Friends of the Earth Scotland’s contact with the Cofan Communities:
Please download Skillshare presentation here skillshare
Friends of the Earth Scotland has links with Accion Ecologica (an Ecuadorian organisation working for environmental justice) through the network of Friends of the Earth International. Through Accion Ecologica we made contact with the Cofan community. In early 2003, Friends of the Earth Scotland sent a staff member to Ecuador to meet with members of the Cofan community there and to find out what their needs were. We were then asked by them to organise a Scottish community linking tour for a young leader of the Cofan Community, Fidel Aguinda.
Fidel Aguinda and Cofan Elder
Fidel Aguinda visited Scotland in September 2003 with the aim of exchanging ideas and finding inspiration within Scottish communities affected by environmental injustices, in order to develop projects in the Cofan area and empower the indigenous communities. On his return to Ecuador, we supported Fidel to organise a meeting for indigenous leaders to share his experience in Scotland and to assess the priorities and needs of the communities. The community leaders identified, as a major priority, the development of a youth association and empowering local structures for enabling young people to be more involved. The community is aware of how external companies wanting to access the resources in traditional areas can easily manipulate young people. The youth organisation will help to solve the lack of coordination between young people, adult leaders and the elderly council.
Thanks to the Lloyds TSB Foundation, Friends of the Earth Scotland secured funds to help the Cofan in forming a Youth Association, called AJONCE (Association of Young People of the Cofan Nationality). In August 2004 the Lloyds TSB Foundation awarded us with a grant to develop a pilot project, and in August 2005 Lloyds TSB Foundation granted us with a 3 multi-year award. The project also runs with match funding from Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES), Green Grants Fund, and Allan and Nesta Foundation.
The aims of the Association include building their skills, knowledge and self-esteem to become advocates for human rights in their communities and to take part in the policy making process in their area.
FoE-Scotland goal is to achieve the sustainability of AJONCE at the end of the project. The policy of the organization is clear about the undesirability of creating dependence, but it is also aware that the consolidation of AJONCE is a difficult and long term process. AJONCE still need economic support to develop locally based productive projects that will allow them to become sustainable.
If you want to make a donation to the Cofan project please go here. If you want to know more about Friends of the Earth Scotland campaigns or become a member contact Friends of the Earth Scotland.
English Version below
Estimado Sr,
La Iniciativa Regional Africana por la Juventud (ARYI) es una organización que está integrada por más de cuatrocientas organizaciones juveniles y comunitarias en Africa. AHRY, fué fundada en 2002 y actúa para integrar enfoques cros-seccionales y multifacéticos con los problemas que tienen que enfrentar los sectores más marginales (por ejemplo los jóvenes y las mujeres) en Africa con un enfoque especial en los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio de Naciones Unidas. La organización apoya iniciativas comunitarias colaborativas, la construcción de capacidades a través de organizaciones y redes, así como compartir conocimientos y recursos.
AHRY trabaja con individuos y organizaciones socias que se enfocan en salud reproductiva, paliación de la pobreza, liderazgo y gobierno, empleo juvenil, derechos de las mujeres, enfermedades y dolencias, educación y tecnología de la información.
La organización en la actualidad tiene un enfoque en VIH/SIDA y en salud reproductiva debido a los impactos en la salud y el bienestar de las mujeres, jóvenes y niños en Africa. El SIDA y la salud reproductiva son temas tratados de una manera comprensiva, mediante la realización de actividades que movilicen y empoderen a las comunidades, incrementen la participación de las mujeres y los jóvenes, faciliten el diálogo entre organizaciones de diferentes países, y construyan las capacidades especialmente de los más marginados para que puedan participar efectivamente en los procesos de decisión comunitarios, nacionales, regionales e internacionales.
Le escribo para informarle que nos gustaría que un representante de nuestra organización pudiera visitar su organización para poder intercambiar experiencias en relación a la posición de la juventud, como se pueden cumplir sus necesidades y como ayudar a la gente joven en su desarrollo personal a través de formación para la adquisición de capacidades que produzcan aportes significativos para un desarrollo común. Creemos que sería muy útil compartir con su organización nuestras experiencias concretas en estos asuntos.
Nos gustaría establecer una colaboración a largo plazo con ustedes ya que ambos perseguimos los objetivos comunes de mejorar las vidas de los jóvenes alrededor del mundo.
Saludos cordiales,
Sesan Olukoya,
Representante de país
Iniciativa Regional Africana por la Juventud (ARYI Nigeria)
Dear Sir,
The African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI) is an organization that comprises of over four hundred youth and community based organizations in Africa. Founded in 2002, ARYI acts to unite cross-sectoral and multifaceted approaches to issues facing those most marginalized (i.e. youth and women) in Africa with a special focus on the Millennium Development Goals. The organization supports collaborative community based initiatives, capacity building across organizations and networks, and the sharing of knowledge and resources.
ARYI works with individuals and partner organizations that focus on reproductive health, poverty alleviation, leadership and governance, youth employment, women’s right, illness and diseases, education and information technology.
The organization currently has an organizational focus on HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health due to the impacts on the health and well-being of women, youth and children in Africa. AIDS and sexual reproductive health are addressed in a comprehensive manner by engaging in activities that mobilize and empower communities, increase women and youth participation, facilitate dialogue between organizations in different countries, and build capacity of especially those most marginalized to effectively participate in community, national, regional and international decision making processes.
I write to inform you that we would like a representative of our organization to visit your organization for exchange of experiences in relation to position of youth, how the needs could be met and how to assist young people in their personal development through training for skill acquisition towards meaningful contributions to communal development. We find it very useful to share with your organization our specific experiences on the issues.
We would like to establish long term collaboration with you as we pursue common goals of improving the lives of the youth around the world.
Yours sincerely,
Sesan Olukoya,
Country Representative,
African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI Nigeria)
+2348056310336
aryinigeria@yahoo.com
http://www.africaninitiative.org/af
By: Sesan Olukoya on February 18, 2008
at 2:23 pm
Our organization, the African Youth Empowerment-Nigeria (AYEN) would be collaborating with Hello Lagos (another NGO) to hold a day seminar in commemoration of the 2008 World Health Day coming up on Thursday 10th April 2008 by 9.00am prompt at the Hello Lagos Hall, LASUTH, Ikeja, Lagos.
Climatic change is a significant and fastest emerging threat to public health. There is growing evidence that global climate changes will affect the health and well being of human beings majority of whom are the teeming youths.
The theme of the World Health Day which we have also adopted as the theme of our seminar is Protecting Health from Climatic Change while the main objective of having the seminar is to raise public awareness on health dangers posed by global climatic variability and change. It is also to discuss how climatic changes presents growing threats to international public health security and proffer solutions to the problems.
The forum would be attended by students, youth, academia’s, medical practitioners, youth associations, civil society organizations, health institutions, youth policy makers, health policy makers, environmentalists, officials of the Health, Youth, Environment, Education, the media and general populace.
I write to request for Information, Education and Communication materials we can give out to our guests, students and other participants such as stickers, posters, leaflets etc from your good office so as to be able to have a successful seminar.Whatever item you have for us should be sent to:
Sesan Olukoya,
African Youth Empowerment-Nigeria.
P.O.Box 2965,
Somolu, Lagos,
Nigeria.
Thank you very much sir and a prompt response from your office would so much be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Sesan Olukoya,
Executive Director,
African Youth Empowerment-Nigeria.
E-mail: ayen_nigeria@yahoo.com
Tel: +2348056310336
By: Sesan Olukoya on March 6, 2008
at 3:11 pm
hola amigo soy dirigente de la organizacion de la nacionalidad cofan del ecuador estoy trabajando ya como 4 año y te felicito todo el trabajo que esta realizando
By: ernesto criollo on December 17, 2008
at 6:39 pm