OAS advocacy - Summit of the Americas Jan ‘04 – Esperanza!
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World Youth Alliance voice at the Special Summit of the Americas.
The World Youth Alliance is a global coalition of young people and youth organizations committed to promoting the dignity of the person at the international level and building solidarity among youth from developed and developing countries. Founded in 1999, it now embraces members of at least 100 nationalities. A small team of World Youth Alliance members works directly at the United Nations and European Union to protect human life and dignity in international agreements. Other World Youth Alliance members are engaged at the grassroots level, building a culture of life through charitable service projects or innovative cultural events.
 Youth of the Americas as the Engine of Development
Youth is characterized by a great energy and motivation to fight for ideals. As young people, we set very high goals for others and ourselves. Our energy and idealism often leads us to question the institutions and systems around us, or to be filled with desire to “take on the world.”
Unfortunately, for many young people, difficult living situations may cause many of these goals and ideals to be sacrificed to the struggle to fulfill their basic needs. At times, the integral development of the young person becomes impossible because the environment in which he or she lives is so adverse to the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional needs of a growing mind and body.
But when the environment is in favor of the integral growth of the person each youth can become a “development engine,” giving all their energy, heart and soul to causes which benefit the community and the world.
 Young people are important collaborators in local development. The over one million young members of the World Youth Alliance want to work hand in hand with our leaders to build government policies that respect human dignity and promote integral development. These policies must focus on providing basic services like clean water, basic health care, basic education, and development opportunities to every human person. We firmly believe that societal development can only occur in an environment that respects the intrinsic dignity of every human person.
We look forward to speaking with delegates to this Special Summit of the Americas this week, and to working with you now in the future to build free and just societies throughout the Americas!
We invite you to learn more about the work of the World Youth Alliance through our website www.worldyouthalliance.org or by e-mail at wya@worldyouthalliance.org.
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