VOICES India's new youth policy By Jehangir Merwanji " According to the World Health Organization, 33 per cent of India's total population of over 1 billion people is between 10 and 24 years of age. India is not only one of the most heavily populated countries, it is also one of the poorest. Despite their demographic importance, the majority of young people in India have been neglected. A National Youth Policy was formulated in 1988 and later revised into a new draft, which aims at strengthening young Indians' cultural identity and opening their minds to scientific curiosity. But even before its official release, the policy had already been criticized for its vagueness." Jehangir Merwanji is a journalist based in Mumbai, India. Children and youth: a new on-line resource Readers interstested in free access to research articles, field reports, book reviews, information resources, an extensive bibliography, and a calendar of events can consult the journal, Children, Youth and Environments. The current issue includes papers on street children in many countries, displaced and war-affected children, and a community-based approach to building inclusive and sustainable schools. The Directory of Organizations offers profiles of and links to about 200 organizations in 36 countries. Users are invited to contribute papers and share information. The site is supported by the National Science Foundation and the University of Colorado,USA. See: http://cye.colorado.edu. E-mail enquiries to Willem van Vliet at cye@colorado.edu HIV/AIDS in Tanzania "AIDS is not a challenge and obstacle to development for my country alone, it is the world's worst crisis. Scientists are yet to find a cure and in the meantime, prevention is our only weapon against the disease. It is an established fact that the most important prevention initiative is to educate society and raise awareness. However, the reality is that Tanzania's most educated youth, the university students, are also those most affected by the disease. Is the information given not sufficient? Is the increase of awareness not the solution? It is high time we looked at the real challenge, a new form of ignorance. A person can be educated, and still remain ignorant. Ignorant, in that one has information which one does not use or disseminate. More importantly, ignorant in that one refuses to realize that if that person, an educated youth, is not fully aware of AIDS, who is? In fighting the deadly pandemic, we must employ every means. There is no way we can put an end to this, if we do not change our political, social and traditional ways of thinking." Faraja Kotta, 18, of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Jobs in Cameroon "Why don't educated youth get good jobs? What is the fate of young graduates? What about young people unable to go to school _ what opportunities do they have? Then, we are surprised to see that crime and insecurity are escalating in our towns and cities, that corruption, prostitution, homelessness, and slum dwellers are increasing, that diseases such as AIDS and malaria are spreading at unprecedented rates, that the youth are enthralled by the easy life of the new sector and the feymania (sophisticated fraud)... All these factors contribute to the passivity of the youth in the socio-economic life of Cameroon." Tamoifo Nkom Marie, 17, of the Green Youth Association of Cameroon and Youth Delegate to UN-HABITAT's Governing Council. Youth delegates at the 19th session of UN-HABITAT's Governing Council. Photo: © UN-HABITAT Zambia and the computer age "Information and Communication Technologies, while they facilitiate interaction and world globalization, are not well established in Lusaka, Zambia. The infrastructure and initiatives are in place, but there is a need for more cooperation. The local government has to meet with stakeholders and see how each can contribute to improving the city's information and communication services. "As e-commerce and e-learning reach the city, the local government needs to plant seeds for future programmes that will empower the city's residents. People should be prepared for the future. We, the young people of Lusaka, are already contributing. So far, we have managed to connect Internet in schools, to train teachers and to encourage local involvement. We would be willing to do more for our future if given the chance." Shalala Oliver Sepiso, 26, of the Rescue Mission, Zambia Benin's urban-rural divide "In Porto-Novo, Benin Republic, one has to differentiate between the old crop and cattle farmers of the suburban zone, and the salesmen and industrial working-class of the urban zone. The former group's social and economic situation is not as stable as that of the latter. They live in dark houses often built with fragile materials and their children seldom go to school. Today, the two categories live side by side. The rise of youth delinquency explains why girls become mothers prematurely, while the boys who father their babies still live under their parents' roofs. Sadly, the situation is becoming generalized." Josiane Honvou, 22, of Porto Novo, Benin, Youth Delegate to UN-HABITAT's Governing Council. Cambodia and Drugs "It is incredible that Cambodia today is known for producing and trafficking all kinds of drugs in alarming quantities. Drugs are exported from Cambodia to the Western World, while only a couple of years back, the route was the reverse. Drug-trafficking is spreading very fast, especially among the youth. According to the National Authority Against Drugs, 69 per cent of Cambodia's drug-users are students in secondary schools and universities." Phearun Ros, 22, of the Khmer Youth Association, Cambodia, Youth Delegate to UN-HABITAT's Governing Council. Information please! "A lack of information has led to the inadequate participation of youth in development projects. Hence, their skills, ideas and creativity are left untapped. This affects the general development of the country. There is a great need for the local government to disseminate information to the most valuable asset of a society, its youth." - Siphesihle Pearl Nhlabatsi, 18, of Swaziland, Youth Delegate to UN-HABITAT's Governing Council.