Workshops for young people mark first International White Band Day

3 July 2005

Y Care International has brought over 300 young people from YMCAs across the UK to Livingston Football Club to mark the Global Call to Action Against Poverty’s White Band Day 1.

The charity’s ‘Livingston, Edinburgh and Beyond’ event – a day of global youth work and drama workshops, campaigns training and entertainment, run in partnership with YMCA Scotland – gave young people the opportunity to learn more about the issues behind the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the related Make Poverty History campaign, and gain the skills and confidence to take action in the future.

Lasting positive legacy

Y Care International’s Chief Executive, Chris Roles, said: “All young people must be at the heart of the movement to end global poverty. It’s crucial we sustain the momentum of the Make Poverty History campaign once the G8 summit is over, and our ‘Livingston, Edinburgh and Beyond’ event aims to help young people leave a lasting positive legacy.”

Participants demonstrated a tremendous awareness of and passionate interest in the issues covered by the workshops, including the need for more and better aid, Fair Trade, HIV/AIDS and the links between global and local poverty.

Workshops offer deeper insight

‘Issue’ workshops gave participants a deeper insight into topics including debt, aid and trade. One session looked at why 2005 is so important in offering the possibility of real change, and a youth justice workshop explored how crime and gangs are linked to poverty.

‘Action’ workshops showed young people they have a voice, by giving them practical tips on campaigning, lobbying and public speaking as well as how to use drama as a medium to express their views.

Unique banners send message to G8 leaders

Throughout the day participants created their own unique banners and wrote messages to the G8 leaders on pieces of white cloth – to be pinned to huge letters spelling out Make Poverty History during the main Edinburgh rally the next day.

White Band Day 2, on 10 September 2005, will remind world leaders, meeting at the UN Summit in New York, that the world is still watching and waiting for them to make poverty history.