1

SOMALILAND YOUTH SOCIETY

(SYS-BURAO)

Burao, Togdheer, Somaliland

Address: Ex-orphanage

SYS Youth multi-purpose Centre

Tell: 4436999/4419140, 713269

Email: sysburco@hotmail.com or maxamed103@hotmail.com

Evidence of SYS Implemented activities

UNPOS Ministry of Water and Mineral MRRR

2

1. INTRODUCTION:

Somaliland Youth Society (SYS) is a local youth, non governmental non- profit making non partisan and non-political voluntary organization that operates all the six regions of Somaliland in particular eastern regions of Somaliland. SYS-Burao was established in July 2001 by a group of youth from Togdheer region to address the social and economical problems facing the youth. SYS is one of the national and Burao IDP working groups, since 2005 SYS has been closely working with the internally displaced persons live in the a different settlements in Togdheer region closely with the IDPs in Burao, also SYS has good relation with the different IDPs committees, Somaliland Ministry of Resettlement and Reconstruction, Burao local municipality and other IDPs stakeholders. On the other hand SYS has practical experience and capacity for implementing this Non food items distribution project. SYS has qualified and experienced human resource as well as the organization has large premises that can help for storing and distribution of the Non food items for the IDPs in Burao. 2. SYS YOUTH CENTRE Burao Youth Multi purpose Centre (BYMC) is a youth recreation centre that managing and running by SYS supported by UNICEF and other agencies. The centre was founded in 2002 with support of UNDP constructed by candlelight handed over to SYS but it is successfully operating from the year 2005 under the management of SYS. The centre intended to provide youth friendly activities and community based services. The main purpose of initiated this youth centre was to get the place that youth/children can play and receive all the youth activities and services. The centre is committed to rehabilitate the disadvantage youth to create employment opportunities through marketable skill trainings, job hunting skills, CV writing, interview techniques and other educational courses. The return of peace and stability in Burao in 1997 has encouraged the population to return to their destroyed city and broken down homes to build again their lives. In an effort to address some of the problems that face the youth, Somaliland youth society (SYS) has initiated in 2002 the establishment of above mentioned youth centre, before the war the centre was a huge Orphanage structure that was a home to many needy and homeless children from the region and its surroundings. As a product of all civil wars this was destroyed including educational institutions, sports infrastructure as well as all government establishments. As a result of these destructions Youth in Somaliland were lost without Youth Centers, clubs for integration and communication as well as education centers and Burao Youth were not an exception. Hence some of the Youth joined conflicts becoming underage soldiers joining gangsters and drug .dealers and addicts among others. On realizing what was happening to the youth it became necessary to change them for the better life by providing them with at least some basic needs of a common youth. Youth Multi-purpose Development Centers were therefore

3

decided to be established in different places and Burao was one of the target areas. Although the core of the centre were large and especially designed to provide essential and educational programs for the youth but currently only the following services are provided: Sports entertainment of Volleyball and Basketball Education( NFE) Implementation of HIV/AIDS and FGM awareness rising on HIV/AIDS programs. Resource centre (library) Information sharing and counseling on katt chewing and other drugs Educational monthly newsletter. Indoor body exercises Recreation of sports and Familiarization of indoor games Skill training for the youth Burao IDPs protection monitoring and travel movements Gender integration and communication center 3. NATURE OF THE ORGANIZATION 1. SYS Burao is a voluntary humanitarian non government non profit making non political non partisan

youth organization dedicated to mobilizing and empowering the youth of Somaliland 2. SYS Burao shall have legal status and personality it shall have the right to sue or to be sued with its own

name.

VISSION STATEMENT SYS Burao is committed to lead Somaliland youth towards drug free, Education loving, Sports promotion, peaceful and hygiene and sanitation enhancing and to transform those who needs help in education/ and gender integration

MISSION STATEMENT SYS Burao was founded in 2001 by local youth activist to promote the living standard of local youth and children through Education, skills trainings, Sports, health, rights advocacy, and sanitation and awareness programs. SYS-Burao supports the youth throughout Somaliland, but it’s focused on the areas of Togdheer region. Its work is implemented through jointly planed beneficiary projects.

4

Objectives of the organization The objectives of SYS-Burao are: 1. To improve the living standards of disadvantaged youth and children in the IDPs and returnees

settlements by providing them avoidable, high quality basic literacy classes, skill training classes and seminars and income generation

2. To revive the sports of the region through trainings and tournaments so as to increase the social inter action among local youth groups.

3. To prevent youth from the bad behaviors of drugs consumption by providing them reliable entertainment and recreation services.

4. To insure that the health services are available and affordable to every one in Togdheer region by advocacy.

5. To enhance the environmental condition for the youth health through effective sanitation programs. 6. To serve for youth through effective awareness programs (workshops, seminars etc.) on the reproductive

health (HIV/AIDS, FGM and other STDs). 7. To serve as a forum for sharing experiences and information on youth affecting issues. 8. To advocate the improvement of youth and child rights legislations. 9. To empower youth (both male and female) to play actively their role in civil society activities (Project/

programs) in Togdheer region.

VALUES AND GOALS S.Y.S Burao committed to, 1. Encourage the youth to understand their roles in the civil society activities, as well as about their rights. 2. Implementing projects according to the needs of the local people not for SYS_Burao. 3. Providing support that will have a very long-term positive effect on the adult youth (male and female)

and children in Togdheer region. 4. Prevent and battle against the bad behaviors such as drugs consumption, tribalism, robbery, etc. in the

local youth society. Focus area of the organization The work of the organization shall be limited to any humanitarian work based its objectives. Area of operation Education program Literacy and numeration classes (NFE) skill training. Sports program, recreational activities and various sports arrangements. Gender integration formulated

5

Healthy program, awareness raising on HIV/AIDS FGM, Hygiene and sanitation activities, IDPs community and general youth of Burao.

Journal production. Departments/programs

The Somaliland youth society SYS-Burao has provision of departments

Such as:

Sports departments

Education departments

Human rights department

Healthy departments

Huge Youth Centre management

Departmental objectives To strength the activities of the organization in order to survive and fulfill its mission.

To bring about positive social and organizational change.

To conduct organizational assessments of implementing projects

To sustain the development of organizational planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Major activities of the department include: Planning of the activities of the department

Budget preparation for the department

Fund raising for the departmental programs

Implementing departmental programs

Monitoring and evaluation of the programs

Documentation of all capacity building activities

Programs of the departments The programs of the departments are to strengthen the capacity of the organization and its target group,

departments focuses on developmental programs that consolidate organizational and individual

competencies. Such programs focus on building the capacity of staff that is aimed at positioning them

6

strategically in order to participate actively in the developmental process of the origination and to be

paramount channels of empowering the community.

4. Organizational achievements and current programs 1. SYS Education program

Education programs SYS established a non-formal education school in the year of 2004, the beneficiaries of the centre is young people who didn’t participated the formal education and still remain illiteracy and adult people who can not read and write. As we know the education has great value for human being. SYS is integral party of local development organization. Which particular involved the child rights, education improvement and campaign against illiteracy, in every eight months SYS trains out of school children, adult people both men and women. The subjects that the Center provides including, literacy and Numeracy, languages as Somali, English, moths, and also they are taken other lessons like life skills basic education and skills trainings, health and commercial courses and the beneficiaries from different parts of the community like IDPs minority groups and education program of the organization continues both urban and rural areas. Hence, the urban trainees who completed the courses they will get the skill training opportunities. SYS and CARE international highlighted some enterprises as host trainers. “Ongoing NFE project” Currently, SYS is directly implementing the project which is entitled “Enhancing women’s participation in Decision making and Increasing Community’s awareness on human rights in Togdheer region” funded by International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) through NAGAAD network, this project including adult education both urban and rural areas, the life span of the project is 4 years. The majority of project beneficiaries are the unemployed and untrained/under-trained youth of Burao (women and men). They will come from diverse social and educational backgrounds. Most of them are returnees, as well as a result of influx of pastoral families to towns due to the adverse environmental conditions in the countryside. The fact that the families are poor and untrained to take up urban jobs has resulted in the low economic situation of the target groups. And there are other education programs including SYS shaqodoon program funded by USAID through EDC. The Somali Youth Livelihoods Program SYLP shaqadoon, is implementing by SYS and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Through Education Development Center (EDC) this program aimed to improve the living standard conditions of the Somaliland youth, the core Shaqodoon Training and Placement (TAP) Program provides Somali youth with a greater opportunity to access training, internships, real paid job and self-employment opportunities. These opportunities are intended to productively engage youth and add to the stability and development of the region. Somali staff, assisted by international experts, work with employers to better understand the skills needed by them, assist education

7

and training providers to develop programs that are more focused on meeting labor market demand, and build upon existing technical training programs. 94 were graduated and 35 out of 94 were get real paid job from the NGOS, government offices and commercial stakeholders

2. Youth at risk program (NFE, Life skills, psychosocial, skills trainings. recreation and sports

activities) Youth at risk program is funded by government of Japan through UNICEF with local partners SYS and SONYO umbrella. This project is based on the Burao Togdheer region in promoting Community Security through engagement with youth at risk & Life Skills Based Education to create protection mechanisms, conflict management and building peace and stability process of the district. This project is intends to rehabilitate the disadvantaged youth in Burao to minimize the violence and conflicts among the youth particularly youth at risk for the provision of life skills based education (LSBE), literacy and numeracy (NFE), psychosocial counseling, ICT skills and recreation and sports activities. Now many young persons have shown the interest of actively effecting positive change in their communities if only they would be provided with knowledge, skills. This initiative is also very participatory as adolescents and the young persons are engaged in all aspects of the project activities. The outcomes of the LSBE where the project discovered the importance of enlargement of LSBE and address youth vulnerable to the conflict and violence, thus UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, SONYO and SYS have coalition to demobilise 350 youth at risk with LSBE, NFE, Psychosocial and family reintegration programs. Other activities: there is a study carried out by SYS in December 2006, on skill Training and Skills Providers in Somaliland, covered 19 institutions (INGO’s, LNGOs and UN-agencies) that are either supporting or implementing an assortment of training programs of various lengths and contents. These include carpentry, masonry, electricity, tailoring, embroidery and knitting, handicrafts, computer training, midwifery, book-keeping, accounting, secretarial skills and some of other trainings. Their length spanned from 15 days to 8 months. The study showed that almost 50% of the graduates have been able to get engaged in employment after the acquisition of marketable skills of which 62% of those who graduated and employed are males. On the basis of the above findings, the study concluded that the

8

vocational skills training as a first opportunity for young men and women to get engaged in self or gainful employment. SYS has an agreements focused on Electricity, Electronics, computer hardware, beautification training and secretarial skills, which will now attended or considered in the first and second phases of the program such as electricity/electronics training and an assortment of skills that are designed for women. On the basis of enterprises Problem analysis

3. Environmental protection, Hygiene and sanitation programs SYS organized hygiene and sanitation campaigns against rubbish and plastic bags and mobilizations

among community after SYS feels and deplores the wide impacts of the plastic bags with IDPs community.

FAMILIES NOT

AWARE OF

IMPOTANCE OF EDUCATION

IN SOMALI

CULTURE MEN

ONLY ARE DECISIONMAKERS

FEW

OPPORTUNITIES

FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING

LOT OF IDPs IN

BURAO

NO INVESTEMENTS

IN BURAO

FAMILIES NOT

AWARE OF

IMPOTANCE OF EDUCATION

BOYS ARE

ADVANTAGED FOR

SCHOOLING AND VOC. TRAINING

EARLY

MARRIAGES

ARE

COMMON

LOT OF

UNSKILLED

POPULATION

FEW ENTERPRISES

IN AREA

MANY

CHILDREN

ARE

ILLETERATE

GIRLS DO NOT

HAVE

VOCATIONAL

SKILLS

FAMILY ENTERPR.

PREFER OWN

FAMILY

MEMBERS

FEW JOBS

AVAILABLE

HIGH

UNEMPLOYMENT OF

WOMEN AND MEN IN

BURAO AREA

POOR INCOME

GENERATION IN

FAMILIES

Social Conditions

Causes

Core Problem

Effects

9

SYS conducted community mobilizations that about a sanitation campaign and role of community participation in the protection of widespread problems of rubbish and keep environmental impacts with IDPs community and general in society.

SYS implemented hand washing project through Video productions to release Burao Video centers and Hargaisa TV

SYS took part the national cleaning campaigns both in activities and in kind and cash contributions collaborated with government and community actors.

4. Solid waste management project SYS implement a broad based solid waste management awareness campaign project funded by EC through CESVI International coordinated by Burao Municipality, geared towards Solid waste Management Behavioral change among Burao residents. SYS was strive during implementation to impart information on the effects of poor waste disposal as it affects Individual & community health, Environmental degradation and Poverty associated with avoidable medical bills, Project activities 1. Training on solid waste management for Community Sanitation Committees (CSC)

2. SWM awareness campaigns through Drama performance.

10

5. Improvement of livelihoods and environmental protection through recycling of plastic bags project Since May 2011 SYS has been implementing a project named Improvement of livelihoods and environmental protection through recycling of plastic bags in Burao, that funded by EC through the international organization named CESVI that has been operating in Somaliland since 2000, The project was aimed to improve the livelihoods of untrained youth mainly women from poor internally displaced families and mitigate the environmental degradation due to accumulation of solid waste in Burao through recycling of plastic bags to produce marketable product. After a profound sanitary assessment conducted by SYS in Burao; the following main problems were identified: A) limited community awareness and knowledge on proper waste disposal leading to over accumulation of plastic bags that have negative impact on the sanitation, hygiene and general public health in Burao. B) Widespread environmental degradation of grassing land, agricultural land, bushes which causes death of a large number of livestock due to improper disposal of waste products particularly accumulation plastic bags. C) Limited community knowledge and skills to handle and reverse the danger from the plastic bags accumulation in Burao. D) The Local municipality has scarce resources available for the garbage collection compounded with improper uses of temporary dumping sites by the community and inadequate solid waste management systems. E) Untrained youth (women and men) from poor internally displaced youth have limited skills training opportunities.

Produced items Trade fair event in Burao 6. HIV/AIDS AND FGC PROGRAMs

SYS conducted community awareness rising against HIV/AIDS and STDS and workshop and discussions to reduce the risks and problems of these diseases.

SYS held seminars and discussion forums towards the danger of HIV/AIDS and programs that focus on the prevention a long run the risk of losing credibility and how to explore the way to reduce

11

SYS-Burao conducted tournaments against HIV/AIDS. During the awareness campaign SYS provides IEC materials to the sports teams and other community members

SYS implementing in every year world AIDS day commemoration and FGM. The FGM practice caused many problems after having done to young girls including health problems, psychological effects and so may others. A new study published by WHO has shown that women who have had Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are significantly more likely to experience difficulties during childbirth and that their babies are more likely to die as a result of the practice. Researchers found there was an increased need to resuscitate babies whose mothers had had FGM. It is estimated that in the African context an additional 10 to 20 babies die per 1000 deliveries as a result of the practice. The reliable evidence regarding its harmful effects, both for mothers and their babies should contribute to the abandonment of the practice.

Occasions and community gathering world AIDS day FGM practice caused many problems after having done to young girls including health problems, psychological effects and so may others. A new study published by WHO has shown that women who have had Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are significantly more likely to experience difficulties during childbirth and that their babies are more likely to die as a result of the practice. Researchers found there was an increased need to resuscitate babies whose mothers had had FGM. It is estimated that in the African context an additional 10 to 20 babies die per 1000 deliveries as a result of the practice. The reliable evidence regarding its harmful effects, both for mothers and their babies should contribute to the abandonment of the practice.

12

7. FGM Commemorate Day in Burao on 6th February, 2009 Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM), is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a range of procedures which involve ‘the partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reason’. Among the Somalis, the overwhelming majority (98%) of women is genitally mutilated. The negative implications and concern over the violation of basic human rights make FGM a matter of pressing concern, FGM is also an important reproductive health issue which must be approached with clear understanding of the cultural content in which it is practiced. There is no law specifically prohibiting FGM in Somaliland. Until recently, the Type III circumcision, the most severe type of FGM was the only socially acceptable form of circumcision. This type involves cutting all the external genitalia and sewing up the vagina almost entirely, allowing a tiny hole for the passing of urine and menstruation. Some analysts have suggested that the disruption of the war years caused an increase in the practice8 of FGM, as traditional culture became an important source of stability for a beleaguered Population. On 6th February, 2009, FGM Commemorate Day was conducted in Burao Kariyah (public gathering place), this commemorate day was organized by Burao Gender Working Group and SYS was one of them for those were organized the event. The event was participated approximately 3000 of people from different places of Burao, the purpose of the event was how to show the communities for the level of awareness of this awful practice of FGM.

Asha from MO/FA addressing the FGM event, Nasir Ali shire from S/L parliamentary addressing the event 8. Women’s Commemorate Day in Burao on 8 march, 2009 Somaliland youth society SYS participated women’s commemoration day on 8 march, 2009. With collaborated and implemented by GWG as the leading of MO/FA. The activity was held in SYS youth centre, the event was participated approximately 2500 people from different society of Burao. The objective of the event was to enhance the women’s participation in difference aspects of the society. The officials of the

13

government were gave the speeches about women’s enhancement and also women activist highlighted the importance of the women empowerment. 9. World water day commemoration 22th march 2012 World Water Day, commemorated each year on 22 March, focuses attention on the importance of freshwater to sustainable development. World Water Day 2012 emphasizes the importance of water to global food security. To mark World Water Day on March 22, 2012, SYS collaborated with MW&MR with the support of Caritas directly implemented this event as coordinately to raise awareness on the water and food security in Togdheer region. These agencies are implemented world water day commemoration in each year and caritas implemented programs to help poor communities gain access to safe, sustainable water supplies across Somaliland in the past 17 years, including Togdheer region. "Water and Food Security" is the theme of World Water Day 22 March. As President of UN-Water, World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Michel Jarraud attended the official ceremony in Rome at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization, which is coordinating this year’s event. Food security has been very high on the international agenda since the peak food prices of 2008. Population growth, urbanization and development pressure have also contributed to food and water scarcity. Climate change will further aggravate the issue, said Mr Jarraud. “Increasing attention will be required on the potential impacts on the water cycle and food security from climate variability and change, especially due to the increasing vulnerability and the complexity of the associated uncertainties. Floods and droughts present dramatic threats to food security and freshwater availability and quality, of which the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa

10. Media program SYS implemented media program projects entitled youth broadcasting program with support of UNICEF to train young people the media programs video and film production, editing, web management and journalism ethics. The main purpose of this project was to increase the skills of the adolescents in order to creating self employment opportunities and enhancing communications skills. During the implementation

14

of the project SYS/UNICEF has initiated media centre in SYS youth centre with different facilities. The results of the trainings including some of the trained youth has got a job with different TVs, websites and local news papers and it comes into the number of success stories like Universal TV. During the implantation period SYS produced following programs: Video hand washing program Video girl child education program Video Vaccination program Video hygiene and Sanitation program Video Sports program HIV/AIDs program Quarterly Newsletter Producing Relief documentary films Producing radio programs SYS Takes part Media trainings funded by UNICEF implemented by SONYO umbrella. media equipments handed over to SYS Centre and has media centre

Training participants, (Participants of Media training held Burao City plaza hotel)

GIRL’S LEADERSHIP DEVOLOPMENT PROJECT SYS is directly implementing this project, SONYO provides technical support and UNICEF is the funding agency through SONYO UMBERELLA.. This program was intended to reach around 1000 adolescences girls through trainings in all six regions of Somaliland, seven partners girls associations are planed to undertake several trainings SYS intended to implement trainings in Togdheer region to reach 145 adolescences girls, target beneficiary of this program are adolescent girls aged 10-19 years old. The target beneficiaries are the

15

adolescent girls of Burao who will a have a chance to participate this fundamental training and main target beneficiaries of this program were adolescent girls aged between 10 up to 19 years old, the total direct beneficiaries of this training is 145 adolescents girls and indirect beneficiaries is 500 adolescents girls of Burao Togdheer region Emergency and relief programs SYS emergency relief programs encourage helping poor people and disadvantaged communities, internal displacement persons caused by recurrent droughts, conflicts and natural disasters. SYS has committed to response emergency disasters and drought preparedness approaches. SYS implemented different emergency and droughts preparedness project and programs including food Aid distributions, water trucking, water management trainings and emergency preparedness trainings and created community action plans (CAP). Wash programs to assist vulnerable communities. Funded by UHHCR, UNICEF, WFP and caritas, the distributed items including jeri cans, food, kitchen utensil and plastic sheets Government and community relationship The Somaliland youth society SYS-Burao has closely relationship with government and different parts of the community because we fully understand that the participation of the government and community in our projects will be succeed sustainable development. SYS collaborated with

local municipality, Ministry of youth and sports, Ministry of health and labor, ministry of Education ministry of (MRR) Business community And community as a whole

The above mentioned line ministries are actively participated in SYS projects/programs both IDPs community and in general youth developmental projects

REVENUE AND FINANCIAL SOURCE The income of SYS shall be derived from:

1. Subscription fee of members of the organization 2. Funds provide through agreements with development agencies implementing projects 3. Other donations both in kind and cash 4. Local and external fund raising

16

Annex 2. Organizational chart

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

B O D

CHAIRPERSON

Media

program

NFE

SECTION Admin &

finance

Human

Rights

YOUTH

RECREATION

PROJECT

HIV/AIDS

program

HYGIEN &

SANITATION