ICT giving voice to the youth

The forum of youth on the Internet that the organisation Yam Pukri had been assisting with Terre des Hommes since 2000, is an enriching experience.  Each year, Yam Pukri offers the opportunity to the youth from 12 to 18 years to meet young people of Africa and Europe via Internet.  It is an opportunity for them to discuss during two months and to share via Internet their vision and their comprehension of a specific topic.  In 2005, the forum "Youth and sport" was an excellent occasion to  express their points of view and to share with people what they  thought of sport and practicing sport.  “By writing down my experiences, I improved my written expression.  I also learned a lot of things about sport.  I now know the various sports practiced in Burkina Faso.  I also asked my parents to register me with a club of taekwondo.  During the forum, I learned the importance of this sport.  This sport makes it possible to be disciplined and to defend oneself in case of problems”, affirms Tassembédo Guéfarou, 12 years, Wend-Manégré college.
 
This event also offered to the participants a chance to tie links with young people of other countries and other continents.  “I have discussed with Elodie during the forum.  She lives in France.  She likes swimming like me.  We decided to exchange our emails to be able to continue to writing each other”, tells Soré  Alimata, 17ans.  

Young people want to discover the world and to know the situation in which the youth of other countries live.  It frequently happens that they skip the set themes of the forum to discuss other topics they are interested in. Youngsters participating are passionate about discussing with others from all over the world, and about their discovery of the internet.

By: Roukiattou Ouédraogo, Bntic