Do you want to be a part of halving extreme global poverty by 2015? Do you know that we are the first generation in history that has the capacity and resources to end extreme poverty? By adding your voice and efforts to those of millions of people across the world standing up against poverty, you can be part of changing the world! By supporting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), YOU can be part of making poverty history!

What are the MDGs?

In 2000, 189 countries came together and committed to halving extreme poverty by 2015. These commitments tackle poverty broadly through 8 specific goals, The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

Governments from wealthy countries pledged to provide funding to support poorer countries reach these goals by providing financial support and fairer trade. Poorer countries pledged to uphold good governance and to invest in key sectors like education, health and social services. Across the world millions of ordinary people have come together and joined the campaign to STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY alongside governments and civil society organisations. Isn't it time YOU stood up?

So, how does this affect me? So, are you and/or people in your community affected by issues like poverty, hunger, violence, poor access to health services, substance abuse and HIV? These issues are directly related to the MDGs and it's time to STAND UP!

Did you know your government is committed to the MDGs? Our governments in South Africa. Botswana and Zambia signed the Millennium Declaration and since 2000, the MDGs have shaped most of the development plans and targets in areas like health, water and sanitation, education and social services. So, how does this affect me? So, are you and/ or people in your community affected by issues like poverty, hunger, violence, poor access to health services, substance abuse and HIV? These issues are directly related to the MDGs and it's time to STAND UP!

Tell us what you're doing and WIN!!
At GOLD we would love to know what YOU are doing to support the MDGs. GOLD believes that the voices and actions of Africa's youth are critical to making the MDG's a reality. Please email or sms us your name, contact information and what you are to to support the MDGS to iamgold@goldpe.org.za or 083 403 7977 (South Africa) and +27 00 00 000 (Botswana and Zambia) You could win an awesome digital camera!

16-18 Oct 2009
Join millions around the world for 3 days of action against poverty!
Register your action and be part of a Guinness World Record!
Join millions of people around the world on these 3 days of mobilization to send a loud and clear message from citizens to leaders of rich and poor countries to take urgent action to achieve the MDGs and once again break the Guinness World Record. If you want to be a part of the global movement that ends poverty, you can pre-register your STAND UP AND TAKE ACTION event here. www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/node/8842 Important, you have to come back on October 16-18 to be officially counted by Guiness World Records!

GOLD and the MDGs
GOLD Peer Education Development Agency supports the MDGs and is working with our partner organisations to address issues related to the MDGs at a grassroots level as well as asking governments to keep their promises.

Did you know your government is committed to the MDGs? Our governments in South Africa. Botswana and Zambia signed the Millennium Declaration and since 2000, the MDGs have shaped most of the development plans and targets in areas like health, water and sanitation, education and social services.

 

How can I STAND UP to support my community and the MDGs?

ACTION 1: Ask the people in power to do something
ACTION 2: Do something yourself.

Then tell us what you've done! Before you start, PREPARE!
1. Think about what's preventing your community from being the best community it can be.
2. Identify the big issues facing your community
3. Decide what you want to tackle first.
4. Decide what you want to see changed. (e.g. you want a youth friendly clinic)
5. Decide who you can approach to make this happen. (e.g ward councilor)
6. Mobilise a group of people who are passionate about this issue.
7. Decide how you will approach the person who can make the change. (e.g. petition for a youth friendly clinic presented to a ward councilor)
8. Ask yourself what YOU can do to help make a change and do it!! (volunteer at the clinic to share correct information around HIV with other young people)

TAKE ACTION 1
Ask the people in power to do something
Politicians in our countries know about the MDGs. They've made the commitment and we need to hold them to these promises and make sure they deliver on the national development plans based on the MDGs.

Here are some ideas of how you can let your voice be heard:
> Write a petition and present it to your ward councilor asking for an evidence-based substance abuse treatment centre in your community. Send a copy of the petition to your Minister of Health.
> Address a meeting. Ask if you can have a 10 minute slot at a ward forum or ward committee meeting or look out for a notice in your community paper for a public participation meeting (South Africa) or organize a kgotla (customary court meeting in Botwana) to ask your ward councilor to address the water shortage problem in your community and put pressure on the Water Affairs department. You can bring any request around a BIG ISSUE in your community to this sort of forum. Ask your ward councilor when he/she will report back to you about the progress made with your issue.
> Write a letter and present it to:
- Your school principal asking for orphans to be exempted from any school fees in accordance with government policy.
- Your police detective asking for improved services at the local station for victims of rape and gender based violence.
- Your ward councillor and clinic superintendent asking for longer clinic opening hours and a non-judgmental, youth friendly environment.
- Your local priest or minister asking him/her to preach against discrimination from the pulpit, including stigma of HIV and xenophobia.

TAKE ACTION 2
Be the change you want to see in the world
What are you going to commit to do today, tomorrow and the next day to help make the MDGs a reality in your community? You don't have to do it alone. Organize a group from your church to plant a food garden or join a group of GOLD peer educators doing a community upliftment activity. Suggest to a group of your friends that you collect food parcels each week and take them to people who are really struggling in your community. Think about it, commit to it and do it!!

Here are some ideas that might get you thinking about what commitment you can make!
> Come up with a play or drama which communicates the facts about HIV transmission and prevention and perform it in your community.
> Collect food and make up food parcels and give them to the hungry.
> Start a food garden at your school, church or community centre – get plants/seeds donated.
> Ask local businesses to sponsor paint and paint your school.
> Do a school clean-up where you go around picking up litter.
> Ask a local nursery to sponsor trees and plant trees at your school.
> Volunteer at the Clinic – ask the clinic sister how you can help.
> Form a homework club where you help younger children with their homework.
> Present a drama to your school or youth group about gender equality - how girls and boys are equally valuable and important and how girl and boys, men and women have a role to play in making sure your community is a healthy and fair place where everyone is treated with respect and given the same opportunities.

TALK GROUP DISCUSSION – Make Poverty History!
1: What are the big issues in your community?
2: How do these relate to the MDGs?
3: How can you take action against poverty and support the MDGs?
3.1: What would you ask people in power to do? Who would you ask? How? When?
3.2: How can you be the change you want to see in the world? What can you do individually and as a group?