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A description of all ARYI programs and activities targeting and promoting community development.
  Youth and Community Forums (2005-2007)
(1) On June 22, 2005, ARYI arranged a meeting of young people in Uganda and representatives of Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, who traveled to Uganda to have an open discussion on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Uganda. This meeting served to invigorate youth into policy advocacy and recommendations made at the meeting were presented in the country’s parliament. (2) ARYI hosts a number of youth-led forums in Kenya, South Africa and Ghana since 2003 which led to the development of national collaborations and working groups that identify, address, and collaborate on pressing issues in their respective countries. ARYI also hosts side meetings at national international conferences, including most recently at the 2005 International Conference on HIV/AIDS and STIs in Nigeria. These activities continue to 2007.
(3) Between June and August 2005, ARYI co-hosted and presented at three conferences. One conference was on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which was held in Zambia. ARYI has been involved in developing the conference program and developing a workshop that will have an outcome the development of a youth group as part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health program, among other activities. ARYI is working with a number of youth groups and networks on conference planning, developing follow-up plans, and on the MDGs as a national and continental campaign issue. ARYI was invited by the United Nations General Assembly to participate in the informal interactive General Assembly Hearings with NGOs, Civil Society and the Private Sector from June 23-24, 2005. Plans from this conference fed into an MDG campaign in several African countries. In 2007, ARYI created the Development Analysis Positions across Africa that continue to open space for organizations to comment and analyze issues of the MDGs.
(4) ARYI participated in a Human Rights Camp in August 24-28, 2005 organized by Kenya Human Rights Commission. The camp empowered youth to continue effectively play a leadership role within their group/community in defending and advocating for human rights. (5) Working with the International Planned Parenthood Federation to develop a guide used in the campaign to end child marriages. A meeting in Nairobi, Kenya from 10-12 October 2005 on ending child marriages brought various stakeholders together to develop this guide. ARYI was selected as one of the main implementers of the toolkit and recognized for its role in empowering young people on this issue.
(6) To commemorate the United Nations International Youth Day (August 12, 2005), ARYI lead youth consultations in eighteen African countries in order to promote and advocate for adolescent and youth participation during decision-making processes on key issues identified in the World Programme of Action. The consultations also built linkages between youth, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations in moving forward the plans from the World Programme of Action. The consultations provided best practices in reaching and involving adolescent and youth in Africa while providing participants with (1) tools for translating policies related to Education, Employment, Hunger and poverty, Health, Environment, Drug abuse, Juvenile delinquency, Leisure-time activities, Girls and young women, Participation, Globalization, Information and Communication Technologies, HIV/AIDS, Youth and Conflict, and Intergenerational Relations at national and community levels, and (2) closer communications and relations with various stakeholders. The consultations will also feed into other opportunities and areas for engagement at national and international events.
Reports from the consultations were disseminated at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2005. These activities continued in 2006 and 2007.
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Community Development 
