Vlora Youth Ambassadors Educate their Peers on MDGs

10 April 2007

Vlora Ambassadors have placed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) high on their agenda. They are carrying out a public awareness and information campaign, which aims to spread awareness and promote public debate and understanding of the MDGs.

In order to bring MDGs closer to their peers, they visited a secondary school in Novosela, a nearby commune in Vlora. Around 70 students participated in the event and were briefed about the MDGs and why they are important especially to young people.

�We learned that Millennium Development Goals reflect the basic human rights every citizen in Albania and all over the world has: the right to education, health, shelter, and security�, said Elona, one of the students from Novosela.

�They are based on human rights. We think that by advocating for the MDGs - we do contribute to their achievements. Advocacy is a very effective tool to sensitize politicians, local government, civil society and media�, she added.

Students highlighted the role that the media must play to increase awareness of the goals.

�The media in Vlora run after sensational news and development issues seem to be very far from their agendas�, said Artur Lame one of the students.

They brainstormed on ways how to attract media in the public awareness and advocacy campaign and concluded that a joint meeting with media and students would be helpful.

The Ambassadors and students also brainstormed about what students can do to contribute to achievement of specific goals. They focused on Goal 7 � ensure environmental sustainability � and how they can help protect the environment in Vlora, especially the coast. Through brainstorming they realized that there are many actions they can undertake .They decided to have a Clean-the beach-day involving students from other schools.