Youth Journalism Contest Winners Announced

Steve — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:28:55 +0000

The results of Youth Journalism International’s 2013 Excellence in Journalism contest are, at last, complete. You can see a complete list of all the winners by clicking on this link.

We were wowed by the work that so many student journalists are doing all over the world. It was hard to pick the best, but the more than 20 judges involved did their best.

Thanks to everyone who entered. We’re so glad that many talented young people are helping to cover the news while learning the skills to take the entire profession to a new level in the years ahead.

Summer Camp! YJI Teams Up With Environmental Learning Centers Of Connecticut For Two Sessions In Bristol

Steve — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:04:00 +0000

Anyone living in Connecticut looking for a summer day camp opportunity for a young writer, artist or photographer should check out two camps at Indian Rock Nature Preserve in Bristol.

Youth Journalism International is excited to be providing the educational component for two camps in July: Environmental Reporting and Photography, and Capturing Nature in Words and Pictures.

The camps are for students entering grades seven, eight and nine and are held at the 280-acre, idyllic Indian Rock Nature Preserve on Route 69, which is part of the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut. The camp day is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students enrolled in the Environmental Reporting and Photography camp will workwith a teacher from Youth Journalism International, learning about interviewing, reporting, photography and writing about environmental issues. Using the same tools as real journalists, including both video and still cameras, they’ll chronicle the construction of a Native American wigwam, finishing with photos and stories for publication.

Those enrolled in Capturing Nature in Words and Pictures will use cameras and journals to record their thoughts, observations and ideas as they study the natural world. A teacher from Youth Journalism International will help them emerge with a collection of images and writings that will be a personal keepsake and, possibly, for publication.

As with all camps at Indian Rock, participants will have a chance to swim in Indian Lake and relax in a natural setting. The Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut has a stellar record of offering a nature-based, education experience at an affordable $215 for a full week. Here’s a link that will take you to the camp brochure.

]The Preserve’s resources include the pristine nine acre Indian Lake with two swimming areas, a farm, a fleet of canoes & kayaks, miles of trails upon which to explore the forest, and many indoor program areas.

The camp director and full time staff are environmental education professionals who, along with our summer staff, encourage and facilitate discovery and exploration through hands-on experiences. The camp is licensed by the state of Connecticut.

We’re going to have a great time this summer. If you’re the right age and lucky enough to live in or near Bristol, come join us!

A Ducky Day In Forestville: YJI Marks Ninth Year At Connecticut Community Festival

Steve — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:11:00 +0000

youthjournalism.org

YJI Senior Reporter Yelena Samofalova, right, painted a tiger face on this happy boy before her own Batman mask could be finished.

youthjournalism.org

Jean Letourneau with his daughter, YJI alum and dancing banana, Danielle Letourneau.

Youth Journalism International is feeling incredibly ducky to have spent a glorious Sunday in Forestville.

At our booth at the annual Duck Race on the Pequabuck River, YJI greeted many old friends and made plenty of new ones.

With superb help from YJI students Yelena Samofalova and Mary Majerus-Collins – as well as amazing alums Danielle Letourneau and Hila Yosafi – YJI offered free face painting, temporary tattoos and henna art to all comers. We made many, many children happy, and quite a few adults, too.

Dressed in her banana costume, Danielle even danced in the street with Bristol’s many pageant queens in front of our booth beside Nuchies restaurant.

Hila’s always supportive mom, Zarmina, pitched in, too, even applying some henna. YJI is lucky to have her as a friend.

www.youthjournalism.org

YJI Senior Reporter Mary Majerus-Collins paints a duck on a boy’s hand.

youthjournalism.org

A ducky bit of painting

on a boy’s hand

The Duck Race, an annual tradition that we’ve participated in all nine years it’s been around, brought a large crowd to the Forestville section to see 5,000 plastic ducks float down the Pequabuck River. We hope everybody had as much fun as we did.

youthjournalism.org

YJI alum and Ambassador Hila Yosafi-Lehman and her mom, Zarmina Yosafi

Thank you to everybody who stopped by our little booth and to all the hard-working folks who organized the event for the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce and Forestville Village Association. We’re so glad we could again be part of this terrific community gathering.

youthjournalism.org

From left, Noah Lehman, his mom YJI alum and Ambassador Hila Yosafi-Lehman, YJI students Yelena Samofalova and Mary Majerus-Collins and unparalleled alum Danielle Letourneau, who cheerfully goes bananas for YJI at every festival.

Democracy Is Slowly Coming To Malaysia

Steve — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:50:00 +0000

Evangeline Han

Reporter

Youth Journalism International

MELAKA, Malaysia – The internet – with its news sites, social media and partisan blogs – is helping to spur change in government here and, I hope, will eventually bring true democracy to my country.

Yesterday, Malaysians over age 21 went to the polls and elected a new government for the coming five years.

As the culmination of months of campaigning – labeled by some as one of Malaysia’s dirties elections ever – it proved a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.

Since Independence Day in 1957, Malaysia has been governed by only one political coalition, the Barisan Nasional, or National Front.

In the last decade, however, thanks to the internet, people have become more aware of the corruption and dirty politics played by the National Front.

In the general election in 2008, the National Front lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament and since then, it’s been harder for the coalition to pass unfair laws. Internet blogs can take credit for that.

Since the government announced the date of this year’s general election, allegations of corruption and vote-buying are on the rise.

The last straw was when the opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, or People’s Alliance, claimed that the government has been paying and flying in thousands of foreigners from Bangladesh, Pakistan and other countries to vote in Malaysia’s elections.

When I first read about it, I felt angry and helpless. I am a 19-year old Malaysian and I cannot vote in my elections but somehow a Pakistani can vote in my elections. Where is the justice in that?

Other charges levied by the opposition against the government make me mad. They claimed their supporters were beaten by the National Front’s hooligans and that the police did nothing, and that Malaysians living outside the country had trouble casting their ballots by post.

It seems to me that the National Front was doing everything it could to ensure victory at any cost.

Election officials didn’t announce the final results until after 2 a.m. today. Never before in Malaysia’s election history have the voting results been so late, but that didn’t surprise me, either.

To my great disappointment, the National Front remained the federal government of Malaysia, but the small bit of good news was that the opposition won seven more Parliamentary seats than they did in the last elections in 2008.

These seven seats, won in East Malaysia, proved that the People’s Alliance is making inroads in two states that have long been considered government strongholds. Also the results proved that for the second time in Malaysian history, the National Front failed to retain a two-thirds majority.

I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. to watch the live election updates online. While watching, I read reports of some brave Malaysians who tried to prevent voter fraud, even forming human barricades in some places, because police were of no help.

It is these courageous people who give me hope.

When I saw that the National Front had retained a simple majority to form a government, I cried. I love Malaysia and it saddens me to see my country being destroyed by the very people who are supposed to protect her.

But despite my feelings of disappointment, anger, sadness, and disillusionment, I take hope in the fact that democracy is a journey, a process. It doesn’t happen in 10 years.

We might have lost because of dirty politics, but the government can never silence our voices. We have Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites that were greatly used by the young people in this election.

We will continue to speak and we will continue to fight for a clean electoral list, for leaders who are not corrupt, and for fair elections.

A defeat cannot weaken us; it can only make us stronger.

Kampala Youth Volunteers Work Together To Improve Ugandan School For The Deaf

Steve — Sun, 05 May 2013 03:08:00 +0000

Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org

Iryn Ikkomu from Early Life Radio painting the classroom block

By Bwette Daniel Gilbert

Senior Reporter

Youth Journalism International

KAMPALA, Uganda – With a youth population of almost 70 percent, Uganda is one of the youngest nations in Africa.

Last week, as part of Global Youth Service Day, young people from many organizations worked together to make improvements at a school for the deaf.

Under the umbrella organization Generation Change, youth helped paint classrooms at the Uganda School for the Deaf in Ntinda, a short distance outside the capital city of Kampala. They planted a tree in the school garden and took part in interfaith prayers.

In Uganda, a massive influx of youth from the rural areas is moving to Kampala. The Kampala City Council Authority is stretched with the growing burden of sheltering and feeding this population as well as trying to keep the city and suburbs as clean as possible.

Getting youth involved in responsibilities and letting them know how important it is to keep the city clean, as well as other things like planting trees has been one of the toughest jobs city authorities have had to learn to live with.

But with the emergence of joint youth-led organizations such as Generation Change, the job has started to become easier.

Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org

Generation Change team leader Wakib

Bunya

briefing

the youth.

Now, youth come out voluntarily to take part in cleaning the city. But is it truly Generation Change? Why do young adults trust it so much, to the extent of rendering their services and time for the benefit of the society?

Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org

Kisirisa Mohammed leading the youth

in planting trees

Ahmed Hadji, one of the team leaders, explained.

“Generation Change is an international, interfaith, joint organization dedicated to young leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators for the purpose of sharing new ideas and information; networking and celebrating a new generation of change-makers in Uganda that is powered by the U.S. Embassy of Kampala,” said Hadji.

Another Generation Change team leader, Wakib Bunya of the Open Space Forum, said young people want to make a difference. The National Resistance Movement, Uganda’s current government, Bunya said, “neglects development made by other regimes,” including that the school for the deaf was built during the regime of former dictator Idi Amin.

Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org

Joseph Opio from Green Light

Movement works with others to

clear the garden.

“But the development is in a sorrowful state, so as youth we have decided to complement the work of government by giving back,” said Bunya, in the form of renovations to classrooms, planting a fruit tree in the school garden and more.

Global Youth Service Day, a campaign of Youth Service America, an international leader in the youth service movement, is celebrated each year in more than 100 countries, with young people working together on important issues and to change their communities.

In Kampala, youth came from various organizations such as Uganda Youth Advisors to Washington, secondary schools and Rotary Interact clubs, Muslim Student Associations, university debate clubs, Rotaract clubs and other university organizations, the Bavubuka Foundation, Students for Global Democracy, Green Light Movement with additional help from the Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum, Open Space Centre and African Youth Development Link.

From Saudi Arabia, Boston Born American Muslim Grieves Marathon Bombing Victims

Steve — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:21:00 +0000

By Nawall Hassan

Junior Reporter

Youth Journalism International

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Tragedy is the unavoidable menace that walks among us, striking at the most unexpected of times.

On the gloriously clear-skied day of April 15^th, 2013, children and adults alike in Boston – my hometown – left their homes with the intention of spending a memorable day at the famed Copley Square with loved ones. No one was anticipating that they would soon be the victims to a dreadful, heinous act of terrorism.

Growing up in a city like Boston can leave a profound mark on a person, as I know quite well. Though my family is now living in Saudi Arabia, I was born and raised in Quincy, the Boston suburb that was home to one of America’s Founding Fathers, President John Adams and his family.

Yelena Samofalova / youthjournalism.org

After the bombing at the

Boston

Marathon, the

streets around

the finish

line at Boylston Street,

where the bombs were

placed,

were enclosed

with barricades.

Patriot’s Day afternoons passed with my family in downtown Boston were the paramount moments of my childhood. Upon hearing of the bombing, my thoughts first drifted to who could have the heart to pollute something as sacred as a lifetime of memories.

My second response was to hope and pray we didn’t share the same faith.

As a young American Muslim, it isn’t hard to get lost within two oceans of culture. It truly is a calamity when a race, nation, or religion is persecuted for the actions of misguided members.

The residents of Boston sought a festive gathering of society to promote health and well-being, but were instead confronted with the disturbed belief that justice could be taken into one’s own hands. As said in the Holy Quran, [Chapter 5, Verse 32] “… that whosoever killeth an innocent human being … it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.”

In this part of the world, some people are enraged.

“How dare they cause such a large commotion over three deceased Americans while hundreds die in Syria daily?” some said.

Yes, attention should be given to the genocide, war, and starvation claiming lives around the world. But death is death. Whenever a guiltless human being ceases to exist, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, gender or age, it becomes a tragedy that deserves immense mourning.

The world we now live in is divided and lacks the mutual understanding between diversity, culture and beliefs. Bridging these gaps would lead to a more socially interconnected planet, and, ultimately, a more peaceful one.

Making Smokey, Sweet Syrup From New England Maple Trees And A Backyard Fire Pit

Steve — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:26:00 +0000

Kiernan Majerus-Collins / youthjournalism.org

Here, two maple trees are tapped at once, with tubing from each tree leading to the same sap-collecting bucket.

By Alan Burkholder

Junior Reporter

Youth Journalism International

TERRYVILLE, Connecticut, U.S.A. – If you’ve ever had pancakes or waffles or french toast for breakfast, then you probably have a good idea of what maple syrup is.

If you’ve ever gone to buy some real maple syrup at the store, you also probably have a good idea of how expensive it is. Here’s a hint: VERY. So, it’s little to no wonder why someone would take it upon himself to make his own batch.

That someone is Terryville resident Paul Mantoni, who has been making his own syrup for three years.

As the maple sugaring season came to a close early this spring, Mantoni took time out to show a visitor exactly how it works.

Kiernan Majerus-Collins / youthjournalism.org

After drilling a hole in the tree, Paul Mantoni uses a hammer to insert the tap into the tree.

Syrup making, Mantoni said, is a “very simple process” which is also “very easy to get started.”

The syrup making is mostly done towards the end of winter, when the day is above freezing and the night is below freezing. The production period ends in spring, when the weather turns warmer.

“Once you see red buds,” Mantoni said, “you’re finished.”

He has plenty of maple trees to work with, and collecting the sap from the trees is the simplest part of the process.

Kiernan Majerus-Collins / youthjournalism.org

An overhead view of the route the sap takes through the tubing to the bucket below.

First, Mantoni drills a hole into the tree and attaches a tap and a tube to let the sap flow into a nearby bucket. After letting it pump for about a day, he removes the tap and plugs up the hole using a round stick of wood.

Job well done, right? Well, not exactly.

The sap of the maple tree, in its raw state, is not very sweet, due to being mostly water. There is a taste of sugar, but the sap requires a lot of time to boil before it starts looking and tasting like syrup.

According to Mantoni, it usually takes about eight hours.

Kiernan Majerus-Collins / youthjournalism.org

Aaron Mantoni carries firewood from an outdoor shed to the fire pit, where the sap is boiling.

To boil his sap, Mantoni, with the help of his sons Owen and Aaron, has set up a basic fire pit in the backyard. He pours a new bucket of sap in about every 40 minutes.

His method, Mantoni said, is a “very rough way of doing it,” since the pouring of sap is usually controlled in a more steady fashion.

Kiernan Majerus-Collins / youthjournalism.org

A wood fire, enclosed by cement cinderblocks, blazes beneath a shallow, open pan of sap. There are chairs around the fire pit, and in the yard behind the fire pit is some antique playground equipment.

Standing near the fire, it was possible to detect a hint of sugar to the smoke coming off of the fire pit.

Between the hand-built fire pit, the flocks of chickens and ducks running all over the yard, and an antique collection of playground equipment, it is clear that Mantoni and his family are running a very humble operation, not particularly done with profit in mind.

Kiernan Majerus-Collins / youthjournalism.org

Maple sap boils in a shallow, uncovered pan over a wood fire. Sometimes a little ash from the fire gets into the sap, and Mantoni uses a strainer to remove it.

Aaron, an eighth grade student at Eli Terry Jr. Middle School, helps his father with boiling the sap, and clearly thinks of this as more of a hobby than anything.

Kiernan Majerus-Collins / youthjournalism.org

Father and son Paul and Aaron Mantoni,

each holding a bottle of their homemade

maple syrup, enjoy the time they spend

together boiling sap over the fire.

“I do it for fun,” Aaron said when asked about the process.

He wasn’t the only one thinking of this operation as a hobby that yields something sweet that can be shared with friends.

“The best part,” his dad said, “is giving it away.”

It seems odd how such a labor-intensive task can be viewed as fun, but in the end, it’s like when you cook your own dinner for the first time. It may not be as easy as ordering it, and the results may vary, but there is definitely something rewarding about doing it yourself.

If you have maple trees and plan to try something like this at home, Mantoni recommends starting with a small batch on the stove, preferably with a fan on.

Who knows? You may feel a heightened sense of self-satisfaction the next time you have pancakes.

Dutch Hold Royal Celebration For New King

Steve — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:56:00 +0000

Caroline Nelissen / youthjournalism.org

Crowds, adorned in orange, gather each year for Queen’s Day in the Netherlands, a tradition that is changing now that the country has a king.

By Caroline Nelissen

Senior Correspondent

Youth Journalism International

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands – There are few things I can think of that are as typically Dutch as our Koninginnedag, or Queen’s Day, celebration. On this national holiday, people dress up in bright orange clothes, hats and sunglasses and there are festivities and flea markets around the country.

All of this happened today as well, but this year’s Queen’s day was one like no other.

For one, it will be a long time before we have a national holiday called “Queen’s Day” again: from next year onward, we will be celebrating “King’s Day” instead.

Caroline Nelissen / youthjournalism.org

A Dutch flag on display for Queen’s Day in Holland.

On April 30, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated from the throne, and the nation inaugurated her son Prince Willem-Alexander as the new king in a ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, in Amsterdam.

He is the first male successor to the throne since King Willem III, who died in 1890.

On the central Dam Square in Amsterdam, scores of people gathered Tuesday morning to watch the abdication of the former queen and in the afternoon the inauguration of the new king on large screens.

While the Dutch aren’t exactly known for being a passionate people, there seems to be something about royal events like this that unleash an enthusiasm in Dutch people that is matched only by the celebrations that take place when the Dutch national soccer team is playing.

Caroline Nelissen / youthjournalism.org

Orange balloon hats, twisted into crowns, are

among

the festive headwear for Queen’s Day.

Caroline Nelissen / youthjournalism.org

Expect more orange

next year on King’s Day

in the Netherlands

Of course, not everyone was excited: some people believe the concept of royalty – even though the Dutch royal family has no real political power – is outdated and should be abolished. However, while there were a few people holding up protest signs, the vast majority of the crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves, cheering loudly when King Willem-Alexander was introduced as the new king, alongside his wife, Queen Máxima.

It still feels a bit strange to speak of “King Willem-Alexander,” “Queen Máxima” and “Princess Beatrix” after having used different titles my entire life, and celebrating “King’s Day” from next year onward will surely take some getting used to.

However, regardless of these changes, there is at least one thing we can count on: there will be orange.

Help YJI By Going To The Circus In Boston

Steve — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:17:00 +0000

Thanks to a generous donation from an alum, YJI has four tickets to the Big Apple Circus show at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall Plaza in Boston on Friday, April 26. We are looking to give them to someone who makes a new donation to YJI as a thank you gift. Reach us right away through YJI’s Facebook page or send an email to yjieditor@gmail.com if you are interested. This circus has horses and dogs, acrobats and clowns, but no wild animals. It’s going to be a wonderful show!

YJI Ambassador Teaching Journalism, Building Partnership In Rural Nepal

Steve — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:16:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of Laura Spero

Laura Spero, executive director of Eva Nepal, teaches journalism students in Nepal. Spero, an Ambassador for Youth Journalism International, is in Nepal this month working with students whose writing and photography may soon be published by YJI.

Eva Nepal, an American non-profit charity, operates two programs in rural Nepal. One is an oral health program, and the other, Gakys Light Education, works with first-generation literate youth. Gakys Light and its parent organization, Eva Nepal, are partners with Youth Journalism International in reaching out to Nepalese youth interested in journalism.

Proposed Boy Scout Change To Include Gay Youth Must Also Include Adult Leaders

Steve — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:03:00 +0000

By Eli Winter

Reporter

Youth Journalism International

HOUSTON, Texas, U.S.A. – The Boy Scouts of America today announced a proposed amendment to their ban on gay Scouts. If the proposition is approved by the organization’s National Council, the Scouts will no longer deny “youth … membership … on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”

On the surface, this might seem a positive change. After all, children throughout the whole nation would now be able to put on the ever-evasive Scouting uniform, pin the ever-elusive merit badges to their sash – be those children gay, straight, bisexual or anything else.

But because I’m such a pessimist, I saw a problem almost immediately:

The word “youth.” It doesn’t belong here.

If this proposition is approved, yes, children will be able to put on that uniform, pin those badges to their sash – but what of their parents? Will the gay fathers and lesbian mothers be able to attend meetings of the Scouts as members of the organization instead of being on the outside looking in?

Will Ohio mom and former Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted from the position because she is a lesbian, be able to “look my children in the eyes and tell them that our family is … good enough” to join Scouting?

No.

That’s where I feel this proposition’s rationality ends and its absurdity begins. The Boy Scouts of America may obviously be a “boy’s club” of sorts, but that doesn’t grant them the right to exclude men who like men, or women who like women.

In my mind, no one has that right. This proposition deserves to move to its logical conclusion – that is, granting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Scouts and leaders the right to associate themselves with the Boy Scouts of America.

This can be considered a start – all right, I’ll grant you all that. But what’s a start matter if you can’t reach the finish?

After Horrific Boston Bombing, Family Finds Comfort In Staying Together During Manhunt

Steve — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:16:00 +0000

Yelena Samofalova / youthjournalism.org

On Wednesday, visitors to the site of the Boston Marathon bombing on Boylston Street could see a view of homemade memorials to victims and tributes to first responders.

By Yelena Samofalova

Senior Reporter

Youth Journalism International

MELROSE, Massachusetts, U.S.A. – Although I often visit relatives in Boston, the time we spent together this week after the bombing Monday at the Boston Marathon was eye-opening.

All the citizens tried to band together and show their strength countering the terrorist attacks. The two bombs that went off at the finish line killed three spectators, including an eight-year-old boy, and sent about 175 people to the hospital with injuries, many of them serious.

Now the slogan “Boston strong” is everywhere, from T-shirts to signs near the highway. In addition to extra signs of togetherness in towns, police cars and even helicopters can be seen all over the city.

Yelena Samofalova / youthjournalism.org

Barricades remained on

Wednesday

near the Boston

Marathon bombing site.

When I visited the Boylston Street site of the bombings, I saw more signs of Boston’s strength, with many bouquets and posters hung around a fence at the scene.

Yelena Samofalova / youthjournalism.org

Memorials and tributes at the bombing site.

On Friday, Boston and several of its suburbs were locked down while a manhunt went on for one of two brothers suspected in the bombing.

The second brother died Thursday night in a shootout with police.

My cousin, living north of Boston in the small neighborhood of Melrose with his family, works in the city’s park. He was given a day off Friday. For now, we’ll be spending family time away from the horrible events in the city.

Editor’s note: On Friday night, the manhunt ended when the first suspect was taken into custody.

Yelena Samofalova / youthjournalism.org

A view near the Boylston Street site of the Boston Marathon bombing on Wednesday.