YOUNG WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM IN KENYA

YOUNG WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM IN KENYA
The Eastern and Southern African Symposium on Young Women and HIV/AIDS, will take place in Nairobi, Kenya between 27-29 November. The theme is HIV/AIDS, Education and Youth.

Announcement: Young Women’s Symposium in Kenya
Janet Feldman
*************

ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS:
The Eastern and Southern African Symposium on Young Women and HIV/AIDS,
will take place in Nairobi, Kenya between 27-29 November. The theme is HIV/AIDS, Education and Youth.
Survival: Perspectives and Priorities

Introduction
************
The Kenya Oral Literature Association (KOLA) and Strategic Initiatives for
Development (ST.R.I.DE) are glad to announce the holding of the Eastern
and Southern African Symposium on Young Women and HIV/AIDS. The event is
organized as part of the preparations for the Second International Youth
and Students Conference on HIV/AIDS (IYSCA). It seeks to promote the
active participation of young women, young women's organizations,
universities, NGOs, and government institutions.

The symposium will bring together young women from academic institutions
in the region, gender-based organizations, NGOs, Donors and governments to
reflect on the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on young women and to
design strategies for greater practical action to combat the spread of
HIV/AIDS among young women. Young women in academic institutions are
arguably Africa's hope in terms of enhancing gender-responsive
development, thus justifying the need for such an event.

Participants will be drawn from Uganda, Tanzania, Eritrea, Sudan, Rwanda,
Burundi, Lesotho, Namibia and Ethiopia. Others include Zambia, South
Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Seychelles,
Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique.

Objectives
**********
The objectives of the 3-day Symposium include the following:
* To provide a forum for networking, sharing of knowledge, experiences and
ideas on initiatives to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on young women.
* To promote cross-country exchange of best practices for implementing
women-friendly health services in academic institutions in Africa.
* To identify and develop specific actions that can be implemented to
support young women affected by HIVAIDS.
* To prepare young women to participate in the 2nd International Youth
Conference on HIV/AIDS scheduled for June 2003.

Dates and Venue
***************

The Workshop will be held in Nairobi, Kenya between 27th and 29th November
2002, to coincide with the World AIDS Day Celebrations.

Symposium Theme and Sub-Theme
*****************************
The symposium theme is: "HIV/AIDS, Education Youth Survival: Perspectives
and Priorities". The Symposium will focus on the following sub-themes:

Subtheme1: Young Women and AIDS
* The emerging picture
* Implications on development
* Comparative country analyses
* The situation in Academic Institutions
* The situation in countries

Subtheme2: rethinking solutions to problems of young women in reducing
HIV/AIDS
* HIV/AIDS and young girls out of school
* Integrating HIV/AIDS awareness in vocational training for girls and
women
* The problems of the girl-child
* HIV/AIDS orphans
* Problems of High School girls
* Problems of girls in college

Sub-theme 3: Impact of HIV/AIDS on Girl Education
* Responses by NGOs
* Responses by Academic Institutions
* Responses by Research Institutions
* Responses by Donors

Sub- theme 4: Gender-based Violence against Young Women and HIV/AIDS
upsurge
* Causes of gender violence on Campus
* Combating gender-based violence against young women in Institutions of
learning
* The security system in universities
* Re-defining Freedom in Universities
* Role of Universities

Sub-theme 5: Mentoring for a Brighter Future
* The place of young professionals in HIV/AIDS challenge
* Developing support mechanisms for infected and affected young women
* Career advisory services
* Tackling un-employment

Sub-theme 6: Young Women's Priorities and HIV/AIDS Scourge
* Human rights and reproductive health
* Women-friendly services
* Lobbying and advocacy mechanisms
* Developing supportive framework in universities
* Student organizations
* Policy Issues
* Issues of Donor support

Abstracts
*********
Abstracts of not more than 300 words should be sent to the address below
before 15 September 2002. The Abstract should include the following
information:

* Issues: a short statement summarizing the issue(s) addressed by the
Abstract
* Description: A brief description of the project, experience, service,
research and/or advocacy
* Conclusions and Lessons Learned: A brief description of the results of
the project or the major conclusions of the project
* Recommendations: A brief statement of the next steps

Complete papers should be sent to the undersigned by 15th October 2002.

Registration
************
Participants will be expected to seek funding for their own travel and
accommodation costs. A registration fee of US$ 50 will be levied on
participants to meet some of the administrative costs. A limited number of
participants will be supported to attend the event. Accommodation costs
are estimated at US$ 40 per day.

For more Information and Registration Forms, please contact:
W. Kaikai,
The Symposium Secretariat,
P.O. BOX 13542-00100, NAIROBI.
Tel: 254-02-245311
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]