A PILOT project to assist young Zambians affected by HIV/Aids is one of the aims of a new partnership to be initiated in NUI Galway today.
Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power is due to announce details of the new partnership, involving NUIG’s Unesco chair in children, youth and civic engagement, the national youth organisation Foróige and the Alan Kerins non-governmental organisation.
NUIG’s Unesco chairman Prof Pat Dolan said the aim was “to further the long-standing commitment of Unesco to address the challenges facing youth and to foster young people’s participation in the development of their societies, with an initial focus on Zambia where each organisation has well-established links”.
The partnership will focus on research, teaching, policy, advocacy and programme development, and is developing a model for a youth centre, which will integrate youth work and sport.
The new partnership’s pilot project with youth affected by HIV/Aids in Zambia is based in the Kaoma district in the western province.
The project will work closely with the University of Lusaka in Zambia.
The Alan Kerins Projects have built a number of facilities within the Mongu and Kaoma areas of Zambia for the vulnerable, elderly and disadvantaged.