31 October 2006

Aswan: Under Aswan’s midday sun a group of young women and men gathered on the pier before entering one of the eight MDG feluccas. On each felucca discussions and questions were raised about a particular MDG and the young participants looked at their role in achieving Egypt’s development objectives.

“I think that we have the implementation role for the MDG’s” says Ahmed a 20 year old participant. “The government has the legal role and we as youth can be active and affect on the ground implementation”.

More general questions were raised by 21 year old Rabih who questioned “why we only have 8 MDG’s if so many other problems exist? How can these eight goals be applicable to 191 countries if each country is different? In Egypt for example we have a serious problem with youth unemployment and employment for young graduates. Would it be possible to make our own goals for Egypt?”

On the HIV/AIDS felucca issues of stigmatization were discussed. “People should not be put aside simply because they have HIV/AIDS.  Even if they got it through drug use or extramarital sexual relations” said Haissam-16.

These discussions were one of the many activities that were planned in Aswan’s three day event where hundreds of young volunteers and participants came together around the theme of the Millennium Development Goals.