Youth Peacebuilding and Economic Empowerment
“Empowering young minds through entrepreneurship, interfaith dialogue, and inclusive policies fosters sustainable peace and prosperity. Together let’s bridge gaps and build a harmonious future.”
Rev. Fred Nyabera
“We were created into diverse nations so that we can get to know and work together. We, therefore, need to embrace each other and our diversity without religious prejudice.” – Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, Secretary General, GNRC
“In entrepreneurship, motivation support ideas and ideas are not ideas if not acted upon. One needs to start and learn as they progress.” – Mr. Adikwu
Oftentimes, people tend to separate peacebuilding and economic development. This however should not be so. In peacebuilding, it is important to bring in the aspect of economic empowerment as the two complement each other. The attainment of one could accelerate the attainment of the other. To connect the two, Arigatou International’s Interfaith Initiative to End Child Poverty (End Child Poverty), in partnership with the Norwegian Church Aid organized the 6th Youth In Action Forum (the second for the new cohorts). Twenty-five youths from five East African countries (Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania) were present at the forum. They participated in the four-day event, from 20th to 23rd May, under the theme Youth Peacebuilding and Economic Empowerment.
Rev. Fred Nyabera, Director, End Child Poverty, took the youths through the topic on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). He lauded the youths for their knowledge on the topic, and their active participation in online discussions on the matter. Through interactive sessions and games, the participants connected the importance of FoRB in peacebuilding and its correlation with economic development.
The participants visited the SDGs Academy for Children, in Limuru, Kenya, hosted by Mr. Michael Adikwu, the Sustainable Development Programme Lead at End Child Poverty. While there, they toured Tetu Farm (a farm owned by a youth couple). They were an inspiration to the youths as farming in Kenya, is an activity stereotyped for older retired generations.
The youths interacted with a team from EcoBana whose CEO, Mr. Lennox Omondi, was among the youths participating in the forum. He told the youths of the journey that saw the launch of EcoBana, a social enterprise that manufactures and distributes environmentally friendly sanitary towels made from banana fibers. “You do not always have to come up with new solutions to problems but work to improve on existing solutions” – Mr. Omondi.
The youths shared their excitement about having participated in the Forum, and looked forward to the implementation of advocacy activities on FoRB, relevant to their country’s context.
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A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various forms of chance-based games. It is most commonly associated with blackjack, roulette, and craps, but may also offer video poker, baccarat, keno, and more. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, shopping, and other tourist attractions.
A modern casino typically has a complex arrangement of gaming tables and machines. Some are surrounded by other buildings, such as retail shops or other entertainment venues, while others stand alone. Some casinos are designed to be a complete experience, with hotels, restaurants, spas, and more included in the package.
Casinos make money by imposing an advantage on all bets placed within them. This edge is small—typically less than two percent of a bet—but over millions of bets it adds up to enough revenue to keep the casinos in business. This income is used to pay for the hotel rooms, food, drinks, and other amenities for the patrons. Some casinos, especially those based in Las Vegas, have become famous for their extravagant inducements to high-stakes gamblers. These include free spectacular entertainment, luxury accommodations, reduced-fare transportation, and other luxurious perks.
Despite the casino’s seamy reputation, it is a popular form of entertainment. Many Americans visit a casino at least once a year, and the industry is growing rapidly. In addition to offering a wide range of gambling opportunities, a modern casino usually has a variety of other amenities for its guests, including restaurants, bars, spas, and performance venues where pop, rock, jazz, and other artists perform.
In the past, casinos were often controlled by mob figures who supplied the funds to operate them. Mob money gave casinos a veneer of legitimacy, but federal crackdowns on organized crime and the risk of losing their licenses at the slightest hint of mob involvement forced most legitimate casino owners to buy out the mobsters and begin operating without their help.
In the twenty-first century, casinos have increasingly incorporated technology into their operations. The most visible example is the use of surveillance cameras, which allow the casino to monitor its patrons and spot suspicious activity. Less obvious is the way that casinos use computers to supervise their games. For instance, betting chips with built-in microcircuitry enable the casinos to track the exact amounts of money wagered minute by minute and warn them if there is any deviation from normal statistical patterns. Casinos are also increasingly using electronic systems to track the speed of spins on roulette wheels and to detect any suspicious movements by players.
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Educational and Living Conditions of Children in Africa
In the spirit of collaboration and strengthening the Network, and as a member of the Arigatou International family, GNRC Bosnia and Herzegovina (GNRC BiH) joined the rest of the GNRC members and the world in commemorating the Day of the African Child on 16th June 2023. To mark this auspicious day, a workshop titled ‘Children of Africa’ was held.
GNRC BiH took the participants through a presentation of the life of children from Africa, with a focus on Madagascar. The aim was to draw comparisons and bring attention to the conditions of upbringing and education of the African Child and the participants themselves.
After the presentation and discussion, it was evident that there was a change in awareness.
GNRC BiH wanted to encourage thinking about desires and ambitions in education, and through the prism of religious teaching, to strengthen the tools for preventing greed and exaggeration in securing material things. The workshop was led by psychologist Majida Memišević and pedagogue M.Sc. Ismeta Salihspahić, Coordinator, GNRC BiH.
Maintaining the spirit of Ubuntu in celebrating the Day of the African Child, despite coming from Europe, GNRC BiH showed empathy, compassion, collaboration, and most importantly humanity and togetherness. True to the words of the Christian African philosopher, J. S. Mbiti’s “I am, because we are; and since we are therefore, I am”.
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Financial services is the industry that encompasses banks, credit unions, insurance companies, investment firms and other institutions that provide a range of services. It includes everything from assisting individuals with debt repayment and financial planning to facilitating stock trading, providing loans and investment funds, and even offering payment utilities such as credit cards and debit cards. The field is highly regulated and complex, with constant pressure from both consumers and regulators for improved supremacy, transparency and accountability.
The financial services sector is a powerful economic force that can drive other industries’ practices, standards and operations. It comprises thousands of for-profit enterprises and nonprofit ventures that focus on money management and other monetary functions. It is also a key driver of consumer confidence and purchasing power. When this sector and its entities are successful, the economy as a whole thrives. However, when this sector struggles, the economy can falter and even collapse.
As a result, the industry faces a number of challenges including increased regulation, increasing competition, and the changing face of the customer. With customers demanding more choice, customization and convenience, many financial service providers are looking to invest in digital technology to better meet their needs. This is resulting in an exciting opportunity for professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve and become part of this dynamic and innovative industry.
A career in financial services can be very rewarding, as the sector is known for promoting from within on the basis of merit, rather than tenure. Many of these organizations are also heavily invested in their employees and encourage them to continue their education, allowing for professional growth and career advancement opportunities. In addition, financial services companies offer a wide range of benefits such as free training programs, free access to e-learning tools, and perks like gym memberships and paid travel.
When considering a career in financial services, it is important to understand the different types of roles and their responsibilities. For example, a bank is a key player in the financial services industry because it collects deposits from people who have money to pool together and then lends that money to those who need it. In addition, it offers a variety of other products and services such as investing in mutual funds and money markets.
In the past, banks were the main providers of financial services. However, regulations prevented them from offering the full range of products that their consumers wanted and this led to them increasing their business with other companies such as brokerages and insurance firms. This is one reason that the lines between the various financial services sectors began to blur and even today, some banks now have subsidiaries that offer products outside of their core offerings. This is a trend that is likely to continue as consumers demand more choice and greater convenience.
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Hope Away from Home
On June 20, we, together with millions around the world, and led by the UNHCR, mark World Refugee Day, a day to celebrate the resilience and courage of millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes and seek safety in other countries. It is also a day to raise awareness and solidarity for their plight and their rights.
Refugees are not just numbers or statistics. They are human beings with dreams, talents, and aspirations. They have endured unimaginable hardships and losses, but they have not given up hope. They have shown remarkable strength and adaptability in the face of adversity.
Refugees deserve respect, compassion, and support. They deserve to be included in the societies that host them, have access to education, health care, livelihoods, and legal protection. They deserve to have opportunities to contribute to their new communities and to shape their own futures. They deserve to thrive, not just survive.
This year, let us remember that refugees are not a burden, but a blessing. They enrich our cultures, economies, and societies with their diversity, skills, and creativity. Let us stand with refugees today and every day. Let us welcome them with open arms and open hearts. Let us give them hope away from home.
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