United Games 2005

The United Games 2005 – Youth in Action Mission Control Centre will connect 12 Youth Led Development Action Projects in six European countries as well as in India and in Ghana/Africa that take place simultaneously during the United Games Festival and Action Week from 29th May to 5th June 2005. It will unite and connect hundreds of very dynamic and engaged young people in the various countries, who want to make a difference and have a very positive impact on their Action Projects and Workshops in their local communities.
All Action Projects as well as the Mission Control Centre are planned, organised and run by young people between 16 and 25 years of age. The participating adults give their professional support and back up when needed or when asked by the young people.

With this international project the young people want to show that they can play a very constructive role in developing their local communities. – The young people got inspiration and ideas from the World Youth Congresses in Hawaii/USA in 1999 and Morocco 2003 as well as from the Be the Change Programme by Peace Child International a long standing partner organisation of United Games and the initiator of the World Youth Congress Series.

"You have to be the change you want to see in the world."

Mahatma Gandhi

This quote from Mahatma Gandhi implies that you have to become active if you want to make a difference to things. It is the wish of many young people within United Games that their ideas and thoughts which they have developed in many discussions and workshops also lead to positive results and products within the local communities they live in.
This kind of thinking and acting of young people is not only growing within the United Games countries in Europe and in India but is already a world wide movement where many youth initiatives around the globe are getting involved.

More and more young people want to proove that they can play a very important role in sustainable development. – The World Youth Congresses in Hawaii and Morocco as well as the upcoming World Youth Congress in Scotland from 30th July to 8th August 2005 will give those young people and their Youth Led Development Action Projects a platform to present their views, ideas and outcomes to an international public as well as decision makers.
With UG 2005 Festival and Action Week the United Games wants to link up with the goals and themes of the World Youth Congress in Scotland that relate very closely to the UN Millennium Development Goals:

SUSTAINABILITY

Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership in communities for development
Ensure economic stability

POVERTY

Eradicate hunger
Create housing for all
Healthy living

EDUCATION

Achieve universal primary education
Improve sex education
Combat illiteracy

EQUALITY

Promote gender equality
Eliminate racism and xenophobia
Increase social inclusion

COMMUNITY

Conflict resolution
Tolerance to all
Active citizenship

HEALTH

Combat HIV/AIDS
Reduce child mortality by improving maternal health
Access to healthcare for all

At the Congress the results of United Games – Youth in Action – Mission Control Centre will be presented by young people from United Games to the young delegates from around the world.

MCC to be continued in 2006

United Games also wants to take this opportunity at the World Youth Congress in Scotland to invite more youth initiatives in Europe as well as in other parts of the world to join the United Games 2006 – Youth in Action – Mission Control Centre with their Action Projects.

If you or your youth initiative or youth NGO want to join us with your Action Project in 2006 please contact:

Dr. Werner Greis
United Games International
Göstingerstrasse 169
8051 Graz
AUSTRIA
Tel: +43/316/68 55 83
Mobile: +43/650/35 44 845
Fax: +43/316/68 55 834
E - Mail: werner.greis@inode.at

Background and Follow up