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IHEYO looks ahead Ever since I became became active in IHEYO in 2003, we have spent much time on re-establishing IHEYO as an organisation. Formal things had to be in place, we had to recruit members and proved the usefulness of our existence. This phase in the reactivation of IHEYO is now over. We have acquired the status as International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), found our place in the world of organised humanism and built relations to other organisations and institutions in the international humanist movement. But still, IHEYO has a long way to go. As I start my presidency, we have ambitious plans for 2007 and the coming years. In the coming period, I want to focus especially on two issues: increasing the number of members and communicating better with the members we have. If IHEYO is to fulfill our main aim, to be a platform for youth humanists worldwide, these two are essential. After new year, IHEYO will start the work with establishing a new website, driven by content management system. This will enable easier updates to our site, from many sources. When this new tool is in place, I hope our members will use it well. Also, a there will be a campaign to reach new members. The 40 members we already have can very well be accompanied by organisations from more organisations in East- and South-Europe, Oceania, Asia, the Americas and vast parts of Africa. Do not hesitate to contact me if you know of organisations you think should be member of IHEYO. I am particularly glad to chair a organisation with a broad and friendly outlook. Our General Assembly just made part of our By-Laws that we aim to have as a diverse Executive Committee as possible. Though half of our executives are Europeans, the other half consists of Asians and Africans. I find this important, if IHEYO is to be an truly international organisation. I have seen other “international” organisations whose boards consist of white westerns only. I find that sad, and am glad
that IHEYO stands out as different. Though this can still be absolutely better, it is the best composition in the recent history of IHEYO. Also, one can add, almost half of our full members are currently from Europe Lastly, I hope you can wish me and my team of volunteers good luck with the tasks ahead. Lars-Petter Helgestad Comment this President`s Note at http://iheyo.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=3
IHEYO annual conference 2006 In the South of India, in Vijayawada, more than 50 young humanist youth leaders and experts came together to develop their ideas and skills on teaching critical thinking and free inquiry during the fifth annual international IHEYO conference. At the same time, humanist youth leaders in Africa held an online conference to discuss pressing issues for African societies. The next issue of the YouthSpeak will inform you deeply about these events.
Two pictures taken by Sven Berg Ryen
Report international humanist youth training Four organisations from four different countries exchanged this summer in the heart of the European Union: Brussels. They couldn't have chosen a more symbolic place. Around 20 young people came together, from Belgium, Norway, Finland and Poland. It was my first time as a participant in an international conference and my first stay in Brussels, therefore I was very excited. I met very interesting people from different countries during the seminar and I got to know many of them. I thought that we wouldn’t be so different from each other since we all were European, but I was wrong. I think it was nice that we were so 'unlike' because I learned a lot about different cultures during our 10 days in Brussels. And I’m sure that I am going to use this information later in other contexts.
News from the IHEYO General Assembly 2006 IHEYO accepted four new member organizations The Cameroon Freethought Association and the Atheist Centre ( India) were granted full membership by the General Assembly. Consultative membership were granted to the Transhumanist Students Network (global) and the Ugandan Humanist Effort to Save Women. IHEYO now has 20 full members and 20 consultative member organizations in 22 different countries, (including a global organisation with its headquarters based in the United States of America). The list of IHEYO members can be seen at our website: http://www.iheyo.org/iheyo/members.htm
Vikas Gora of the Ateist Centre ( India) was elected as 1 st Vice President, and former President Gea Meijers of the Union of Freethinking Organisations ( Belgium) was elected as the new Treasurer. Asaba Lawrence of the Ugandan Humanist Association was reelected as board member. Elected as new board members were Heini Oikkonen of the Prometheus Camp Association Everyone was elected for a period of three years. Not up for election this year was Secretary-General Yemi Johnson ( Nigeria), 2 nd Vice President Silvana Uhlrich ( Germany) and Board Member Sara Wastijn ( Belgium). The Executive Committee now consists of 10 vibrant and active young humanists who will do their best for IHEYO in the coming period. The composition of the Executive Committee is diverse, and it is balance with 50 % of each gender. See the Executive Committee on our website: http://www.iheyo.org/iheyo/ec.htm Amendments to the By-Laws One amendment was controversial among the delegates at the General Assembly, an amendment including a high level of obligatory quorum of member organisations present at future General Assemblies to change the By Laws and a clause that if the quorum Is not met the GA may convene a new meeting where the quorum is not required after at least 14 days. New Standing Orders The Standing Orders regulate, among other things, rules of making decisions in the Executive Committee, preparations, deadlines and roles for the General Assembly, financial guidelines and duties and rights volunteers, including a pledge of secrecy. The Standing Orders are based on the routines of work in IHEYO that has emerged over the past years, as well as some rules to abide by requirements of Belgian law. All IHEYO volunteers should have read the Standing Orders. The Standing Orders are published at our website: http://www.iheyo.org/iheyo/bylaws.htm
European Humanist Youth Camp in Norway, Summer 2007 IHEYO member organisation Norwegian Humanist Association (HEF) wants to gather young humanists from all of Europe to get to know each other, get know ourselves better, learn more about humanism and have a great week. There should be one contingent leader and 5-10 participants from each country. HEF has sent an invitation to all the humanist organisations that they know about. So you can contact your organisation to hear if they have started to fill in the application form. If they are not doing anything yet, you should maybe help them. If you would like to be the contingent leader (then you can be older than 25) you have to get your name in the application from your organisation. All the information that HEF has sent to the organizations is also available on their website: www.human.no/oslo/hug/international For questions, you can contact Mari-Marthe Apenæs: e-mail: marimarthe_at_mac.com, msn: hug_at_human.no
Oxfam International Youth Partnerships 2007-2010 Oxfam International Youth Partnerships is a global network of young people working with their communities to create positive, equitable and sustainable change. If you are working with your community to create a positive future then you can apply to be a part of the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships.
In the spotlight: Betty Nassaka Betty Nassaka is one of the founders of the women humanist organisation in Uganda. This personal story tells how she developed her critical and independed mind in a country where women are not treated equally due to many religious and traditional practices. I grew up in a family that worships both God and gods. My stepfather, who was a traditional healer, would go to church with my mother on Sundays (my father was killed during liberation war). My parents were so rude to me that whenever I would ask any of them a question, I was answered with a question. I prayed to God several times when I was a kid. I prayed to God to rescue me from working in the garden, which was my major problem by then. God never helped me. I hated and cursed God for this. Instead of going to church on Sundays like the rest, I was ordered to dig a piece of ground that I never completed on Saturday and to collect firewood for the shrine. On Mondays, I was then punished for not attending Sunday school. I got tired of praying to God and finally thought of an idea that could save me from digging. I began surprising my mother by waking up very early, cleaning the house, preparing tea and washing the utensils. My mum was very happy and stopped me from working in the garden so that I could concentrate on domestic work. That experience made me realize that reasoning for myself without basing this on God could help me to overcome a problem.
My mind kept asking inquisitive and critical questions. How strong were the gods? When I was fifteen years old, I wanted to check whether the gods in the grass-thatched shrines could prevent it from catching fire. When I tested, the shrines burnt as if there was paraffin. I tried to control the fire but all was in vain. Funny enough, the gods purported to tell my stepfather that the shrine was burnt by our neighbour. Since then, I started also doubting the fear for the gods. I learnt that miracles, superstitution and all forms of supernatural world were myth. Approaching humanism Having gradually developed a critical and independed mind, I came 1997 in contact with the Ugandan Humanist Association. I was at the college and my science tutor Deo Ssekitooleko together with other UHASSO members, conducted a seminar on human rights. During this seminar, they discouraged corporal punishments and gave us some books with humanist information. In 2002, I joined the Uganda Humanist Association- Youth (UHASSO Youth), which helped me to become more active with humanism. Being active in UHASSO, I started looking at sexism, racism and other forms of oppression. I began to look at reality in its entirety. Through free and critical inquiry, I am now aware that we should always pursue knowledge and explain our ignorance of the universe though we may never answer all the questions about life. I took my own destiny in my hands. Together with a few other women we decided to form the first Ugandan women humanist association. And this year we managed to launch the organisation. UHESWO IHEYO YouthSpeak! … nothing but Rationality, Human and Scientific development.
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