2010 UNAU ACTIVITY SUMMARIES

UMUN 2010

On Saturday 31st July 2010, 150 students from 11 Universities in Uganda met at Makerere University Business School Nakawa - Kampala for the 2nd Uganda Model United Nations Conference 2010 (UMUN 2010), with the theme, “Biodiversity – Finding Our Convergence in the Divergent Environment for Sustainable Development”.

The major objective was to rally young people from Universities in Uganda take active part in conservation of life forms (Biodiversity) and a more active role in Environment conservation for sustainable development as a way of contributing to achieving MDG 7.

This conference gave students an opportunity to “step in the shoes” of Ambassadors who represent UN member countries in a simulation of the General Assembly of the United Nations and tackle the complex developmental issues facing the globe.

This conference was organized by UNAU with support from Rwenzori Beverages Company LTD.

MDGS Conference:
With less than five years left to the end of the set time for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU) and UNIC Nairobi realized that it is extremely important that young people be part of governments’ efforts to ensure that they play their role in engaging in discussions and actions to fast track the MDGs as we approach 2015.

From 29th to 30th September 2010, over 150 young University students from the East African Region gathered at the UN Headquarters in Africa, Nairobi, for a Youth Conference on MDGs; under the theme, “Biodiversity – Finding our Convergence in Divergent Environment Management and Sustainable Development”

The Conference aimed at:
Engaging the East African young people in launching the International Year of Youth 2010/2011, sensitizing them about the MDGs and enabling them define the roles they can play towards fast tracking the realization of MDGs as 2015 approaches.
Engaging the East African youth in deeper understanding of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 and encourage their contribution to mitigate the threats to Biodiversity arising from Climate Change.
Enabling the youth from East Africa familiarize with the programs and operations of the UN in Africa
The conference participants mainly comprised of University students, were drawn from seven countries: Kenya, Tanzania, DR. Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria and Sudan.

UN Day Commemoration at MUK
This year (2010) in commemoration of the UN Day, United Nations Association of Uganda Makerere University Branch (UNAU-MUK) in partnership with United Nations Association of Uganda Secretariat, Makerere University Students Guild and the UN Agencies in Uganda, organized an inter-University workshop under the theme; “The role of the youth and their challenges in improving maternal health and reducing child mortality rates in Uganda” to commemorate the UN Day. 

The guest speakers were from UNFPA, Ministry of Health, Mulago Hospital, The representative of the UN Resident Coordinator( UNFPA Resident Representative) and the Chief Guest Hon.Jessica Arupo, State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs

The event had a number of activities, such as: Paper presentations by invited guests from UNFPA, Ministry of Health, Mulago Hospital and Makerere University Administration, Chief Guests Hon.Jessica Arupo and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Representative Ms. Janet Jackson; tree planting, exhibition and general discussion by the participants through the question and answer method.

On this day an inter-University steering task force that will work closely with all the stakeholders and youth in ensuring that the role of the youth and their impact in ensuring safe motherhood and curbing child  mortality is realized, recognized and supported; was formed. This group will be meeting monthly.

PLT Follow up Training
This project was developed jointly with the UNAU General Secretary and a group of beneficiaries of the 1st Project Leaders Training that was organized by the UNAs of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Sweden in 2008. The General Secretary together with the youth leaders that were trained realized that there is need to give back to the community while fundamentally enabling young leaders/students leaders to address the issues of MDGs and engaging themselves in fast-tracking the MDGs as we approach 2015 through trainings like these.
Eleven (11) Universities and 250 Students/Young leaders are to benefit from this one year project.  
The project is aimed at, enabling young leaders/students leaders get to know the basic concepts of project management, budgeting and finance and leadership, so that in the long run they become better leaders with budgeting skills and Project Management basics which they can in future apply to generate projects that lead to the realization of the MDGs as we approach 2015.

Coordination of 5 Schools to present during the AU Summit 17th to 27th July 2010:
Uganda hosted the African Union (AU) Summit for the first time. The Theme for the African Union (AU) summit held from 17th to 27th July 2010 in Uganda was “Achieving Maternal and Child Health in Africa, Call for Action”.  Maternal, newborn and child health indicators in the African region are still poor.
Therefore,the AU summit Commission sought to build on the on-going momentum on maternal and child health both at the UN and at the AU to bring to light the role of young people in reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality and also the role of governments, civil societies and communities in addressing maternal mortality and morbidity among adolescents and youth and mortality among their children, through folk media in particular cultural music, dance and drama.
The AU Summit had a slogan that, “when facilitated, young people and children are effective communicators”! It was against this background that UNFPA in partnership with United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU) organized performances by youth/students from 5 schools each representing a region between 12 – 18 years during the AYF and the AU summit.