*AMWCY: Communication Group Meeting
*Burkina Faso: Intergenerational session / a sleepless night against HIV/AIDS
*Cameroon: Awareness on HIV/AIDS, call for abused children to speak
*Gambia: Race boat and swimming competitions
* Mali: visit to people living with HIV/AIDS
* Nigeria: workshop on IGA
* Rwanda: the WCY in remediation work and construction of classrooms
* Togo: tools transformed into IGA

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*AMWCY: Meeting of the Communication Group
From 07 to 12 December 2009, the Communication Group of AMWCY held its annual meeting in Dakar, Senegal. During this meeting, participants discussed the status of communication in their countries and reflected on ways of publicising the actions of the WCY in grassroots groups, WCYAs, national coordination and within the AMWCY. They consolidated the communication project and made-up the AMWCY annual bulletin "WCY face the Challenge, n°10”. They also produced cartoons on topics related to children rights and harmful traditional practices (female genital mutilation and forced marriages) to help in the fight against these bad practices.
ammani_2006@yahoo.fr, sylvfr2000@yahoo.fr, johnspriker@yahoo.fr, smandiwana@gmail.com

*Burkina Faso: Intergenerational Session/ a sleepless night against HIV/AIDS
Following the 20 year celebration of the CRC, the WCYA, the children's parliament and other child lead groups had an "inter-session" with members of parliament. This session was chaired by the President of the National Assembly together with the resident representative of UNICEF in Burkina, and it was decided that each year this session will be organized to do a follow up of the evolution of child rights in Burkina Faso.
Previously, the children's parliament together with the WCY, attended a workshop on photography. They took pictures on the daily lives of children in kindergartens and nurseries which they exhibited during the session.
On the 05 December 2009, the WCYA organized a sleepless night against HIV/AIDS at a football stadium. Better known under the name "Maracana”which night was an opportunity for the WCY to educate viewers about the pandemic and they also distributed condoms. Approximately 2500 people sat up all night at the football stadium of “Sig-Nonghin municipal school” where the games sponsored by the Mayor of the borough took place.
claudeouaga@yahoo.fr, freddyzongo@gmail.com

* Cameroon: Awareness on HIV/AIDS, call for abused children to speak
On December 04th, 2009, the WCYA organized a day of awareness on HIV/AIDS followed by a discussion Panel on the theme "We need to talk about it” following the results of a study “Attitudes that constitute a serious violation of human rights and of freedom of children who are often kept silent” conducted by the WCYA, reporting the increase of violence and child abuse.. In choosing this theme, the WCYA encourages victims to speak, inform and also denounce the perpetrators so that justice is done. The audience (WCY and people) found it very interesting and educational. A parent who works in the public service voluntarily guaranteed to support the WCYA in their activities.
The Yaoundé WCYA expanded with a new grass root group consisting of children from Central Africa, Chad and Cameroon working mainly in cleaning properties, and laundry when they return from school.
florynade@yahoo.fr

* Gambia: canoe races and swimming competition
With the Sajuka support structure, the WCYA organized canoe races and a swimming competition to appreciate the right to play and express oneself. All the grass root groups participated in large numbers. The WCYA mobilized the administrative authorities and population to watch a theatre performance, in which they sensitised the audience on the harmful effects of drugs on the health of children.
pamodousenghore2006@yahoo.com

* Mali: visit to people living with HIV/AIDS
On December 1st, the International AIDS Day, Bamako WCYA in collaboration with Family Care International (FCI), organized an exchange visit to the association of people living with HIV/AIDS. The visitors, 20 WCY, animators and the coordinator of FCI were faced with questions, answers, talks and exchanges with members of the association mentioned above. The WCY provided their guests with explanations of the AMWCY and benefits of the HIV/AIDS training from FCI. They also discussed the contribution of WCYA in the fight against the pandemic in all communes of Bamako and are currently in the Mopti region. Visitors inquired on how they were infected with HIV. Without fear, they have explained to them in their own way how “he” or “she” contracted the virus. Before leaving, the visitors ate with them, and took family photos.
isaaktraore@yahoo.fr, cnaejtml@yahoo.fr

* Nigeria: workshop on IGA
From 1 – 10 September, 2009, the WCYAs of Owode, Ajegunle and Badagry were trained on Income Generating Activities (IGA). The training which was mainly on raising poultry and pigs was facilitated by Antonin Midofi Hounga from Benin. Participants were trained on how to organize and maintain profitable IGA.
The knowledge gained from this workshop will help the WCY in raising chicken, pigs and birds in their various associations and grassroots groups. This will help in generating more funds for their organizations through the profits made from IGA hence leading to development of new activities.
awcynigeria@yahoo.com

* Rwanda: the WCY in remediation work and construction of classrooms
On October 31st, 2009, Gasabo WCYA participated in community sanitation works organized by Kagugu sector. 7, which consisted of digging trenches to channel rain water, and construction of classrooms. On completion, the chairman of the WCYA, Patrick Murenzi took the opportunity of speaking about the AMWCY objectives to the people present. He simultaneously asked for the support of authorities and parents in several areas. One parent agreed to support the education of 10 children.
aejtgasabo@yahoo.fr, aejtrda@yahoo.com

* Togo: tools transformed into IGA
The WCYA’s Computers of Adomi Abra and Wome have become a public service to the villages and surrounding villages. Indeed, the headquarters of these WCYAs where the computers were installed have for some time been the rallying point for all the inhabitants of these villages. People come from afar to make word processing and photocopying. The photocopiers were purchased with revenue from the computer services. In addition, each of these WCYAs has a generator that supplies all these villages with electricity. When there are ceremonies (weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc...), people make a request to the WCYAs for lighting. The WCY who had the knowledge to use a computer and generator, trained their fellow colleagues “WCY”, who in turn have trained adults and heads of villages on the use of these tools. During the weekly market day at Wome and Adom, the WCYA’s hall is full of people (there are some who come for computer services and others by curiosity to watch). The use of these tools by all communities, has given visibility to WCYAs and their actions.
benson_or@yahoo.fr,bfagbédzi@gmail.com,benrubien07b73@gmail.com, jephter02@gmail.com

See you soon through Calao Express 70!
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