YOUTH AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION - Recently Updated Pages

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youthkenya — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:05 CDT

Home About us Aims and Objectives Constitution More Contact us

ASSOCIATION'S VIEW

We are young for only a short time, yet we understand that as we age, perspective and priorities change and impressions. As young people venture into adulthood, the opinions, attitudes, and belief of new generations affect visions of the future, how communities organize and how institutions operate.

Youths occupy a paradoxical position. Opportunities stretches in front of us, change is always inevitable. We have the energy and time to pursue our dreams and hopes, yet our eagerness and passion are feared among old generation who are too conservative. It is common for us to be viewed as troublemakers, hooligans, and unruly. We are not typically conceived as productive and constructive social actors, but rather as potential sources of political disruption, delinquency and criminality.

YOUTH are a combination of Vision, Determination, Vigor and Potency that can lead to effective Initiatives, Campaigns and Movements through which young people can voice their ideals and change the course of their society. This shall be the top agenda for Youth Affairs Association which shall unite all Youths and become the voice of the voiceless and the vulnerable group in our society

Youth in Kenya today are passionate and enthusiastic, rebellious and raucous. They are idealistic and risk taking yet easily manipulated on tribal and regional basis . We are glorified and demonised inspiring hope for the future but raising concerns of a present danger.

Youthful age is the most turbulent period in life, a time spent searching for identity and place, family responsibilities may as yet be limited. Education offers enlightenment for some though, for many it is difficult to attain since the increase in the educational facilities and institution does not accommodate the growing population. This makes the youth to see, leading a life without a future, a life that is accompanied by desperation and suffering when we attain our old age. Time is
short when we can invest our youthful age energy and potency for the future, unless we are accorded a conducive environment through recognition and empowerment of the youth in the society, we really don't see the future of the future majority (youth).

Quoting First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for our leaders, "I live in real terror when I think we may be losing this generation. We have got to bring these young people into the active life of the
community and make them feel that they are necessary."

Faces of desperate displaced women
Further research on whether there has been a comparable rise in emotional and behavioral disorders among younger age groups or whether this is a specific problem in the society need to be addressed since some youth have been engaging in dehumanizing activities which pose lot of fear and terror to the society. Every person, young or old ought to condemn practices of :

Violence
Drugs
Environmental degradation
Spread of HIV/AIDS
Tribal hatred
Incitements
Ageism

since activities of these pictures shown below ought not to be happening in our society today;

______
man taking law into his own hands a young boy watching .........................Police beating demonstrators ruthlessly

__________
a woman shot dead with a child............................................................................houses set ablaze in tribal clashes hit areas

________
Youth armed with bow and arrows during tribal crashes............................. an arrow in a young boy head

Youth Affairs Association so much committed to realization of it's organizational goals. This have been delayed due to financial constraints we as the organization are encountering. For the growth and success of our Civil Society (YAA), we feelthat as a society we ought to work together in kick starting this initiative as we try to change the course of our SOCIETY.

To Support Us in establishing and furnishing a physical location where we will centralise affairs of YAAfor effective and efficiency of the organization activities , please contact us or Donate your Contributions to:

Bank Details:
Youth Affairs Association,
Co-operative Bank of Kenya,
Canon House Branch, Nairobi.

Account No. : 0110054804100

Contact us...

youthkenya — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:33:41 CDT

Contact us through:

Address: Youth Affairs Association,
P.O Box 71789 - 00622,

Nairobi, Kenya.

Website: youthkenya.wetpaint.com
Email: youthkenya@gmail.com
Phone: +254 721 979 787 / +254 726 995 969

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About us

youthkenya — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:28:26 CDT

Youth Affairs Association(YAA) is a newly founded Civil Society Organisation (CSO) with a vision and mission for Kenyan youths at large, fostering the active participation of young people from diverse social, economic and ethno-racial family backgrounds in civic life and community leadership. As a national body for the youth, the YAA recognizes the contributions of the young people to all aspects of Kenyan society and acknowledges the diversity and universality of that contribution.

We opt to enhance dialogue with the key stakeholders in acknowledging the development of a diversity of youth participation process and commitment to drawing on existing and developing new mechanisms to ensure young people contribute to policy, governance, representation and other aspects of our organization's activities.

YAA was founded in year 2007 by: Paul Mwaura Mungai and Caroline Soila Leiyan (youth activists), after their realization that youth have always been lowly represented in all spheres of life even though they have the potency. They felt that, youths in Kenya lacked a national body that would represent their grievances. YAA officials are dedicated to serve the youth of Kenya diligently and exercise the concept of transparency and accountability without fear or favor. Among the association's officials are:

Paul Mwaura Mungai - Chairman
Bosco Odhiambo Okumu - Vice Chairman
Teresah Wafullah Nekesa- Secretary
Wilson Muirani Gathoni - Assistant Secretary
Caroline Soila Leiyan - Treasurer
Lenah Achieng' Olum - Assistant Treasurer

Youth in Kenya, in the organization's view are those who are not completely dependent upon their parents and other adults to provide them with necessities and guidance with which to navigate life, but at the same time, they are not yet independently able to sustain themselves and provide solely for their own children and other family members. We believe youth may be best determined by the economic viability.

Youth Affairs Association shall address a problem endemic to Kenyan youth quest for sustainable development by providing youth with ethical, moral and life skills with which to counteract the powerlessness that we feel in the face of events that threaten human security across Kenya. Currently, imperialism and the ruling elites have subjected the nation to degrading and negative experiences stemming from diabolical forces of materialism and hegemony with the sole burning passion of retaining power at all costs. Their action reinforced structures and belief that leaders consecrate their powers on tribal and regional basis depending on the demographic factor of a tribe or region. This has created inequity, undemocratic political space, and violence in all its various forms. These structures have then bred pathologies that distort human spirit, making people easy to manipulation and easing maintenance of the debilitating status quo.

Though Kenyan youth, we have been hyped as the major stakeholders and bastion of hope for the future of the nation, yet harsh economic, social and political realities have hit us hard and deprived us of passionate, optimism and believe in the future, the greatest assets of our stage of human development. Youth have learnt to far, mistrust and accept aggression as part of life, many have sought to hide their pain, anger and frustrations in drugs, gangs and other destructive activities unaware of how their actions affect themselves and others in the society. Thus, Kenyan youth are demonized as a clueless, spineless generation, lacking identity and direction, the major reason of foundingCivil Society Organization(YAA). On the other hand, their restless response to prevailing condition is often met with repression through the use of force and promises of ‘you are the future leaders of tomorrow’, which is meant to mollify their passion and vigor. The uncanny future of tomorrow seems to be in perpetual displacement in space and time, as it is with the traveler walking towards the horizon. It is the incumbent on Kenyan youth to decide when the future becomes the present for their people and leaders who will end these structures that distort human spirit (tribalism and regionalism), and when tomorrow’s dusk dawns as new day .

YAA seeks to make our leaders understand that suffering is real and that hurting people has terrible and often life long consequences that can be difficult or impossible to rectify .We have been made to feel insignificant by our leaders who value wealth and power without a feeling of the Common Mwananchi who
extra-judicial killings
is suffering down there. Currently, there is manipulation of the common
mwananchi through imposed high rate of taxation on the basic needs, without consideration that their wages remain stagnant/constant. The cost of living has gone high, increasing the financial constraints to the him/her, leading a life full of desperation and suffering, with the only word ‘HOPE’ for a better tomorrow, of which never dawns.

More...

youthkenya — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:53:02 CDT

INTRODUCTION: Around the world there are laws and agreements that are meant to uphold the rights of young people. These include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.It is idle to talk of civil liberties to adults who were systematically taught in adolescence that they had none; and it is sheer hypocrisy to call such people freedom loving.This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle! Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will... The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.YAA shall continue with the struggles for the rights of young people in all its forms through:
The Rights of Youth Today - What Rights Youth Have Now, and discussions that insinuate what rights young people do not have.
Defining Youth Rights - What Rights Violations Youth Experience, including censorship, curfews, economics, travel, voting, and more.
History of the Youth Rights Movement - Covering the breadth of influences from the 20th century until today.
The Youth Rights Movement - Who's fighting against corporal punishment, age-biased laws, and the further degradation of young peoples' power.
Demanding Youth Rights - How Young People want to Change the Political Agenda, focusing on civil, economic, and legal rights for ALL young people.
The Center for Youth Rights Research - Source for information on local, state and national youth-focused laws.

In many peoples' eyes, the constitutional rights of young people are undefined, and negotiable only within the context of the voting populace or by elected officials. However, many youth and adults believe that young people themselves should have a say in making the rules that govern their lives, in an honest, powerful, and purposeful way.In our nation we ought to have well defined and known to all two distinctive forms of youth rights:entitlement rights and civil rights.
Entitlement rights are rights that are "due" to people, giving people the ability to fulfill their other rights.These might include rights to:
Employment, education, a certain level of income, a certain quality of housing, race and gender representation in the workplace, freedom from economic insecurity, and health care.
Civil rights guarantee the ability of individuals to carry out their rights. In Kenya, these rights are outlined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Some of those rights include:
Freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and protection of those accused of crimes.
Among popular youth rights issues include Age Discrimination, Curfews, Drinking Age, Driving, Economics, Emancipation, Entertainment, Free Speech, and the Voting Age.
YAA opts to start programmes that include:
Anti-Curfew

Anti-Censorship
Anti-Criminalization of Youth
Anti-Ageism & Discrimination against youth

Aims and Objectives

youthkenya — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:36:30 CDT

Enhancing dialogue with key stakeholders on promotion of youth's involvement in policy and development initiative.
Advocate and lobby for review for convectional laws, policies and development agenda that are hindrance to youth participation.
Mobilizing resources to facilitate youth's engagement in wealth creation for development.
Analyzing the main problems of young men and women in every area trying to find different solutions.
Promote co-operation of multiple understanding in similar organizations on a regional level and with different youth councils on an international level.
Participate in social welfare activities.

Area of Activities:
1. Youth involvement in Policy and Development Initiatives:
This shall be the core programme activity of YAA. It shall focus on youth’s involvement in policy making to help mainstream the role of the youth in development. Policies passed by our Leaders always impact on us and yet we the youth are not given consideration during policy making and policy implementation. Development initiatives are also a line where youth are sidelined because we are considered immature and inexperienced. YAA feels that youth are mature, responsible, enthusiatic about new ideas, innovative, energetic and have the potency to be involved in policy and development initiatives.

2. Review of Convectional Laws, Policies and Development agenda.
YAA shall advocate and lobby for review of convectional laws, policies and development agenda that are hindrance to youth’s participation. YAA shall push towards the review of conventional laws that are usually laid down to sideline the youth from participation on social, political and economic aspects of life. Represent the youth and make sure policies passed do not have a negative impact on their youthful life. It shall make sure that the development agenda incorporate the young generation.

3. Wealth Creation
YAA shall mobilize resources to facilitate youth’s engagement in wealth creation for development. It shall seek to initiate investments through joint venture with local, regional as well as international investors, of who shall be undertaking the managerial roles. Through such investments, it shall be getting its profit share at the end of each year, of which it shall be disbursing to its members as dividends as well as retaining some for further expansion of investments. YAA wishes to focus more on future other than concentrating and dwell much on the history.

4. Analyzing the main problems of young men and women
YAA shall analyze the main problems of young men and women in every area trying to find different solutions. It shall be conducting baseline studies, report development, situational analysis, proposal writing, workshop/seminars facilitation, data collection and analysis, survey, monitoring and evaluation, among others so as to analyze the problems of young generation and find alternatives towards solving those problems.

5. Co-operation of multiple understanding with similar organizations.
YAA shall promote co-operation of multiple understanding with similar organizations on a regional level and with different youth councils on an international level. Through this co-operation, the association shall be able to interact and share ideas with these organizations of which shall be of benefit to the association at large.

6. Social Welfare Activities.
YAA shall engage itself to serving the society. It shall look forward towards starting programs like youth and volunteerism as well as participation in charity work to the less privileged and vulnerable group in the society.

Constitution

youthkenya — Tue, 08 May 2007 06:24:44 CDT

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

YOUTH AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION

1. NAME:

The name of the society shall be – YOUTH AFFAIRS ASSOCIATION (Y.A.A)

2. OBJECTIVES

1. Enhancing dialogue with key stakeholders on promotion of youth’s involvement in policy and development initiative.
2. Advocate and lobby for review of conventional laws, policies and development agenda that are hindrance to youth’s participation.
3. Mobilizing resources to facilitate youth’s engagement in wealth creation for development.
4. Analyzing the main problems of young men and women in every area trying to find different solutions.
5. Promote co-operation of multiple understanding with similar organizations on a regional level and with different youth councils on an international level.
6. Participation in social welfare activities.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to everyone who is in agreement with the Statement of Purpose and Objectives of the Association.
Membership will be either as:-
1. FULL MEMBERSHIP
  1. A full member will be a member of the association of whom, (S)he will have full voting and membership
    rights.
  2. Membership is subject to completion of an application form and payment of the annual subscription.

Any person over the age of eighteen years and below age of thirty years shall be eligible for membership of the society and shall, subject to the approval of the committee, become a member on payment of an entrance fee of Kshs. 200/=.
(b) Every member shall pay a yearly subscription of Kshs. 200/= not later than the 15th of January each year.

(c) Any member desiring to resign from the society shall submit his resignation to the secretary, which shall take effect from the date of receipt by the secretary of such notice.

(d) Any member may be expelled from membership if the committee so recommends and if a general meeting of the society shall resolve by a two-thirds majority of the members present that such a member should be expelled on the grounds that his conduct has adversely affected the reputation or dignity of the society, or that he has contravened any of the provisions of the constitution of the society. The committee shall have power to suspend a member from his membership until the next general meeting of the society following such suspension but not withstanding such suspension a member whose expulsion is proposed shall have the right to address the general meeting at which his expulsion is to be considered.

(e) Any person who resigns or is removed from membership shall not be entitled to a refund of his subscription or any part thereof or any moneys contributed by him at any time.

(f) Any member who falls into arrears with his annual subscription fee shall automatically cease to be a member of the society and his name shall be struck off the register of members. The committee may, however, at its discretion, reinstate such member on payment of the total amount of subscription outstanding.

4. OFFICE BEARERS

(a) The office bearers of the society shall be:

(i) The Chairman
(ii) The Vice-chairman
(iii) The Secretary
(iv) Assistant Secretary
(v) The Treasurer
(vi) The Assistant Treasurer

All of whom shall be fully paid up members of the society and shall be elected at the 2nd annual general meeting to be held in each year.

(b) All office bearers shall hold office for two years from the date of election of which to be held on annual general meeting subject to the conditions contained in sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) of this rule but shall be eligible for re-election.

(c) Any office bearer who ceases to be a member of the society shall automatically cease to be an office bearer thereof.

(d) Any office bearers may be removed from office in the same way as is laid down for the expulsion of members in rule 5 (a) and vacancies thus created shall be filled by persons elected at the general meeting resolving the expulsion.

5. DUTIES OF OFFICE BEARERS

(a) Chairman – the chairman shall, unless prevented by illness or other sufficient cause, preside over all meetings of the committee and at all general meetings.

(b) Vice-chairman – the vice-chairman shall perform any duties of the chairman in his absence.

(c) Secretary- the secretary shall deal with all the correspondence of the society under the general supervision of the committee. In cases of urgent matters where the committee cannot be consulted, he shall consult the chairman or if he is not available, the vice-chairman. The decisions reached shall be subject to ratification or other wise at the next committee meeting. He shall issue notices convening all meetings of the committee and all general meetings of the society and shall be responsible for keeping minutes of all such meetings and for the preservation of all records of proceedings of the society and of the committee.

(d) Assistant secretary – in the absence of the secretary, the assistant secretary shall perform all the duties of the secretary and such other duties as shall be assigned to him by the secretary or committee whether the secretary is present or not.

(e) Treasurer – the treasurer shall receive and shall also disburse, under the directions of the committee, all moneys belonging to the society and shall issue receipts for all moneys received by him and preserve vouchers for all moneys paid by him. The Treasurer is responsible to the committee and to the members that proper books of account of all moneys received and paid by the society are written up, preserved and available for inspection.

(f) Assistant treasurer – the Assistant Treasurer shall perform such duties as may be specifically assigned to him by the Treasurer or by the committee and in the absence of the Treasurer shall perform the duties of the Treasurer.

6. THE COMMITTEE

(a) The committee shall consist of all the office bearers of the society and 3 other members elected at the annual general meeting in each year; such committee members shall hold office until the following annual general meeting. The committee shall meet at such times and places as it shall resolve but shall meet not less than once in any three months.

(NOTE:- Where it is the intention of the society for form branches, it may well be that some provision should be made for them to be represented on this committee. In which case the election of these representatives should be by the committee of the branch concerned)

(b) Any casual vacancies for members of the committee caused by death or resignation shall be filled by the committee until the next annual general meeting of the society. Vacancies caused by members of the committee removed from office will be dealt with as shown in rule 4 (d).

7. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE

(a) The committee shall be responsible for the management for the society and for that purpose may give directions to the office bearers as to the manner in which, within the law. They shall perform their duties. The committee shall have power to appoint such sub-committees, as it may deem desirable to make reports to the committee upon which such action shall be taken as seems to the committee desirable.

(b) All moneys disbursed on behalf of the society shall be authorized by the committee except as specified in rule 12 (d).

(c) The quorum for meetings of the committee shall be not less than ten (10) members.

8. GENERAL MEETINGS

(a) There shall be two classes of general meetings – annual general meetings and special general meetings.

(b) (I) The annual general meeting shall be held not later than 15th February in each year. Notice in writing of such annual general meeting, accompanied by the annual statement of account (see rule 11 (b)) and the agenda for the meeting shall be sent to all members not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting and, where practicable, by press advertisement not less than 14 days before the date of the meeting.

(ii) The agenda for any annual general meeting shall consist of the following: -

(a) Confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting.
(b) Consideration of the accounts.
(c) Election of office bearers and the committee members (and trustees where necessary in accordance with rule 10 (c).
(d) Appointment of auditors in accordance with rule 11 (a).
(e) Such other matters as the committee may decide or as to which notice shall have been given in writing by a member or members to the secretary at least four weeks before the date of the meeting.
(f) Any other business with the approval of the chairman.

(c) A special general meeting may be called for any specific purpose by the committee. Notice in writing of such meeting shall be sent to all members not less than 7 days before the date thereof and where practicable by press advertisement not less than 7 days before the date of such meeting.

(d) A special general meeting may also be requisitioned for a specific purpose by order in writing to the secretary of not less than 10 (ten) members and such meetings shall be held within 21 days of the date of the requisition. The notice for such meeting shall be shown in rule 8 (c) and no matter shall be discussed other than that stated in the requisition.

(e) Quorum for general meetings shall be not less than 8 (Eight) of the registered members of the society.

9. PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS

(a) At all meetings of the society the chairman, or in his absence, the vice-chairman, or in the absence of both these officers, a member selected by the meeting shall take the chair.

(b) The chairman may at his discretion limit the number of persons permitted to speak in favour of and against any motion.

(c) Resolutions shall be decided by simple voting by a show of hands. In the case of equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

10. TRUSTEES

(a) All land, buildings and other immovable property and all investments and securities which shall be acquired by the society shall be vested in the names of not less than 3 trustees who shall be members of the society and shall be appointed at an annual general meeting for a period of 3 (three years). On retirement such trustees shall be eligible for re-election. A general meeting shall have the power to remove any of the trustees and all vacancies occurring by removal, resignation or death, shall be filled at the same or next meeting.

(b) The trustees shall pay all income received from property vested in the trustees to the Treasurer. Any expenditure in respect of such property which in the opinion of the trustees is necessary or desirable shall be reported by the trustees to the committee which shall authorize expenditure of such money as it thinks fit.

11. AUDITOR

(a) An auditor shall be appointed for the following year by the annual general meeting. All the society’s accounts, records and documents shall be opened to the inspection of the auditor at any time. The Treasurer shall produce an account of his receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities made up to a date which shall not be less than six weeks and not more than three months before the date of the annual general meetings. The auditor shall examine such annual accounts and statements and either clarify that they are correct, duly vouched and in accordance with the law or report to the society in what respect they are found to be incorrect, unvouched or not in accordance with the law.

(b) A copy of the auditor’s report on the accounts and statements together with such accounts and statements shall be furnished to all members at the same time as the notice convening the annual general meeting is sent out. An auditor may be paid such honorarium for his duties as may be resolved by the annual general meeting appointing him.

(c) No auditor shall be an office bearer or a member of the society.

12. FUNDS

(a) The funds of the society may only be used for the following purposes: -

1. Office management.
2. Auditors fee.
3. Allowances paid.
4. General and special meeting costs.
5. Subject to any resolution passed by the members in general meeting the funds of the Association shall be used in pursuance of the objects of the Association in such manner as the members determine.

(b) All moneys and funds shall be received by and paid to the Treasurer and shall be deposited by him in the name of the society in any bank or banks approved by the committee.

(c) No payments shall be made out of the bank account without a resolution of the committee authorizing such payment and all cheques such bank account shall be signed by the Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer and two other office bearers of the society who shall be appointed by the committee.

(d) A sum not exceeding Kshs. 1000/= may be kept by the Treasurer for petty disbursements of which proper account shall be kept.

(e) The committee shall have power to suspend any office bearer who it has reasonable cause to believe is not properly accounting for any of the funds or property of the society and shall have power to appoint another person in his place. Such suspension shall be reported to a general meeting to be convened on a date not later than two months from the date of such suspension and the general meeting shall have full power to decide what further action should be taken in the matter.

(f) The financial year of the society shall be from 1st January to 31st December.

13. BRANCHES

Branches of the society may be formed with the approval of the committee and the Registrar of Societies and they will adopt the same constitution as that of the headquarters with the following exceptions: -

(a) The aims and objectives will not include the formation of branches.

(b) Amendments to the constitution can only be made by the headquarters of the society in accordance with the provisions of rule 14.

(c) The provisions of rule 15 shall apply to branches but, in addition, branches will not be dissolved without consultation with their headquarters.

14. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Amendments to the constitution of the society must be approved by at least a two-thirds majority of the members at a general meeting of the society. They cannot, however, be implemented without the prior consent in writing of the Registrar, obtained upon application to him made in writing and signed by three of the office bearers.

15. DISSOLUTION

(a) The society shall not be dissolved except by a resolution passed at a general meeting of members present. The quorum at the meeting shall be as shown in rule 8 (e). If no quorum is obtained, the proposal to dissolve the society shall be submitted to a further general meeting which shall be held one month later. Notice of this meeting shall be given to all members of the society at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. The quorum for this second meeting shall be the number of members present.

(b) Provided , however, that no dissolution shall be affected without prior permission in writing of the Registrar, obtained upon application to him made in writing and signed by three of the office bearers.

(c) When the dissolution of the society has been approved by the Registrar, no further action shall be taken by the committee or any office bearer of the society in connection with the aims of the society other than to be in and liquidate for cash all the assets of the society. Subject to the payment of all the debts of the society, the balance thereof shall be distributed in such other manner as may be resolved by the meeting at which the resolution for dissolution is passed.

16. INSPECTION OF BOOKS OF ACCOUNT

The books of account and all documents relating thereto and a list of members of the society shall be available for inspection at the registered office of the society by any officer or member of the society on giving not less than seven days notice in writing to the society.