Forgotten Diaries

This year-long project draws upon the internet to both offer participants the means to "blog" (converse online) about how conflict is affecting their lives and countries, and to provide them with the tools they need to start small development projects in their respective communities. YAC researched several countries, regions, and conflicts and decided to shed light on those unreported, underreported and neglected crisis, conflicts, and issues. Then, they extended a call for applications, selecting up to 5 young people from each country who hailed from different cultural, social, and religious backgrounds (with a commitment to maintaining gender balance throughout the project). Throughout the pilot phase, YAC teachers and partner grassroots organisations in the target countries will train and help participants address local concerns through various activities organised by participants for their peers and communities - the details of which will be shared in the online blogs.

ICTs are also being used to educate and involve people of all ages in these young people's efforts to equip themselves for peaceful action. Any visitor to the Forgotten Diaries website may read about the conflict-related issues specific to, and shared commonly among, each of the countries highlighted. They may also read the weblogs, which are designed to serve as a way to get to know participants and the conflicts they live in. YAC explains that, "[a]s we hope to provide them – and YOU – with ongoing intercultural and interreligious dialogue opportunities, we encourage you to read, comment, and reply to our participants' posts....We also plan to organise chats with our participants periodically for you to get to share your perspectives live with them."

Conflict, Youth.

From the Forgotten Diaries website: "There are now over 100 ongoing conflicts and crisis in world, and despite the fact that some of these have been going on for over ten years and have claimed several thousands lives, they have received very little coverage by mainstream media....They are, de facto, shunned by the international community at large and are generally referred to as 'forgotten conflicts'. Several million children and young people are confronted daily with war, and have no chance to tell the outer world about their lives, hopes and expectations, nor the way they perceive conflicts and their struggle to survive." It is this perceived lack of "voice" that Forgotten Diaries aims to address.

From the YAC website: "Our...approach consists of engaging skilled young people to motivate and teach other young people, so as to empower them with all the tools they need to create a lasting and meaningful change at different levels. We offer all of our activities online and totally free of charge, and employ the peer-to-peer methodology."