(Goal is to improve conditions, prospects for young people) (550)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is contributing
$3
million to an initiative designed to improve conditions and prospects
for
young people in the Balkans over the next three years.
Youth in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo,
the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
will
be eligible for support.
Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, chairman of the foundation
that
is receiving the USAID grant, noted the challenges faced by Balkan
youth
today and commended the Bush Administration for being a partner in
efforts
to make their lives better.
Following is a USAID press release with details:
(begin text)
U.S. Agency for International Development
Washington, D.C. 20523
http://www.usaid.gov
May 30, 2002
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS $3 MILLION TO
BALKAN
YOUTH INITIATIVE
Washington, DC -- The U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID)
announced today that it will provide $3 million to help support
youth
development in the Balkans. Through a partnership with the
International
Youth Foundation (IYF), USAID's contribution will fund the
Balkan Children
and Youth Foundation (BCYF), a partner of the IYF global
network. The
program will support regional initiatives to improve the
conditions and
prospects for young people over the next three years.
USAID Assistant Administrator Kent Hill officially announced
the
partnership at the 2002 Three Sector Conference, held by the US Chamber
of
Commerce in Washington, DC.
"The Bush Administration is extremely pleased to be able to provide
this
$3 million grant," said Hill. "USAID recognizes the important role
of
youth in making and sustaining the transition to democracy and
open
markets."
During a two-day board meeting of BCYF in Prishtina, Kosovo,
former
President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, who is now the Chairman of
the
Board of BCYF and IYF's Global Action Council, spoke on the impact
the
grant will have on the region. "Young people in the Balkan region
face
enormous challenges as they struggle to overcome decades of ethnic
strife
and political and social upheaval," said Ahtisaari. "We salute USAID
and
the Bush Administration for this new partnership -- with its emphasis
on
engaging the public, private, and civil society sectors -- an approach
we
believe is the only way to generate lasting results. It will
significantly
strengthen our efforts to improve the prospects of young people
across the
Balkans."
The event in Prishtina took place simultaneously with the
grant
announcement and signing ceremony in Washington with other senior
USAID
and IYF officials.
The signing was highlighted at the Three Sector Conference,
promoting
civic engagement and development, and the importance of
partnerships among
government, nonprofit, and business sectors.
Launched in 2000, BCYF supports a range of youth initiatives, such as
a
program to promote values of gender equality and tolerance in
Zagreb,
Croatia; an initiative in Skopje, Macedonia that helps adolescent
Roma
girls stay in school; and a program in Serbia that enables young
artists
to display and market their art via the Internet. Youth in Albania,
Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia
and
Montenegro will be eligible for support through the grant.
U.S. Agency for International Development is the government agency
that
has provided humanitarian assistance and economic development
worldwide
for more than 40 years.
Contact: USAID Press Office (202) 712-4320
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs,
U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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