THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE OF IFBDO

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES

1.      The IYC Creation and Establishment

Youth Forum August 2003 – Poitiers , France

After discussing the importance of youth participation in two round tables, a working group, consisting of representatives from all Countries present at the Youth Forum, was created with the objectives of developing and presenting a proposal for the creation of an International Youth Committee to the IFBDO.

The writing of a set of rules (statutes) that define the work of this group, also started along with some young representatives joineing the work later on. This created the final group including the following countries: Algeria; Brazil; Burkina Faso; Denmark; Estonia; France; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Romania, Spain; South Africa; Sweden; Zimbabwe.

General Assembly May 2004 – Carthage , Tunisia

The proposal for the IYC work was presented[1] and approved by all countries present at the meeting. Three special advisors to the President, Leticia Ferreira ( Brazil ), Marion Duclos ( France ) and Mikkel Andersen ( Denmark ), were elected for one year to assist the President on issues concerning the youth project.

The IYC Work Group, in form of the young people present at the General Assembly, was given the mandate to continue their work by creating statutes and starting up the IYC. These documents were created and added to the IFBDO website for comments before the Youth Forum in Lithuania took place.

Youth Forum August 2004 – Panavesys , Lithuania

The delegations present at the Youth Forum approved the statutes and elected the representatives of the International Youth Committee[2]. This was supported by the presence of the Secretary General of the IFBDO.

The IYC started working on the activities proposed by the young people in the Youth Forum and on the important steps guaranteeing the participation of all the member countries of the IFBDO. Two further countries spontaneously joined the IYC with young representatives herby expanding the group to the following member countries: Brazil; Denmark; Estonia; France; Kosovo; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Romania and Spain. Leticia Ferreira ( Brazil ); Mikkel Andersen ( Denmark ) and Kadi Grinch ( Estonia ) were chosen as president, respectively treasurer and secretary for the IYC.

Executive Council October 2004 – Lisbon , Portugal

Due to a misunderstanding of the IYC Statutes’ intention, the creation of the committee was questioned in especially two points:

·        Is the IYC supposed to have statutes?

·        Are the young people about to create a new organisation apart from the IFBDO?

The discussions about the IYC were postponed.

Extraordinary Executive Council April 2005 – Somma Lombardo , Italy

After clarifying that no young person, work group or even the IYC, ever intended to create an organization apart from the IFBDO and that its statutes were created along the suggestions of the Carthage Proposal as a mean for the regulation of the work and the facilitation of the fundraising, the following points got agreed on:

·        The IYC got included in the Statutes of the IFBDO and Rules of Procedures to be approved in the General Assembly 2005 – Paris , France . It will also have its own “rules of procedure” attached as an annex to the IFBDO’s rules.

·        A time space during the General Assembly was opened for IYC meetings and reports, starting to be put in place in Paris .

·        An e-mail requesting the participation in the IYC was sent out by the President and Secretary General to all IFBDO member countries.

·        A special account will be opened and young representatives will be joining the Executive Council of the IFBDO as Youth Delegate, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Youth Delegate, keeping three special young advisors in the organisation.

Activities: From August 2004 to April 2005

After being approved in Carthage and established in Lithuania , the IYC started to work on the possible projects decided on during the youth forum. The projects developed were:

·        The IYC Logo: As seen on the document, it was created by a young volunteer based in one of the workshops of the Youth Forum in Lithuania .

·        The National Reports/Site: Each Country provided a small report about its organization. These reports will be added onto a website, yet to be created, allowing all every young person to know what is happening in the IFBDO organizations around the World. The site’s domain that is www.youthblood.org was already bought and will be used shortly.

·        The International Youth Forum on Blood Donation Organization Guide: Created with the objective to help provide Countries with information regarding the issues of how to host Youth Forums.

·        The International Youth Forum on Blood Donation 2005 – Estonia : The details and information regarding inscriptions can be found on the website of the IFBDO.

·        Fundraising: A complete report made by our treasurer can be seen below.

Financial Report: From August 2004 to April 2005

A fundraising campaign was started by Mikkel Andersen in the name of the IYC in Denmark . Letters were sent out to all city committees of Blood donors in the Country .

So far, the IYC has received and budgeted to spend the following amounts:

·        Credit: 5.490 Euro - Fundraising from the Danish local blood donors committees and others.

·        Debit: 3.671 Euro – Participation of young representatives in the Extraordinary Executive Council Meeting in Italy , April 2005, and in the IFBDO 18th Congress July 2005.

Next Steps

The following year will be devoted to continue the development of the projects agreed upon in Lithuania and in Italy . These are:

·        The development and approval of  the “rules of procedure” for the IYC in the General Assembly of IFBDO;

·        The creation of the Website;

·        The continuation of the fundraising effort to help sponsor some young people from the poorest IFBDO-member countries to participate in the youth forum, the IYC and the IFBDO meetings, as well as developing projects;

·        The creation of a guide for the development of national youth organizations.

Also: To start new projects, open for discussion during the next youth forum in Estonia .

Leticia C. Ferreira – Brazil (President)
Mikkel Dybtved Andersen – Denmark (Treasurer)

Kadi Grichin –
Estonia (Secretary)

National Representatives

Alexandra Iftode – Romania
Deimante Konciuviene- Lithuania
Carine Breuer- Luxembourg

Daina Krumina – Latvia - Associate member

Lucien Bedez– France
Maria Teresa Gonzales - Spain

Skender Abasi - Kosovo

[1] The text can be found in the IFBDO’s website.

[2] The Report of the Youth Forum with details can be found in the IFBDO’s website.