- ATD Fourth World

Saturday, October 16

We spoke about the right to food, and more precisely about the problem of the extremely poor having access to cultivatable land. This day allowed us to better understand, using a game, the hidden and multilateral stakes that Third World governments are forced to deal with, to make the audience present more aware of a topic rarely touched upon by traditional channels of information: the theft of land belonging to poor people by private investors or representatives of northern countries. Saturday night, targeting a larger public in a more dynamic way, the October 17 Team set up a series of concerts allowing those present to find themselves right in the middle of a culture that unfortunately is not very well known in Geneva: the Roma culture.

Saturday, October 17

After brunch, the October 17 Team brought together people currently experiencing difficulties, associations and political leaders in a round table discussion on the theme: “See me as an opportunity, not a problem”. The goal of this round table was to let the voice of those who are in extreme poverty be heard, so that they could tell the story of their daily lives, and be directly heard by decision-makers as well as their advisors.

The October 17 Team would like to give you a few details of subjects that were discussed: Everyone agreed that the State is currently abandoning social issues and putting too much pressure on volunteers for the most critical situations. Political leaders claim that they have no leeway in this government that prevents them from taking the decisions necessary to improve the social situation. Association presidents as well as the general public who are impacted by the disengagement of the State in their daily lives are asking the political world to dare to carry out deep reforms that are necessary to change this system where the weakest members of our population do not have their say.

Young adults retransmitted this appeal that was written following different regional and international meetings that took place at the European level. “It’s hard for us to understand today’s world, but we want to find a place for ourselves in it,” they said. These young adults let us know of their hopes that there will be changes in our societies. Moreover, their families insisted on the fact that, as they themselves had also experienced the dramatic situation in which today’s youth finds itself plunged, they in no case whatsoever want them to have to live the life that they were forced to have. According to those present at this round table discussion, we must take the time to listen to young people and give them the possibility to enter into a world they can identify with, and with which they represent the future, to put it bluntly.

“See me as an opportunity, not a problem”. We must strive for the necessary changes together, so that everyone can live with dignity. This is the mentality behind the October 17 Team when they alert all political leaders, associations, militants and everyone else who considers themselves to be concerned to come together in order to refuse extreme poverty and work to eradicate it.

Saturday, October 18

We went to the UN to meet Mrs. Corinne Nomal-Vanian, head of the UN information department, as well as Mr. Drew Gardinier, Technical Officer for the Youth Employment Network - a joint venture with the International Employment Bureau, the Organization of the United Nations and the World Bank.

To prepare this meeting we listened to the message of Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the UN General Secretary.

We watch a short documentary on the “Computers for All” project rolled out in Madagascar.

NTCI à Madagascar version web from ATDFRA on Vimeo.

After the documentary, four young adults sang a rap for which they composed the music and wrote the words.

Last but not least, we were able to speak about the actions carried out in Geneva during the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This appeal was then interpreted into six different languages by other young people in the meeting room. A dynamic way to become aware of the diversity of languages and cultures in the European area, as echoed by the appeal written by youth from different European countries.

The conclusion was the done by ATD Fourth World who once again reminded us of the difficulties encountered by young people, even though they represent our future, to find decent training and jobs.

October 17 Team

Photos : Stéphane Pecorini