In line with AFUB ‘s objective of strengthening the self-awareness of blind and partially sighted persons and to develop sense of responsibility, one of AFUB efforts is to build the capacity of women and youth as self-advocates and to exercise self-determination and self-representation. In view of this, AFUB organized Youth’s workshop and trained them on Human Rights / CRPD/African Disability Protocol as well as the Sustainable Development Goals from 9th-11th April, 2019. Opportunity was used to discuss on how to establish AFUB Youth Committee and they came out with their action plan. In addition, there were discussions on how to use sporting activities as a tool for advocacy and for demonstrating the potentials of blind and partially sighted persons.
The main objective of the workshop was to prepare the Youth to engage with the board to establish Youth Committee for AFUB and improved capacity of the youth committee within AFUB to achieve its mandate more effectively.
a person each was selected from each of the AFUB geographical sub-regions attended the workshop. However, North Africa representative was not able to attend due to unavoidable circumstances at the Eleventh hour. Representatives from the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired (SRF) who are knowledgeable on youth and sporting programmes and some selected AFUB staff members were present, these are:
- Central Africa representative: Ms. N’levo N’zokafouka Solene Sophia Tania-Congo Brazzaville
- East Africa representative: Ms. Sikudhani Vaiolet Sanga-Tanzania
- Southern Africa representative: Ms. Esther Yanjanani Mbite-Malawi
- West Africa representative: Ms. Nina Efedi Okoroafor-Ghana
- Eveline Angonwi-Women chair, Cameroon, Yaoundé represented the board.
- two SRF representatives; Ms. Rania Walid Mohamed and Aniina Liisa Ragna Karlsdottir-Sweden
The deliberations of the conference were in English and French with available simultaneous interpretation facilities.
The youth’s workshop considered training and introduction on Human Rights instruments such as:
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD),
- The African Disability Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
- The sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030)
- Discussions on how to use sporting activities in Africa as a tool for advocacy and for exhibiting the potentials of blind and partially sighted persons in Africa.
- Training on AFUB policy on communication,
- Training on Gender mainstreaming.
At the end of the three-day interruptions and discussions, the conference achieved the following immediate results:
- The Youth delegates developed their action plan and they were responsible for those plans.
- The Youth commenced using different platforms for communication and sharing of information among themselves and their region, especially progress of their action plans.
- The delegates have a better understanding of the key international and regional disability legislative instruments including UNCRPD, African Disability Protocol [ADP]
- Identified common sporting activities that can be jointly organized for advocacy purpose amongst the regional bodies of AFUB.
- Exchanged experiences and information between the Youth committee and the SRF representatives and discussed the way forward.
- Delegates plan to drive the establishment of youth committee of AFUB as part of AFUB’s political structure.
- Participants learned and shared from each other’s experience on youth related work.
- Participants gained a better understanding on human and disability rights.
- discussed how to use technology and communication skills as well as sports as tools for advocacy.
At the end of the forum, the youth agreed to file a petition to the general assembly on issues such as leadership in the unions, absence of established youth wings, the voice of women and youth in the society which is not heard. In view of this, the delegates agreed to influence their organizations to submit a proposal on the establishment of a youth wing or a youth department in the AFUB constitution by July. Only proposals from members who have paid their membership dues will be considered. They therefore came out with a declaration called “Nairobi Youth Declaration of AFUB”, which called the AFUB Board and General Assembly to support the establishment of Youth Committee within AFUB political structure.
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