Y Care International and 400 young people march to make poverty history

24 June 2005

Y Care International, along with almost 400 young people from YMCAs across the UK, is set to be part of history by travelling to Edinburgh to take part in the momentous Make Poverty History rally on 2 July 2005.

The charity is one of over 400 members of the Make Poverty History coalition, campaigning to end global poverty. The Edinburgh rally plans to hold the G8 leaders to account and insist they act swiftly to avert the deaths every year of more than 10 million children from hunger and preventable diseases.

The YMCA groups will arrive in Edinburgh a day early – on 1 July 2005 – and will head to Livingston Football Club where Y Care International, working in partnership with YMCA Scotland, will be running a day of fun and interactive workshops, campaigns training and entertainment, to educate, empower and motivate those taking part.

The workshops, including ‘Local and Global Poverty Exposed’, ‘Fair Trade at Home’ and ‘What on Earth Can I Do?’, will help participants understand what Make Poverty History is about and give them the skills and confidence to take action.

Chris Roles, Y Care International’s Chief Executive, said: “Learning about trade, debt and aid – the issues behind the Make Poverty History campaign – will help young people to look beyond the fashionable ‘white band’ symbol of the campaign. They will leave Edinburgh not only understanding how G8 decisions taken at Gleneagles can make a difference in the developing world, but equipped with the skills, confidence and enthusiasm to campaign on these issues after the spotlight shifts from the Make Poverty History campaign”.

Y Care International believes that all young people, not just those who often get involved in campaigns, must be at the heart of the movement to end global poverty.

Matthew Jackson, Director of Campaigns and Global Youth Work for Y Care International, said: “Marginalised young people in this country are really getting involved in the Make Poverty History campaign. Because of their experiences they understand about injustice and poverty. They can make links between the issues affecting them personally and the problems affecting young people across the developing world.”