malah ucapanmu itu yang menghambat dirimu untuk mencapai apa yang kamu inginkan. Iiiih ... seramkan.

Ternyata selama ini kamu mencari alasan-alasan atas ketidakmampuan kamu melakukan sesuatu dan alasan itu datang dari diri kamu sendiri. Yang penting jangan takut untuk mencoba sesuatu, selama itu tidak membahayakan dirimu.

Pernah baca buku karangan Paulo Coelho, Sang Alkemis-novel spiritual tentang realitas impian anda: “Jika kamu ingin melakukan sesuatu dan bersungguh-sungguh untuk mencapainya, maka alam akan membantumu untuk mendapatkan apa yang kamu inginkan.”

Do you find this article helpful? For more click: http://duniaintan.multiply.com/journal/item/45

Source: Cut Intan Meutia (AYC Team)

Souvenir: Kopiah Teuku Umar!

2007-02-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

Dear AYC Readers

I would like to share my great presentation for Girl Scouts and kids as one of my activities during my stay in US as an exchange student. I hope you will find this story meaningful.
I started my presentation by showing them the map of Indonesia. I explained to them that Indonesia has so many ethnic groups where each group has their own culture and language. My audiences were so surprised when I mentioned that Indonesia has more than 700 languages. I also told them about the giant ‘Raflesia’ flower and Komodo that we can find in Indonesia and some information about Tsunami that struck Aceh in December 2004.

During my presentation, I put on my Aceh traditional costume with “Kopiah Teuku Umar”, a special hat for this costume. Everybody said, “Wow, it is a beautiful hat”. Then someone mentioned, “It is like a king dress!” Soon after that, one kid asked me, “Does that hat have a meaning?” I thought it was a good question. Then, I explained to them about the costume and the hat, which expressing the glory of Aceh in the past. In the past Aceh was a rich and glorious kingdom.
One more thing, I also played Rapa`i, that made everybody very excited, especially when I said it is made from skin of animal.

Hopefully, Aceh would move forward in the future like the glory years of Kopiah Teuku Umar.

Source: Muhammad Fathun
AYC team

Aceh: Waiting for "Umar" ... Mengapa Umar Ibu?

2007-02-14T06:10:00.000-08:00

Tidurlah, Nak?
Siang sudah menutup pintunya

Sang Ibu bergegas merapikan tempat tidur
Sebuah dipan kayu
Dengan derit yang setia
Saat badan menjatuhkan diri

Sampai detik ini,
Tak juga Alga Ia miliki
Karena hidup ini tak mengizinkan dia
Meski untuk menyentuh lembutnya sang Alga

Apa yang kau baca, Nak?

Idealisme,
Juga logistik, Bu

Ia tak mendengar
Jawaban sang Anak,

Baginya menutup mata adalah kelegaan
Berharap malam memberitakannya
Tentang kabar gembira begitu Ia melihat matahari

Bu,
Masihkah ada sisa sarapan hari ini?
Perempuan itu hanya mengikatkan rapat kain pinggangnya

Kasihan kamu, nak.
Beras putih hanya cukup untuk makan siang,
Berdoalah agar Umar menjunjungkan sekarat roti untuk mu
Agar ibu tak membuang waktu merebus batu demi menyenangkan hatimu

Mengapa Umar Ibu?
Sebab yang lain berkata
Menyuruh kita bersabar atas lapar
Saat mereka dalam kenyang

Sebab yang lain berkhutbah tentang kita
Agar
Jangan bersedih
Saat mereka bahagia

Brattlleboro, February 2, 2007
By: Cut Intan meutia (AYC Member)
Source: http://duniaintan.multiply.com/journal/item/39

Acehnese Students: Bravo KAMADA!!!

2007-02-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

Reading local newspaper “Serambi Indonesia” dated January 30, 2007, (http://www.serambinews.com/index.php?aksi=bacaberita&beritaid=24589&rubrik=1&topik=12) give us fresh air about the power dynamic in Aceh. The news was about the march of Student Coalition (KAMADA) to protest government regulation (PP 37 year 2006) on communication incentive for legislatives. With their poor performance as citizen’s representatives, what makes them deserve for this incentive?

This Student Coalition, with their “mass” power has played their significant role to change this policy, at least locally. And it has been always the case where students, with their idealism, turn out to be the hero of the marginal groups, who hold the highest population in society.

The critical question here is “If this Student Coalition or society in general, do not do anything to voice their concerns, will the legislatives enforce this policy, which obviously benefits them?” Of course, they will!!! Because some of them, if not all, have already taken the incentive and now they are forced to return it back to Government Petty Cash.

We see an interesting pattern here. The legislatives enforce the policies as fast as possible if it benefits them. How about other policies, which benefit to society, in general? We know the answer unless we are too blind to see other’s suffering, which is too close to us to ignore.

Learning from this case, the power of powerless groups lies in number (mass), when all of us come together, hand in hand to make this world, a better place.

Congratulation for Acehnese Students, Bravo KAMADA for your great work, not only to influence the policy but also to change it. Keep your eyes open on injustice actions, maintain your positive attitude and do not let anybody give a price for your idealism. Your young spirit gives hope for a better Aceh.

Picture: http://jeremierita.canalblog.com/albums/aceh__2005/m-Aceh_1.jpg

Souvenir: Can You Dance Saman? I can’t ☹

2007-01-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

I am in US right now for youth exchange program. I want to share a story that makes me want to learn more about our culture, especially Saman Dance. I hope my story could inspire others to learn, to appreciate, and to maintain our culture.

Last night, I talked to a friend who is also an exchange student from Indonesia. He stays in Wisconsin during this program. He told me that they held a very successful Indonesian Festival. I wish I was there and be part of it. He shared about an impressive performance of Saman Dance during the festival. I also heard there is another exchange student who stays in different state teaching how to dance Saman for the Variety Show. As an Acehnese, I am ashamed that I cannot perform Saman Dance and also any other dances from our culture, while my friends from other provinces of Indonesia can dance it.

In my view, Acehnese culture and Saman Dance in particular, is very famous all over Indonesia, even in the world. The bad news is many of Acehnese people themselves cannot dance it. During my stay in Aceh, I have never found any schools taught Saman Dance. When I moved to Jakarta, I have met many friends who could dance it and they represented their school to perform Saman Dance in Turkey. I promise myself that I will learn to dance Saman later.

Here in US, I bring Acehnese traditional clothes and Rapa’i. It is just to prepare in case there is a presentation about Indonesia. All I can share is the story of Aceh in general, particularly the topic of Tsunami. Hopefully, Aceh will move forward positively in the hand of Acehnese generation, Amin.

Source: Muhammad Fadhun
(AYC Team member)
Picture: http://www.asnlf.net/asnlf_int/acheh/art_culture/acehtari.jpg

4 Our Readers: YOU ARE .....

2007-01-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

You are strong...
when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave...
when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy...
when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.

You are loving...
when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise...
when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true...
when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive...
when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.

You are growing...
when you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free...
when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are honorable...
when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous...
when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble...
when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful...
when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.

You are merciful...
when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful...
when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich...
when you never need more than what you have.

You are YOU ...
when you are at peace with who you are not.

Author Unknown

Source: Sent by a great friend, Jan 16,07
Picture: http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/misc/lessons/GP-roses.jpg

Food4Thought: THE ISLAND

2007-01-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

"Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings
lived; happiness, sadness, vanity knowledge, and all the others,
including love.

One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island
was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean.
So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave.

Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve
the island paradise until the last possible moment.

When the island was almost totally under, Love decided it was
time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help.
Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked,
"Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?"
Richness answered, " I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and
gold on my boat and there would be no room for you anywhere."

Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a
beautiful vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please."
"I can't help you", Vanity said, "You are all wet and will
damage my beautiful boat."

Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please
let me go with you." Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I
just need to be alone now."

Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, " Happiness, please
take me with you." But Happiness was so overjoyed that he
didn't hear Love calling to him.

Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, "Come Love,
I will take you with me." It was an elder.

Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the
elder his name.

When they arrived on land the elder went on his way.
Love realized how much she owed the elder.

Love then found Knowledge and asked,
"Who was it that helped me?"

"It was Time", Knowledge answered.

"But why did Time help me when no one else would?", Love asked.

Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered,
"Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."

Source: Wise friend Jan 15,2007
Picture: http://www.nevosoft.com/screenshots/love-screensaver_4.jpg

H. J. Heinz Company Foundation Fellowship Program 2007 – 2008

2007-01-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Heinz Fellowship was established in 1982 by an endowment from the H. J. Heinz Company Foundation to the University of Pittsburgh's University Center for International Studies. The Fellowship is managed by the Global Studies Program at the University Center for International Studies, and is offered annually providing one year of practical, professional, and non-degree educational experiences through the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, USA.

Heinz Fellowships are granted to individuals from developing countries who demonstrate potential as future leaders in the public, government, non-profit, or private sectors. The goal is to improve, early in a career, the Fellows' capacity to contribute to the development of their country and to enhance their understanding of the United States. This is accomplished through a year of sitting in on selected courses and participating in practical professional activities while based in Pittsburgh. Courses participation as part of the Heinz Fellowship does not earn credit towards an academic degree. This is not a degree granting program.

"The priority countries-of-origin for the 2007-08 fellowship are China, India and Indonesia" said Veronica Dristas, Heinz Fellowship Coordinator.

For detail about eligibility, application and more, click : http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/heinzfellowship/about.html

Deadline: March 15, 2007, Good Luck!

Sources: Forwarded by one of AYC team

Aceh: Flood welcomes 2007

2006-12-29T10:01:00.001-08:00

Triple Bottom Line 4 Sustainable Earth

After the giant Tsunami hit Aceh last December 2004, now we have flood attack at least in six districts. Although, the destruction is not as huge as tsunami, it had successfully swept away people, old and young, man and woman and also animal particularly cattle such as cows, goats and poultry. It destroyed houses and public facilities include schools and roads and bridges. Thousands inhabitants were displaced trying to survive without sufficient food.

It is believed that this flood is the result of mismanaged the environment. Illegal logging has been the main environmental issue during the armed conflict era until today with the massive development for rehabilitation and reconstruction Aceh after tsunami. However, it has never been taken seriously by the policy makers. Now, the heavy rain that caused landslide welcomes 2007! We lost again and it is pretty much because of our greediness or silence to stop exploitation toward our environment particularly forest.

How many times have we made decision (personally or organizationally) based on financial consideration only? And how much we aware that each single decision we make will always eventually give impact on social and environmental either in local or global level? Another important question, in this “flood” case, how hard have we tried to stop violence actions against our forest? Or maybe we (ourselves, family or relatives or community?) are one of the actors who contribute to the destruction of our forest with thousands excuses in order to increase our pocket money. We must aware that for each single material we gain, it will cost for social and environment and realize money could not buy everything, not happiness nor life of people we love.

It is the time to restart our lifestyle with triple bottom line concept where social and environment also hold the same portion and as important as financial consideration in the process of decision making. However, applying this triple bottom line concept personally will not enough to create sustainability. It must be promoted and be mainstreamed in community and to wider level, be integrated in public policies. It is our work again to model and to educate others about this concept for our future sake.

Now, the victims who happen to be our friends, family or relatives, cry out for our help. Those who are aware or know on how we mismanaged natural resources in Aceh will not wonder why this calamity happen and cost lots of life and properties destruction. Hopefully, this experience could be the best learning for all of us and to start mainstreaming triple bottom line concept into our personal and public life.

We would like to involve you in our fundraising action, please let us know how you could help by contacting:

Cut Intan Meutia
36 Chapin st apt# 3
Brattleboro, VT 05301
USA
Email: cut_tantia2003@yahoo.com
http://duniaintan.multiply.com/journal/item/36

If you wish to donate, you may also send your cheque to the address above. Your willingness to support us will be highly appreciated by the victims.

Pictures taken from local news paper "Serambi Indonesia"

Food4Thought: Live a Life That Matters

2006-12-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days; All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else; Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed, Your grudges, resentments, frustration and jealousies will finally disappear; So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do list will expire
The win and losses that once seemed so important will fade away

It won’t matter where you came from or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built; Not what you got but what you gave
What will matter is not your success but your significance
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught
What will matter is every fact of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example

What will matter is not your competence but your character
What will matter is not how many people you knew but how many will feel a lasting loss when you are gone
What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident
It is not a matter of circumstances but of choice
Choose to live a life that matters!

Forwarded by a very good friend, Oct 2004

Aceh New Leadership, Time 2B Your Own Leader!

2006-12-15T09:17:00.000-08:00

Although there is not any official announcement yet, the shadow of new leadership in Aceh is obvious. From the quick count to the analysis of Acehnese experts, we are being informed about our future leaders including their vision and mission. Regardless any disappointment because of inappropriate political practices of candidates to win, we should be grateful for non-chaotic process during the election.
Now, it is our time to educate ourselves and our society (again) that the leaders themselves could not bring Aceh into a better environment without our constructive ideas and actions.
We could not blame them for not listening to some of us because they are just like us, who only have two limited ears!
What could we do to get their attention particularly to unheard voices and to make ‘fresh’ policies that benefit to all different layers in our society, man and woman, young and adult, educated and uneducated? The most effective one is to get organized and make plan strategically! Keep your eyes on the policy makers and their actions and warn them when derailed.

Do your best (individually or organizationally) and never be afraid of any intimidation because the purpose of our existence on earth is to promote justice in this unjust world. If we could not fight for our own rights, we will never be able to fight for others, the most vulnerable in our society who happen to be our family, relatives, neighbors or friends. Then, we will turn to be the looser who spend our time complaining and passively expecting miracles to come and change our destiny. Wake up, there is no positive changes will happen unless we make that change right now. Start it from ourselves and be our own leader by example!

Rock Solid Leadership!

2006-12-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

How Great Leaders Exceed Expectation

It happens all the time, Ordinary people with extraordinary determination, Go on to become great leaders.

That is because leadership is not something
You are born with and It can’t be awarded or appointed, It must be earned!
Leadership is not about the ability, It is about taking responsibility, Exceeding the expectations and Taking charge

Rock Solid Leadership is a mindset that can be cultivated.
Before we can lead others, We must first learn to lead ourselves
Before we can exceed the expectation of others, We must first raise the expectation of ourselves. We must be willing to choose the path of character over the path of compromise.
We must lead for the benefit of others and Not for the enrichment of ourselves.

What does it take to develop ROCK SOLID LEADERSHIP?
Long term vision, Excellent, Advance planning, Discipline, Enthusiasm, Responsibility, Sacrifice, Humility, Influence, Perseverance

Turn on your speaker: http://www.rock-solidmovie.com/ to liven up your Rock Solid Leadership
Taken from one of Inspirational Movies: http://www.simpletruths.com/movies.htm

Oxfam International Youth Partnerships 2007 - 2010

2006-11-30T19:29:00.000-08:00

What is OIYP?
Oxfam International Youth Partnerships is a global network of young people working with their communities to create positive, equitable and sustainable change. If you are working with your community to create a positive future then you can apply to be a part of the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships.

How does it work?
Between 2007 and 2010 you will have opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding and to talk and share with other young people. You will be able to use these opportunities to support your work with your community. Your participation in OIYP will start in April 2007. If selected, you must be available to attend an event in October 2007 in Sydney, Australia.

Who are we looking for?

Are you a young person who cares about what is happening in your community?

Are you committed to working with others to overcome social, political and economic injustice?

Do you want to learn from other young people working with their communities all around the world?

If you answered YES to these questions we want to hear from you.
OIYP is open to all nationalities, Indigenous and ethnic groups. It is open to young people with any level of education and who live in rural or urban areas. We aim to recruit equal numbers of young men and women. We have a strong focus on the participation of Indigenous young people and those marginalised in their communities.
To apply you must be:

aged between 18 and 25 as at 1 October, 2007

speak English or Spanish
For detail and application form: http://www.iyp.oxfam.org/

Applications close on 31 January 2007.

News forwarded by milist member "pendidikan aceh"

Pilkada Aceh: How about its Trash???

2006-11-29T19:07:00.000-08:00

Halloooo.......
Pilkada Trash is everywhere!!!

What happen with us and our ‘soon to be’ leaders? do we come from ignorant society? Or we are trying to break the world record by creating the biggest "trash box" on earth?

Or maybe it is the time to mobilize the children to clean the city and to teach adults how to behave with the trash!

Do you have any idea on how to be good model for our children or little brothers/sisters in managing the trash? Please inspire us with your ideas or actions!

Thanks to Dedex for posting comment about this ‘trash’.

Aceh Holds First Child Congress, Now What...

2006-11-23T05:39:00.000-08:00

More than 80 children were meeting to discuss their problems and find new ways of making children's voices heard. This is the first time children in Aceh have elected their own representatives and decided on the issues to be raised.
They discussed topics including drug abuse, education and the lack of support following the Asian tsunami in 2004. They talked about the lack of recreation areas in the rebuilding of their communities, for example, or the need for more support for children suffering from trauma.
After three days of discussion, they are presenting their findings to representatives from Aceh's existing adult parliament.
The congress is being backed by government agencies, the UN and children's charities working in Aceh. The aim eventually is to unite these into a central children's forum which can put concerns to the government directly. At the moment several agencies run children's committees in different districts.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6172372.stm
News forwarded by: Milist Member "Pendidikan Aceh"

Now What....

Presenting their findings to Aceh's parliament, is just a start. It is the time for each of us to give "pressure" to our representatives, to take our children's voice seriously. Be an active witness for its progress, do they change the policy? does government follow it up with an effective implementation? how is the result?
Another moment comes again to play our role for positive social changes.
Inspire us and others with your actions!

How to Nurture our Future Leaders?

2006-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

This picture was one of Aceh Tsunami Photographs 26 Dec 2004. (www.iabc.or.id/41226aceh.html)

Their big smiles bring hope for Aceh. It has been more than a year tsunami passed. Are not we wondering if they still keep that smile alive? Or we have grabbed it from their face because of our ignorant or hopeless?

A leader will not be a great leader if they do not have the proper nurturing and/or incentive.

What could we do to nurture our future leader, so we can stop complaining for producing "unreliable leaders" particularly, when election comes?

Share your brightest ideas or your current actions to inspire others...

International Guest Program at the International Center for Tolerance Education

2006-11-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

Dear colleagues and friends,

I am happy to announce that the application for the 2007/08 International Guest Program at the International Center for Tolerance Education (ICTE) is now available.
The Program offers human rights leaders and social change activists a stay of three months in New York to work on specific projects, do research, engage in networking, and/or further develop their professional skills and capacity.
We kindly ask you to disseminate this information to human rights leaders in the Global South. Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience, commitment to the human rights / social change field, and proposed work goals for their stay at ICTE.
Fluency in English is required.
The completed application is due by January 29, 2007.
Please note that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
More information about the Program and ICTE can be found at http://www.seedsoftolerance.org/ .

Best regards,
Brigitte

Brigitte Schmid
Human Rights Director,
Third Millennium Foundation International Center for Tolerance Education (ICTE)
25 Washington Street, 4th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: 718.237.6262, ext. 103 - Fax: 718.237.6264
bschmid@tmf-tolerance.org
http://www.seedsoftolerance.org

Pilkada Aceh: vote for a change....

2006-11-16T15:38:00.000-08:00

Please do vote, vote and vote ....
It is your "once in five years" opportunity.

Setidaknya pilihlah salah satu diantara calon pemimpin Aceh yang kita anggap paling baik diantara yang "mungkin" gak baik. Seperti memilih jodoh, pilih yang paling banyak nilai positivenya karena "No body is perfect".
Cari tau sebanyak-banyaknya mana yang paling peduli dengan masyarakat, terutama terhadap issu anak- anak dan generasi muda. You realize it or not, your vote will affect not only your personal life but also your family and community.
Pemimpin itu adalah cermin moral masyarakat yang dipimpinnya. Makanya, jangan sampai suara kita terbeli untuk keuntungan sesaat. Pastikan kita tidak salah pilih. Educate yourself to educate others!

Stop Perokok ....

2006-11-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

Efek rokok pada anak-anak lebih parah dari pada orang dewasa karena lebar saluran pernapasan anak-anak yang sempit. Akibatnya, jumlah asap rokok yang masuk ke dalam saluran pernapasan mejadi lebih banyak dibandingkan berat badannya. Selain itu, karena sistem pertahanan tubuh yang belum berkembang, munculnya gejala asma pada anak-anak jauh lebih cepat dibandingkan orang dewasa.

Hasil analisis 4.000 orang anak berumur 0-5 tahun menunjukan bahwa anak-anak yang orang tuanya merokok 10 batang sehari, menyebabkan peningkatan jumlah kasus asma serta mempercepat munculnya gejala asma pada anak-anaknya. Begitu juga anak yang kembali dari rumah sakit setelah perawatan asma akut, penyembuhannya akan terganggu karena orang tua yang merokok (Abulhosn et al, 1997). Efek asap rokok ini tidak hanya memberikan efek negatif pada anak-anak yang telah lahir, tapi juga pada janin yang masih ada di dalam rahim.
(Source: http://www.antirokok.or.id/berita/berita_bahaya.htm)

Apa yang bisa kita lakukan?

1. Berhenti merokok buat yang jago merokok
2. Pastikan tidak ada asap rokok disekitar anak-anak, ibu hamil dan didalam ruangan
3. Ambil tindakan tegas terhadap perokok jika cara yang sopan tidak mempan
4. Educate yourself and others about the danger of smoking, for the smokers, others and environment.

Tips on Studying a Foreign Language

2006-11-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

Here are some practical suggestions for studying effectively, overcoming anxiety, and learning the grammar and skills necessary for success in foreign language classes.

STUDY EVERY DAY! Study 1 or 2 hours for every class hour.

DISTRIBUTE YOUR STUDY TIME in 15- to 30-minute periods throughout the day. Focus on a different task each time: vocabulary now, grammar next, etc.

ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN EVERY CLASS--even if you are not well prepared. Class time is your best opportunity to practice. Learn the grammar and vocabulary outside of class in order to make the most of class time. Spend a few minutes "warming up" before each class by speaking or reading the language.

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE IN THE CLASSROOM. Get to know your classmates, so you will feel you are among friends. Visit your instructor during office hours to get acquainted: explain your goals and fears about the course to your instructor.

LEARN GRAMMAR IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW IT. Grammar is the skeleton of a language, its basic structure: you must learn it. Review a simplified English grammar text. Compare new grammatical structures in your foreign language to their English equivalents.

PRACTICE FOR TESTS by doing what you will have to do on the test. If the test will require you to write, then study by writing--including spelling and accents. If you will be asked to listen, then practice listening. Ask for practice questions; make up your own test questions. Invent variations on patterns and forms. Over-learn: study beyond the point of recognition to mastery.

DEVELOP A GOOD ATTITUDE. Have a clear personal reason for taking the class. Set personal goals for what you want to learn. Leave perfectionism at the door; give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them.

GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT. Talk with your teacher. Form study groups among class members. Use tutoring services. Don't wait! READING and WRITING a foreign language are analytical skills. You may be good at these if you are a logical person who attends to detail. Train yourself through practice to notice and remember details such as accents and gender agreement.

Find more detail on Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking Skills at:
http://www.english-zone.com/study/langs.html

Lessons Learned: Want Coffee?

2006-11-15T18:46:00.001-08:00

A group of alumni highly established in their careers got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups; porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand the professor said "If you noticed all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee, in most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this - Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of the Life we live. Sometimes by concentrating only on the cup we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything they just make the best of everything.

Live simply
Love unconditionally
Care deeply and sincerely
Speak kindly
Then leave the rest to God.

Source: A very wise friend, Nov 7,06