Have you heard about the MDGs?

Can you think about two or three problems that affect people around the world? To understand the MDG, we first need to think about problems that affect people

Now think in some ideas to resolve those problems?

In the year 2000, the United Nations did the same exercise than us. They analyzed the main problems in the world and gave some ideas to resolve them. They created the MDG, the Millennium Development Goals as the way to resolve those problems. And they put a deadline to achieve those goals: the year 2015 Three years from now

So, what are the MDG? The MDG are 8 goals that cover many different issues. We will review all them now but before we have a question for you….. What do you think are the themes covered by the MDG?

This goal aims to reduce by 50% the people who live on less than $1 a day. There are millions of people who have less that 30 dollars to cover all their expenses per month, including food, housing, education, water, electricity, transportation, clothes, etc This goal also aims to reduce by half the number of people who suffer from hunger. Do you think a family can leave with $30 per month?

This goal aims to ensure that all boys and girls go to school and they finalize at least primary school There are many million of children who cannot go to school because: they need to work, there is not schools where they live, they are forced to get married, they are not allow because are from different ethnic group or minorities.

This goal aims to eliminate the differences between girls and boys in schools. In many countries girls and boy are treated in different ways and that is very bad because girls and boys are equal and have the same rights as human beings. In some countries, parents send only boys to schools and girls do not receive education. In some countries girls are thought to be nurses and boys to be doctors.

This goal aims to reduce the number of children who die under the age of five for reasons that are preventable In many countries young children die because they don’t have access to heath services, because the water is not drinkable and they don’t have money to buy good water. Many children die because their parent don’t have money to buy medications.

This goal aims reduce the number of women who die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth Many women who are expecting a child die because they don't have access to a hospital or in the hospital they don’t have the resources needed to cure them. Many women die during the childbirth because there are not doctors, midwifes or nurses to take care of them.

This goal aims to stop the progress of HIV/AIDS and give treatment for those who need it. This goal also aims to reduce malaria and other major diseases. The HIV/AIDS and malaria are very terrible diseases that could cause the death of a person if they don't receive medical treatment. In many countries people don't have access to hospitals and medication. People who have HIV/AIDS also suffer discrimination based on prejudices.

This goal aims to improve the life of people who live in slums and ensure that they have access to safe drinking water. Millions of people leave in very poor houses, some of them in small rooms covered by plastic and cardboards. They don't have water, they need to have shower in the streets or wherever they find water.

This goal aims to help the poorest countries in the world by giving them more technologies and reducing their debts Many countries have large amount of debts and they need to pay too much many to the banks, so they don’t have money to improve the quality of live of people in their countries.

So, what’s next? Do you think that these problems have been resolved? Do you think that MDGs will be achieved by 2015? Do you think that MDGs cover all the problems or there are something that we should add? YES NO YESNO

Think about.. MDGs will not be achieved by 2015 Many countries did not show any progress Some countries have progress but still many things need to be done to overcome these problems

The United Nations is leading the MDG process and they are calling for actions to evaluate and review the MDGs How children and youth can be engaged? Are you interested on this process?

Let's throw out some ideas and start brainstorming on how YOU can be engaged AI D ES

Here there are more Participate in discussions around the MDG Get the word out Create a school group to promote the MDG process Publish articles and artwork online or facebook Launch a post-MDG art contest A I D ES

Organize a public meeting or forum in your community Start an educational radio show Organize a theatre group showcasing the future you want from the MDG Organize a concert Write letter to your government asking for actions regarding the MDG More Ideas

We believe that children and youth can change the world

Problem Statement ProblemEvidence Problem Statement You should be able to summarise in 2-3 sharp sentences your “one-minute message”

Example one-minute message Statement: Children in crisis are missing out on the opportunity of an education. Evidence: More than 50 million children affected by armed conflict are facing a future without education, without hope. This includes 200,000 children in our own country.

Example one-minute message Statement: Only 30% of the progress needed to reach MDG 4 target of cutting child mortality by two thirds by 2015 has been achieved. Evidence: Most of these deaths are caused by poverty: 99% of under-five child deaths take place in developing countries.

Example 1 minute message Statement: Girls in (country X) have unequal opportunities at completing secondary school. Evidence: Only 62% of girls complete secondary school in (country X). International research shows that educating girls leads to economic growth, thereby benefiting all children. Solution: Please consider supporting a national policy that will encourage more girls to attend school.

Make your solution SMART Original solution Improve health service in rural areas SMART solution Increase coverage of high-quality essential health services for children in five rural locations in the country by 2020.

Example solutions Problem statement: Physical and humiliating punishment was identified as an issue by children in x% of schools. Solutions: – Education committees adopt and implement non- violent teaching policy in x districts by 2020 – A forum for children to speak about it created by 2010 – National legislation against physical and humiliating punishment passed and enforced by 2015

Example solution Statement: Only 30% of the progress needed to reach MDG 4 target of cutting child mortality by two thirds by 2015 has been achieved. Solution: Globally, wealthy countries need to increase their commitment to health from $16 billion a year to $42.5 billion by 2015 to meet the health MDGs.