UN Regional Information Centre, Brussels 30 MAY - On the occasion of the International Year of Youth UN Youth Champion, American Actress and singer Monique Coleman, best known for her role in the “High School Musical” movies, is visiting Belgium from 3 to 8 June as part of her “Gimme MO” world tour to give a voice to young people.

The purpose of the world tour is to see and share through social media what young people all over the planet are experiencing, and to connect people in the developing and developed worlds. “My hope is to inspire, motivate, and empower young people to become involved and to highlight the amazing achievements of youth across the globe”, Coleman says.

 

During her trip, which has so far taken her to Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe, Coleman has met with local governmental agencies and UN entities, conducting a series of youth events to address youth issues. The purpose is to draw youth together and to provide them with a voice; offering them inspiration, hope, and tools to cope with the many issues that are unique to them right now.

Monique Coleman will be received as an official guest by the city of Antwerp and the Brussels-Capital Region during her stay in Belgium.

Programme:

Saturday 4 June, Antwerp

Participation in Let’s Go Urban flashmobs organized in the framework of ‘Urban Exchange around the Sea’, the first European project around urban arts with young dancers and coaches from Amsterdam, Utrecht and Liverpool. The project kicks off on 1 June in Antwerp. It is hosted by Let's Go urban and Antwerp European Youth Capital of 2011.

Venue: Antwerp Central Station

Time: 14.00-15.00 three flashmobs: 1st Antwerp Central Station, 2nd de wapper (Meir), 3rd at the ‘hand’ (Meir) (each last 3 minutes) followed by official signing session on the Meir.
Further information: www.letsgourban.be

Sunday 5 June, Brussels

Participation in the World Environment Day festival « La Fête de l’Environnement » in the Parc du Cinquantenaire. Presentation on how young people can get involved in addressing global and environmental challenges, at the “Arch” in the center of the park at 16.15 with Evelyne Huytebroeck, Minister for Environment, Energy and Urban Renovation of the Brussels-Capital Region

Venue: Parc du Cinquantenaire, United Nations Information Stand, Nr 67
Time: 15.00-17.00; presentation at Arch 16.15-16.45
Further information: www.bruxellesenvironnement.be

Monday 6 June, Brussels

Participation in the Millenium Film Festival. A vernissage of 8 installations representing the 8 MDGs by 40 students from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de La Cambre and a screening of one of the films accepted for the 2010 youth “On-Line Millenium Festival” followed by a cocktail.

Time: 18.00

Venue: CIVA, Rue de l'Ermitage, 55, Kluisstraat, Bruxelles 1050 Brussel,

Further information: www.festivalmillenium.org/en/

Tuesday 7 June, Antwerp

Visit to Leonardo Lyceum in Antwerp, exchanges with students on UN related school projects and diversity of issues such as youth and environment, self-esteem, homelessness etc.

Time: 10.00-12.00

Venue: Quellinstraat 31, 2018 Antwerp

Further information: www.llquellinstraat.be

Visit to Stedelijke Basisschool De Wereldreiziger. Official welcome by pupils who will demonstrate some of their arts & crafts creations.

Time 13.00 – 15.30
Venue: De Wereldreiziger, Quellinstraat 31, 2018 Antwerp

Further information: http://website.sbq.be/index.php?hello

Official reception by the City of Antwerp Vice-Mayor for Youth, Leen Verbist, in the framework of Antwerp European Youth Capital of 2011, followed by a formal presentation of Let’s Go Urban, an exchange of views with young artists and a delegation from the conference Youth Work for Vulnerable Youth in the City  

Time: 18.30 – 20.30

Venue: City Hall of Antwerp

Further information: http://www.aeyc2011.be/en/

Wednesday 8 June, Antwerp

Speech at the Youth Work for Vulnerable Youth in the City – conference which will be opened by Vice Mayor for Youth, Leen Verbist

Venue: Huis van de Sport (Boomgaardstraat 22 – Berchem)

Time: 9.00-11.00

Further information: www.aeyc2011.be/en/calendar/detail/a-european-exchange-congress-about-the-role-of-youth-work-in-an-urban-context

For further information and interviews (in English), please contact:

Alexa Froger, Tel. +32 2 788 8461, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Frederik Bordon,  Tel. +32 2 788 471, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jean-Luc Onckelinx, Mobile 0476 21 54 85, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

United Nations Regional Information Centre www.unric.org

Website: http://social.un.org/youthyear

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNYouth

Twitter: twitter.com/UNyouthyear

Background:

UN International Year of Youth

On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/64/134 proclaiming the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. The Year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the first International Youth Year in 1985 on the theme Participation, Development and Peace.

Youth, defined by the United Nations as people between the ages of 15 to 24, represent 18 per cent of the world’s population, or 1.2 billion people.

The Year provides an opportunity to recognize that young people in all countries are a major human resource for development, positive social change and technical innovation. It aims to advance their full participation on youth-related issues in global, regional and national development agendas.

(Additional info)