August 2007

 

Banana Link’s Ecuadorian trade union partner, FENACLE, is now in its fourth year of an important Youth Programme, working to support and strengthen youth participation and promote the construction of a national network of organised youth, who make up over 75% of the Ecuadorian banana workforce. The FENACLE Youth Committee have now succeeded in establishing an active network of over 700 young workers, with a wider network of up to 3,000. Activities, such as education and training workshops, the coordination of a National Youth Day and fundraising to construct local youth centres, are helping to raise awareness on youth issues and enable young workers to fully exercise their rights and improve their conditions of work and standards of living.

 

 

This Youth Programme has so far been made possible with assistance from British trade unionists, such as the NTUC Young Members Network and Amicus, through the Banana Link Union to Union Programme. This international young member solidarity is providing inspiration and hope to young workers both in the UK and Latin America, who are together demonstrating the power that young people have to take action and promote positive change for the future.

 

A recent report written by the FENACLE Youth Committee outlines their plans to develop and continue the Youth Programme over the next 18 months. The aim is to carry out regular education and training for organised young members and identify young leaders who will help maintain and develop existing networks to support more active engagement in workplace and community issues.

 

 

Photo: FENACLE youth workshop with British trade union delegates 

 

This next stage of the project is dependent on securing further funding and developing international young member solidarity.

 

The FENACLE Youth Committee is working to raise a total of £25,000 to fund their Youth Programme for the next 18 months, including support for:
-    1 national and 4 regional Youth Coordinators
-    12 educational and 5 evaluation workshops, to be organised at regional and national level
-     Educational resources, on issues such as leadership and communication, union organisation, labour rights and political participation.

 

To download a copy of the funding appeal click here.

 

Email Banana Link to join our Youth Action Network and find out more about how to engage in solidarity projects with young members in Latin America.