UYDO (United Youth Development Organization) was a youth-led charity which focuses on empowering young people in the developing world to take themselves out of unemployment and poverty through entrepreneurship.

History

UYDO was founded by

Espen Berg Espen Berg (born 6 July 1981) is a Norwegian people, Norwegian humanitarian. Espen is the Entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the United Youth Development Organization. Espen completed a BA (Hons) in International Business at Bournemouth University ...

in 2008. Berg was studying at

Bournemouth University Bournemouth University is a public university in Bournemouth, England, with its main campus situated in neighbouring Poole. The university was founded in 1992; however, the origins of its predecessor date back to the early 1900s. The universi ...

in the UK when he became aware of the challenges facing disadvantaged

young people Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood (Maturity (psychological), maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as bei ...

developing economies A developing country is a sovereign state with a less-developed industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to developed countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. There is also no clear agreemen ...

. He was inspired to start an organisation focusing on utilising the skills and talents of young people globally to add value to the situation of young people living in

poverty Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living. Poverty can have diverse Biophysical environmen ...

sub-saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lie south of the Sahara. These include Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the list of sovereign states and ...

. UYDO has been discontinued in late 2010 due to funding challenges. Funds donated before September 2010 for Youth Business International entrepreneurs have been donated to Youth Business International as of 30 April 2011. Funds donated since September 2010 have been reimbursed to donors as of 30 April 2011.

Youth

UYDO was built on the notion that every young person has skills and talents that can make a difference and was heavily based on the notion of providing young people with the responsibility and opportunities to add value to their own life, to UYDO as an organization and to society. As a consequence, UYDO was not only focusing on young people as part of their development programmes but also give young people key roles and responsibilities within the organisation.

Curriculum

In the organisation's earliest days, a pilot project was undertaken at

involving the university's Public Relations course. With the intention of engaging young UK students in the issues of the developing world, the PR students undertook a project which would contribute to UYDO's development as an organisation. This 'real world' project was received warmly by the students with many students stating that the project changed their view of poverty and young people living in a poverty environment.

Field partners

UYDO was working with Kenya Youth Business Trust (KYBT), based in Nairobi, Kenya in implementing their

youth employment Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood ( maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as being a young adult. Youth ...

programmes.

References

{{Reflist

External links

United Youth Development Organization homepage
Microfinance organizations Charities based in the United Kingdom Peer-to-peer charities Peer-to-peer lending companies Organizations established in 2008 Youth organisations based in London